Meet Ishqa Hillman

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Ishqa Hillman a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
I’m Ishqa Hillman, founder of The Canna Boss Babes LLC® – an entrepreneurial support platform that creates safe spaces for people in the cannabis industry to share their stories, learn from each other, and grow together. What makes this work so special is that it was born from my own healing journey. After childhood trauma filled with abuse, gangs, juvenile halls, and homelessness, I spent four years homebound with social anxiety. Cannabis gave me peace and eventually led me to leave corporate in 2019 to help others heal and businesses grow.

My decades in operations now fuel my work helping small businesses – both in and out of cannabis – grow sustainably through compelling storytelling and systems that actually work. The Canna Boss Babes are not anti-men – “everyone’s a babe!” We simply recognized that women in cannabis often felt unheard and unsupported. We’re changing that by connecting people and proving that business growth happens when we lift each other up.

What’s new and exciting:
I’m partnering with Kelly Riddle of The CannaJo!nt to bring an incredible three-day experience to Las Vegas December 2-4, 2025, surrounding MJBizCon. We’re hosting Brand Pitch sessions (think PR & media speed dating with Shark Tank-style pitches), curated gatherings, the legendary Kush & Kozy Pajama Party, and an influencer photoshoot at the iconic Neon Graveyard. This is where conversations turn into opportunities and connections evolve into community.

Whether consulting with businesses or doing nonprofit work, my mission remains the same: help people heal, connect authentically, and build something sustainable together.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
The three most impactful qualities in my journey:

1. Authenticity and Vulnerability
My willingness to share my story – the trauma, the anxiety, the healing – has been my greatest asset. People connect with realness, not perfection. When I stopped hiding my struggles and started leading with my truth, everything changed. The community grew, the right opportunities appeared, and the work became meaningful.

My advice: Start sharing your story now, even if it feels scary. You don’t need to have it all figured out. The people who need to hear your message will find you when you’re authentic. Your mess is your message.

2. The Ability to Connect and Hold Space
Creating safe spaces where people feel heard and valued has been the foundation of everything I’ve built. Whether it’s a networking event, a live interview, or a business consultation, my focus is always on genuine connection – not transactional relationships.

My advice: Practice active listening. Ask questions and actually care about the answers. Introduce people to each other without expecting anything in return. Building community isn’t about what you can get – it’s about what you can give. The return comes naturally when you lead with service.

3. Operational Thinking and Systems
Creativity gets you started, but systems keep you going. My decades in operations taught me that sustainable growth requires workflows, processes, and structures that work for your capacity – not against it. I can dream big and stay organized enough to make it happen.

My advice: Don’t wait until you’re overwhelmed to build systems. Start simple – document what you do repeatedly, create templates, and automate where you can. Even a basic checklist can save you hours and mental energy. Growth without systems leads to burnout.

What do you do when you feel overwhelmed? Any advice or strategies?
I take a break. I rest. I go for a walk and listen to music. I dance.

I’ve learned that sometimes the most productive thing you can do is nothing at all. I remind myself that everything is already aligned and that sometimes we just have to give it enough space to let the Universe do the rest. When I stop forcing and start trusting, solutions appear.

My advice:
Be a part of the world. Connect with people. Get out of your head and into your body – whether that’s dancing in your living room, walking around your neighborhood, or just sitting outside. The solution will find you when you stop chasing it.

We live in a culture that glorifies the grind, but I’ve built everything I have by honoring my need for rest and space. Overwhelm is often a sign that you’re trying to control too much. Let go a little. Trust a little more. The work will still be there when you come back – and you’ll handle it better.

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