Industry Blazers spotlights Arizona’s talented cannabis industry professionals who influence and grow the industry. Brought to you by a collaboration between Proven Media and AZmarijuana.com. Do you know someone that is an Industry Blazer in Arizona? Email us their name and contact info.
Name: Bri Hicks
Company: Giving Tree Dispensary
Title: Cultivation Manager
Website: GivingTreeDispensary.com
Instagram: @givingtreeaz
LinkedIn: Brianna Hicks
Meet Brianna Hicks, the Cultivation Manager at Giving Tree Dispensary, where she ensures the smooth daily operations of the facility, from compliance to quality control.
She leads a talented team, collaborates across departments, and works tirelessly to optimize product flow and customer satisfaction. With a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from the University of Arizona, Brianna has applied her problem-solving and communication skills to the cannabis industry, driving projects that expand production and enhance quality. She’s passionate about cannabis’s potential to improve lives and communities.
What inspired you to enter the cannabis industry, and how have you carved out your unique path within this competitive space?
When I began working in cultivation, I quickly realized it was something I wanted to pursue long-term. I entered the industry at the perfect time, just as it was emerging and expanding. With the right timing and connections, I was able to have a unique experience and experience rapid growth within the industry.
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve received, and how has it shaped your approach to your business?
The best advice I can give is to be open to change and different opportunities. This industry isn’t consistent, and I’ve found success in just riding the waves and learning from the lows.
What advice would you give to women interested in starting a business in the cannabis industry or beyond?
Don’t be intimidated. This industry is male-dominated because women don’t typically apply for the role. When you step out of your comfort zone, the doors are open.
Marvina Thomas
Company: Fourtwenty Collections
Title: Founder & CEO
Website: 420-skincare.com
Instagram: @marvinabosslady
LinkedIn: Marvina Thomas
Meet Marvina Thomas, the trailblazing founder and CEO of Fourtwenty Collections, the first Black woman to own a dispensary in Arizona and a leader in multi-state cannabis operations.
From launching New Mexico’s first Black woman-owned dispensary to expanding in Arizona, Marvina is building more than just a brand, she’s creating opportunities for BIPOC and women of color in cannabis. Through her nonprofit Start Living, a portion of every sale helps those in recovery, proving that cannabis can be a force for healing and change.
What inspired you to enter the cannabis industry, and how have you carved out your unique path within this competitive space?
I got interested in cannabis when I started making soap for my group homes and experimented with adding CBD and THC into the soap. I was so impressed with how well it healed a patient with chemical burns on her face that I created a new business that started with infused soap.
As a former registered nurse, helping people comes naturally to me. As a nurse, I saw patients not getting help to heal but instead getting addicted. As an entrepreneur, I can provide healing without using addicting opioids.
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve received, and how has it shaped your approach to your business?
Find a way to serve others, and the money will follow. Having a “people first” business philosophy has created new opportunities and blessed me in countless ways.
What advice would you give to women interested in starting a business in the cannabis industry or beyond?
Keep the faith and never give up. My triumphs revolve around collaboration, integrity, and adaptability. Every setback allows me to learn and grow. Huge challenges will happen in business and life. Keep going; on the other side is success.
Lilach Power
Company: Mazor Collective & Giving Tree Dispensary
Title: Founder & CEO
Website: mazorcollective.com
Instagram: @lilachmazorpower
LinkedIn: Lilach Mazor Power
Meet Lilach Power, one of Arizona’s Top 30 Women in Cannabis and founder of Mazor Collective, a majority-women-owned cannabis company.
She’s led 12 years of innovation with Giving Tree Dispensary and brands like Kindred, Sneakers, and Revelry. A leader in R&D and retail, she’s raised $100K+ for charity and earned Giving Tree a spot on the Inc. 5000 list. Now expanding to Puerto Rico & Israel, Lilach continues to shape the industry.
What inspired you to enter the cannabis industry, and how have you carved out your unique path within this competitive space?
