I became interested in entrepreneurship while working on a college capstone project. I had to write a business plan and present it to a group of “potential investors” for a potential scholarship (think “Shark Tank” meets the classroom.) My immersive student-led traveling museum (MINE), where students could present their academic research, was a winner. The judges granted me multiple scholarships to build the museum and curate exhibitions.Energized by my project’s success, I involved myself with local startups and accepted a position as an Executive Assistant at the “Intelligent Office” coworking space. This job exposed me to many small businesses and emerging industries. It was 2014, a time of change for cannabis and hemp-derived consumer goods legislation. To feed my curiosity about CBD’s hype, I took a position at a hemp startup called “CFH.”As the business grew from 5 to 30 employees with significant growth leading in 2021, I wore many hats across operations management, product development, and product management. CFH then merged with Alliance Nutra, a natural products contract manufacturer, and I am now their VP of Operations.💡What Inspires Me💡Growing product concepts into scaled and commercialized products – watching an idea become a reality and land in the hands of thousands of people – delights me!🏆 My Favorite Achievement 🏆I enjoyed developing a gummy product line to sell to our white-label customers. Gummies were the most technically challenging product to commercialize because they require highly specialized manufacturing equipment, skilled operators, and a robust understanding of confectionery science. The resulting product line increased the market share of existing customer accounts by 30%. Plus, I got to build a candy factory and work in it every day…pretty sweet!❤️ My Superpowers ❤️★ Fairness - My team trusts me to challenge all members equally, which helps us persevere.★ Cross-functional leadership - I implemented a stage-gate product development methodology that reduced time-to-market by 25%.★ Genuine connection - I build trust and pour love into my work, creating great products with heart.★ Lifelong learning - My ever-expanding knowledge provides nuanced perspectives.I'm grateful for the opportunities I've had to grow professionally. As I advance in my career, I hope to maintain a sense of ownership and provide value that fosters team growth and profitability.