Welcome to another inspiring episode of the Bodacious Women in Cannabis podcast! Today, I had the pleasure of speaking with Adelia Carrillo, the Chief Marketing Officer of Event Hi, a cannabis-focused event ticketing platform.

Adelia shared her compelling journey from corporate America to becoming a pivotal figure in the cannabis industry. Her story began with a personal health crisis that led her to discover the healing benefits of cannabis. This transformative experience inspired her to leave her stable career in the consumer electronics industry and dive into the cannabis space, initially founding Direct Cannabis Network, a cannabis tech and entrepreneurship platform.

The conversation delved into the challenges Adelia faced, particularly with mainstream ticketing platforms that flagged and froze funds for cannabis-related events. This significant hurdle led to the creation of Event Hi, a platform designed to support cannabis event organizers by providing compliant payment processing and banking solutions. Adelia detailed the arduous process of finding a bank and a payment processor willing to work with them, ultimately partnering with Partner Colorado Credit Union and a supportive merchant processor.

Despite the setbacks from the pandemic, Event Hi has grown significantly since its launch in 2017, now operating in 47 states. Adelia highlighted the types of events that thrive on their platform, particularly intimate gatherings and infused events centered around food and crafts.

Adelia also shared her insights on marketing strategies, emphasizing the effectiveness of newsletters over social media due to the risk of shadow banning. She stressed the importance of organic growth and community engagement in their success.

Towards the end of our conversation, Adelia reflected on the most joyful moments of her journey, including winning the Best Tech Company award at the Cannabis Business Awards in 2019 and receiving heartfelt messages from event creators who appreciate Event Hi's support and customer service.

For women looking to enter or feeling stuck in the cannabis industry, Adelia offered valuable advice: leverage your unique skill sets, honor the legacy of the cannabis plant, and seek support from women-focused organizations like Blunt Brunch and Empower Her Cannabis Society.

Adelia's unique brand of 'Bodaciousness' lies in her unapologetic authenticity, sharing both the highs and lows of her entrepreneurial journey and personal challenges to remind others that they are not alone.

Thank you for tuning in to this episode. Be sure to check out Event Hi at eventhigh.io and Blunt Brunch at bluntbrunch.com. Stay bodacious!

https://www.linkedin.com/in/adeliacarrillo/

https://www.eventhi.io/

https://bluntbrunch.com/

Produced by PodConx

Susan Burns' Email

Susan Burns' Linkedin

Sound Design by Jamie Humiston

Previous Episodes