I grew up in Israel, where cannabis has been used for medical purposes and actively researched since the 1960s. From an early age, I understood the plant’s healing potential. So, when medical cannabis became a business opportunity in Arizona, I knew I had to be part of this transformative industry. What sets my journey apart? Staying true to my purpose—serving the community, building a dedicated team, and focusing on what matters. It is about tuning out the noise and trusting in our vision. When you remain authentic and committed, success follows. After 13 years in the industry, I’m proud of what we’ve accomplished. This journey is proof that passion, purpose, and staying true to yourself can lead to success.
What is the best piece of advice you have received, and how has it shaped your approach to your business?
The best piece of advice I’ve ever received is, “Learning what doesn’t work is progress.” I do not view setbacks as failures but as valuable lessons that guide us forward. I often say, “I’m an expert at what doesn’t work,” and I genuinely believe this perspective is a powerful asset. In an ever-evolving environment, being able to quickly identify what is not working and pivoting with agility has been crucial to our success. It’s about embracing the learning process and moving forward stronger each time.
What advice would you give to women interested in starting a business in the cannabis industry or beyond?
GO FOR IT! There is no perfect plan, no perfect timing—just the courage to leap. It is not always easy, but it is always worth it. Surround yourself with people who lift you and believe in your vision and tune out the voices that doubt you. You do not need everyone to understand or support you, you just need to believe in yourself, put in the work, and develop the resilience to keep pushing forward. The journey will be challenging, but the rewards are worth it.
Laura Bianchi
Company: Bianchi & Brandt
Title: Founding Partner at Bianchi & Brandt
Website: bianchibrandt.com
Instagram: @bianchibrandt
LinkedIn: Laura A. Bianchi
Meet Laura Bianchi, co-founding partner of Bianchi & Brandt and one of the nation’s top experts in cannabis law, compliance, M&A, and strategic expansion.
With over a decade in the industry, she has closed hundreds of millions in transactions, guiding clients from startups to large corporations through the complexities of highly regulated markets. Her expertise has earned her features in Forbes, Bloomberg, O Magazine, and more. A true power player in cannabis law, Laura is shaping the future of the industry.
What inspired you to enter the cannabis industry and how have you carved out your unique path within this competitive space?
It was absolutely by accident. I’m a corporate attorney, and when the Medical Marijuana Act passed in Arizona, we had clients who became interested in the rulemaking process. They wanted to see the application and understand the business perspective, what it looked like, voice their concerns, and get recommendations for the process. In the beginning, it was odd. The American Bar Association and many lawyers said we shouldn’t help clients because we could lose our licenses. However, since this was approved by Arizona voters, it didn’t make sense not to assist.
The only way to protect clients and handle deals, especially with significant money involved, was through contracts. To me, contracts are individual puzzles that need solving, which makes them fun. It was trial and error—figuring out what worked and what didn’t and addressing issues as they arose. It evolved in real time. Looking back, it’s a unique experience to have been a part of history, building a business and department to help clients.
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve received and how has it shaped your approach to your business?
This is what I say all the time: you can be right, or you can be successful. You can’t be both. Sometimes, I think professionals working for someone else don’t understand the necessary compromises that come when you have your own business. You have to put your people first. It’s stressful, but you have to take care of your people and have a great culture.
One of my mentors always told me, “Laura, you have to look at your people as the most important. Those salaries are an investment.” Some people think, “I hire more people, I have to pay more money.” It’s not that. To be successful and keep growing, you have to see the value of what you’re paying them as an investment in that person, your business, and everyone’s success.
What advice would you give to women interested in starting a business in the cannabis industry or beyond?
It takes hard work to understand and figure out where you want to go and what type of business you want to start. You’ve got to know your value and know your worth. A lot of times, you really have to fight for the type of business you envision; it’s not always easy, and especially in the cannabis industry. We had a moment where we were doing great as far as having a lot of women in executive roles.
I think that has certainly lessened over the years, unfortunately, so in a lot of ways, it’s become another male-dominated industry again. It’s a challenging industry, and there are complications that you will not find in any other industry. But that also means there’s a lot of opportunity for success and advancement because a lot of people aren’t willing to dig in and do what it takes to be successful in this industry.
