🍃 AMA With Rudy Ellenbogen Founder of WOKE Talent Weds January 30th 11 AM PST

keith · January 29, 2019, 10:52pm

Who: Rudy Ellenbogen Founder of WokeTalent
What: How to work with a “purpose-driven” cannabis company
Where: Growers Network Private Forum
When: Wednesday, January 30th at 11 AM PST

Woke Talent : examines the culture of operations to make the best fit for long term cannabis careers based on match, uses an emotional intelligence test during his onboarding process= UNIQUE STYLE

YOUR success is the only way to ensure that cannabis does the good it can do for the world…

To become the market leaders, we help you:

Develop a business from the ground up that puts quality first based on living soil organic cultivation. Nothing less.
Hire the right people, aligned with your values and mission, to create a solid team that can produce consumer-focused products and a highest quality brand.

Richard.Guerra · January 30, 2019, 4:51am

Looks awesome!

A1ColbyDuPont · January 30, 2019, 2:01pm

Sounds interesting will check it out!

Growernick · January 30, 2019, 6:19pm

I hope this will be a great AMA! We have been working very behind the scenes with some very cool recruiters to help match our members looking the ideal cannabis career and with those professionals looking for the ideal candidate. Rudy Ellenbogen from @WokeTalent is one of those experts with whom we are working. We are humbly grateful for the opportunity to assist in curating conscious cannabis careers alongside people like Rudy.

@WokeTalent focuses on organic cannabis jobs and I am personally looking froward to being able to explore a bit more what that means and the overarching consequences for individuals seeking employment, employers seeking qualified candidates to fill positions in the cannabis industry, and the cannabis industry at large.

I appreciate Rudy taking time out of his busy life to be here with us today! Thanks, @Rudy!

Rudy · January 30, 2019, 6:26pm

Thanks for having me Nick! Im very excited to be a part of this forum… I am very passionate about win-win relationships at work and would love to share some experiences and help people in their career path…

Growernick · January 30, 2019, 6:31pm

From the few conversations I’ve been fortunate to have with you, it seems like you seek out projects in life that pique your curiosity and your passion.

How did you get your start professionally? Can you share a little about your background?

Rudy · January 30, 2019, 6:37pm

yes, i do try to follow my passion because that is where we perform best. When we do things that matter to us, that give us purpose then it’s not a heavy effort, we enjoy the process more.
My background is civil engineering, construction and real estate development. I used to build high rises before cannabis. But at heart I am an entrepreneur, I love developing businesses from the ground up. Through my career the common denominator has been DIFFERENTIATION. To me we are all unique and special people, and as a company we should showcase our uniqueness by expressing our talents doing things that matter to us…

Growernick · January 30, 2019, 6:42pm

Your language exudes the passion that you feel within your spirit and soul; it’s an energy you hope to share with others now as you help them discover their passions. It’s magnanimous and I’m hopeful that you will help others in your benevolent efforts to help people find the right professional fit.

How did you become passionate about cannabis? How did cannabis find you?

fdousty · January 30, 2019, 6:47pm

Hi Rudy, Thank you for your time. How do you evaluate the coherence and discipline of organizational structure of cannabis industry compared to other industries at the moment and how you think it will evolve in the future?

Rudy · January 30, 2019, 6:49pm

My real estate business partner started using cannabis medicinally for an auto immune disease and that sparked my curiosity about the plant. Shortly after I jumped in to the business opportunity as the entrepreneur I am. But what made me fall in love with the industry was the people i met. So many young & passionate people who moved across the country to work on something that mattered to them really inspired me… so i say that i came for the business and stayed for the people

marill123 · January 30, 2019, 6:51pm

Cannabis may be one of only a few industries where older human beings can get a job. Rudy, what is your perspective on this subject? Are older people welcome in Cannabis, Inc?

Growernick · January 30, 2019, 6:52pm

That’s beautiful, man. It really is inspiring whit kind of life changes people are willing to make to work in the cannabis industry…often for very low pay! What other challenges have you seen people face while seeking meaningful work in cannabis?

Rudy · January 30, 2019, 6:53pm

Hi fdousty, good question!
Organizational structure is a tricky subject. Modern management has shifted from rigid structures to more flexible ones, in ALL industries. I think the cannabis space is transitioning from a very start-up like environment to a more corporate one as it’s growing, which has it’s pros and cons… what have you experienced?

Rudy · January 30, 2019, 6:55pm

the main one is definitely PAY. I was watching Roy Wood Jr. new standup and he said: “No one gives the maximum effort for minimum wage” … its SO TRUE!
I think pay inequality comes from a deeper place of appreciation and the basis of the relationship between employees and employers. I think the win-win can only happen when there is true appreciation for each other and trust is built, autonomy is given and all this has to happen for us to be fulfilled at work.

Growernick · January 30, 2019, 6:56pm

Our AMA is off and running! To help give it some “legs”, or host, Rudy has asked that I ask our @memberdirectory an important question: “What challenges have you faced getting into the cannabis industry?”

Rudy · January 30, 2019, 6:58pm

cannabis is full with young people. it is sometimes difficult for older people to fit in. bridging the age gap is super important. i’ve seen it more in trimming and would love to see it in all other aspects of the industry. there is a place for more mature people to provide mentorship and maturity to the younger people for sure…

Growernick · January 30, 2019, 6:59pm

I think you very eloquently touched on two very important points in this response, specifically as it relates to TRUST. Do you feel there is not enough precedence given to the importance of trust in the modern workplace? I believe it’s through the development of trust that one earns the autonomy, but do you feel employers are valuing trust as they ought to?

Rudy · January 30, 2019, 6:59pm

Yes please, share your challenges finding, getting, keeping jobs and progressing !

Thailand.taylor · January 30, 2019, 7:01pm

Man i gave up a carrier in the oil and gas industry making over 120,000 a year. I got into the grey area and now how found it almost impossible to get into the legal market

dlmcgehee · January 30, 2019, 7:01pm

As a recent Ph.D. grad my main challenge is getting started. I worked with plants during my studies, but not cannabis. My husband is employed, so if we move, I must make a salary that will cover him having to leave his job. The industry is getting a slow start here in AR, though, so I’m considering moving states. I’ve heard before that I should start as an Extractor and move up to Master Extractor, but the starting salary for Extractor is such that I couldn’t justify moving states for it. I’m interested in R&D departments but haven’t found much in that vein. Any suggestions?