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Sarah Stretchberry is the COO of ApptitudePlus, a cannabis consulting and advisory firm. In the newest entry of “NY’s women in cannabis,” Stretchberry spoke about her start in the industry and her favorite tools and resources in the industry.
Women are vastly underrepresented in cannabis, and not just in New York. From 2019 to 2022, executive-level females have seen their industry wide status drop from 37% to 23%. Yet the MRTA makes things very clear: women-owned businesses are a key component of the state’s social and economic equity plan.
NY Cannabis Insider is seeking to elevate women in cannabis through a hyper-focus on female story sourcing and balanced representation in articles.
This series will last for as long as submissions come in.
Why did you launch your career in the cannabis industry? Were there any women who inspired you to do so? How did you do it?
After spending close to 15 years working for Whole Foods Market, operating and opening stores, I was ready for a change. I found my way to cannabis as a result of my youth spent in California, and my early introduction to the medical benefits of cannabis. When the opportunity to get in at the ground floor of a newly minted multistate vertical operator presented itself, I jumped at the chance. I was introduced to so many amazing women in the space: Megan Shank, Jamie Ware, Kim Nappoli, and Amanda Rositano, and Jillian Perillo just to name a few.
What do you think is the most significant barrier to women leadership? Are the barriers different in cannabis than any other industry?
I think that the barriers to women in the cannabis leadership space exist across all industries equally. The idea that cannabis is more exclusionary than any other industry is a myth we need to dispel. The more we say that “cannabis is a male-dominated space,” the less welcoming we will be to women who may want to enter the space. In my opinion, it’s not an industry problem, it’s a culture problem specific to individual organizations, and the solution is changing the culture from within.
Why do you think women are so underrepresented in leadership roles in cannabis?
I believe this to be a societal problem that exists across all industries. In my world, women are not underrepresented in leadership roles. I have many friends who are female and are in powerhouse leadership roles within the space.
Shout out your other favorite women-owned or women-led businesses in the industry.
Amanda Rositano of Soulstar cannabis. Kristina Adduci at House of Puff. Arana Hankin-Biggers of Union Square Travel Agency.
Who/what are your favorite tools and resources in the industry?
My team at ApptitudePlus is a crew of the best of the best in cannabis regulatory compliance, licensing, application writing, and operations across all areas of cannabis, I lean heavily on every member of our incredible team.
J2H Partners are the best of the best in the owner’s representation, design and construction project management – they are well versed in the cannabis space, and I would hesitate to complete a cultivation, processing, or dispensary buildout without them. Lastly, all the regulators across all markets who make it their objective to be a resource, and to work with the operators, as opposed to against them.
What advice would you give your 25-year-old self? What advice would you give to the next generation of women leaders?
To a 25-year-old me, I would say, “just keep living your best life, make the choices that feel right to you, trust your gut, and keep working hard, it will all pay off.” To the next generation of women leaders, the message is simple – “work hard, and never apologize for being the clearest most thoughtful voice in the room.”
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