Sara Gullickson
Company: The Cannabis Business Advisors
Title: Founder & CEO
Website: thecannabisbusinessadvisors.com
Instagram: @cbadvisors
LinkedIn: Sara Gullickson
What inspired you to enter the cannabis industry and how have you carved out your unique path within this competitive space?
In 2024, I was named Benzinga’s Cannabis Advisor of the Year, but initially, I didn’t look at the cannabis industry as a career opportunity. Instead, I rose to the occasion when the opportunity presented itself. At the time, like most twenty-somethings, I was just trying to make ends meet. Many of us who entered this industry early on got here by accident and became successful out of sheer will and determination.
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve received and how has it shaped your approach to your business?
Build strong relationships. My business is a relationship business. I look at my clients as partners and some even as friends. I work with individuals who have the same moral compass and the same wherewithal and are positive and fluid people. I also connect with clients who have interesting experiences so that we can learn from each other and build a mutually beneficial partnership.
We have been in this industry for over a decade. Our strategies for acquiring licenses have evolved and adapted to reflect specific market needs that have transformed based on the communities and policies they represent. The last six license applications haven’t been merit-based, but even license lotteries require application strategy. At the end of the day, CB Advisors is known for our strategic approach because we have lived through the last 20-25 state program rollouts.
What advice would you give to women interested in starting a business in the cannabis industry or beyond?
I don’t lead with the fact that I’m a woman in the industry, but rather, I go into every project to do a great job and execute. This approach speaks for itself. Whether you are a man or a woman entering this industry, you still have to work hard.
Most people entering the industry do not realize how much capital needs to be raised. Even small dispensaries are running $1.5-2M in underserved areas. People can overspend because they haven’t accounted for the extra industry regulations, red tape, and specialized legal and consulting fees. The other common pitfall is people expecting they are going to be fast millionaires in this industry.
Meaghie Gould
Company: Meaghie Jane
Title: Founder & CEO
Website: meaghiejane.com
Instagram: @meaghiejane
LinkedIn: Meaghie Gould
Meet Meaghie Gould, a standout leader in the cannabis industry. Known for her ability to create unique events that bring communities together, Gould fosters meaningful connections and drives industry growth.
For decades, cannabis users have been portrayed as the “lazy stoner” or the “burnout.” Instead of reinforcing these clichés, Gould uses her events to highlight cannabis’s potential in the health and wellness industry. Her attention to detail and deep understanding of the evolving cannabis landscape allow her to design sophisticated experiences that blend education, networking and culture. Her commitment to inclusivity and innovation is another factor that has positioned her to thrive in this industry. Gould’s vision goes beyond current trends. She is determined to build a safer future for cannabis. A future where cannabis and its benefits are widely recognized and embraced responsibly.
What inspired you to enter the cannabis industry and how have you carved out your unique path within this competitive space?
My inspiration to enter the cannabis industry comes from a deep passion for education, advocacy, and rebranding the plant’s image. Learning about the lasting impact of prohibition motivated me to be part of the change, both in policy and perception. I’ve carved out my path by creating spaces that make cannabis approachable for the ‘canna-curious’ through Meaghie Jane events, which offer an inclusive and elevated experience. Additionally, my work with Arizona NORML and industry organizations has allowed me to bridge the gap between advocacy, education, and business.
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve received and how has it shaped your approach to your business?
I was told by one of my old event planner bosses to always trust and have confidence in my ideas. Over time, this has become easier, but in the beginning, it was challenging to believe the projects I was working on would pay off. I’ve learned to always trust my instincts and bet on myself.
What advice would you give to women interested in starting a business in the cannabis industry or beyond?
My advice to women is that we need to stick together. Navigating any industry, especially cannabis, can be challenging. But we are stronger when we support and uplift each other rather than compete in a way that holds us back. Building genuine connections and creating opportunities for one another not only makes the journey more enjoyable but also helps us all succeed in the long run.
Proven Media is an experienced, trusted public relations and marketing communications firm serving the cannabis industry since 2014. The agency was named a “Top 5 Most Powerful Cannabis PR Firm” by the Observer and serves license holders and ancillary brands.
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