Meet Javier Hasse

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Javier Hasse. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Javier below.

Javier, first a big thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts and insights with us today. I’m sure many of our readers will benefit from your wisdom, and one of the areas where we think your insight might be most helpful is related to imposter syndrome. Imposter syndrome is holding so many people back from reaching their true and highest potential and so we’d love to hear about your journey and how you overcame imposter syndrome.

Honestly, I haven’t fully overcome imposter syndrome, and I’m not sure I ever will. But over time, I’ve learned to live with it. Every time I’m on stage or giving an interview, I push myself a bit further, and I do feel more confident. But here’s the reality: there’s so much I don’t know—and probably never will. What I consider “enough” keeps shifting, because there’s always something new to learn or even something old that I’ve just discovered.

What helps is that I get to speak with hundreds of subject matter experts every year; people who are pioneers in their fields. That exposure has made a huge difference for me. I’m constantly learning and evolving. It doesn’t make the imposter syndrome disappear, but it definitely softens it.

And something unique about the cannabis industry, especially in the business and finance space where I focus, is that it’s still relatively new. You have people who’ve spent decades studying the plant, its science, its cultivation—but when it comes to the business side, the investments, the markets, the strategies for scaling companies, there are fewer of us who’ve been doing it for a long time. I’ve spent more than a decade diving into the cannabis business, analyzing the financial side, talking to investors, and covering industry shifts.

So, while I still feel like there’s always more to learn, I’ve also realized that the time I’ve put in, and the experience I’ve gained, really do count for something. It’s this constant learning that keeps me grounded, knowing I’ll always be a bit of a student, even as I help shape the conversation around cannabis business and finance.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

I didn’t always know I’d end up in cannabis, but looking back, it feels like the natural path. I started my career in financial journalism, writing about hedge funds, biotech, and insider trading. For over a decade now, I’ve been immersed in the business and finance world, covering everything from stocks to market trends, which eventually led me to focus on cannabis. When cannabis began to emerge as a legitimate industry, I saw a massive opportunity—both personally and professionally—to help shape the conversation around it, particularly when it came to finance, business, legislation and regulation.

My journey into cannabis wasn’t without its challenges. At first, there was skepticism from people around me. I remember telling my mom I was going to cover cannabis, and her immediate response was, “Javier, you’re going to ruin your career.” But I couldn’t shake the feeling that this was an area where I could make a real impact, so I jumped in. Over time, I started writing for major publications like Playboy, Forbes, CNBC, and many others, and what once seemed like a risky move became the foundation of my career.

Writing about cannabis, I quickly realized the industry had a huge knowledge gap when it came to the financial side. Many people knew the science and cultivation, but very few were breaking down the business opportunities in a way that made sense to mainstream investors. That’s where I found my niche, combining my background in finance with my passion for cannabis.

In 2020, El Planteo was born. After years of writing for U.S.-based outlets, I felt there was a gap in the Spanish-speaking market: there wasn’t enough content around cannabis, psychedelics, and related topics for Latin America and Spain. So, alongside my amazing team, we launched El Planteo to fill that void. Now, we cover everything from cannabis and psychedelics to music, art, and sustainability, with a focus on economic and financial angles. We’ve been able to build a platform that not only educates but also breaks down stigma in a region where the conversation around cannabis is still evolving.

Today, I’m still heavily involved with Benzinga, where we’re growing our Cannabis Capital Conferences. These events bring together the top investors, entrepreneurs, and leaders in the cannabis space. And on the El Planteo side, we’re expanding into the agency business, offering social media management for cannabis and psychedelics brands that need help navigating the complex world of online censorship.

We’re also hosting CannaB2B Buenos Aires in November, a major business event for the Latin American cannabis industry. And on a personal note, I’m soon releasing a new book with Hachette’s Sheldon Press, in collaboration with Nicolás José Rodriguez, which I’m really excited about—it’s another step in deepening the conversation around cannabis and its potential.

Looking back, it’s been a wild ride, from writing about hedge funds to shaping the global conversation around cannabis. I feel incredibly fortunate to have had the chance to grow alongside this industry, and I’m excited about what’s still to come.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

I feel like there are three qualities that have been absolutely crucial in my journey: empathy, a thirst for knowledge, and acting ethically while focusing on doing well by doing good. These are values that not only shaped my career but also helped me navigate the ups and downs of a fast-evolving industry like cannabis.

Empathy has been foundational. Whether it’s working with others, interviewing experts, or just understanding the broader social impact of what we do in the cannabis space, empathy helps me connect with people on a deeper level. It allows me to listen, to truly understand the challenges and needs of others—whether it’s a business partner, a team member, or even an audience we’re trying to reach through our work at El Planteo. My advice to anyone starting out is: listen more than you talk. Understanding people’s perspectives will not only make you a better collaborator but will also help you identify real opportunities for impact.

Second, a thirst for knowledge has driven my entire career. I’m constantly learning, and that’s something I’ve never stopped doing. There’s always something I don’t know, but that’s what keeps me pushing forward. In an industry like cannabis, where laws, markets, and science are changing all the time, you have to stay curious. To those early in their journey, I’d say: stay curious, be humble, and never assume you know enough. Seek out mentors, read widely, and don’t be afraid to admit when you don’t have the answers. That’s where growth happens.

Finally, acting ethically and focusing on doing well by doing good has guided me throughout my career. I’ve always believed in building something that’s not just profitable but that makes the world a better place. The cannabis industry, in particular, offers a unique chance to do this by pushing for positive social change, whether through legalization, criminal justice reform, or creating sustainable business practices. My advice here is simple: always prioritize the long-term over the short-term. Doing the right thing may not always be the quickest path, but it’s the one that builds trust, relationships, and a lasting impact.

For anyone just starting, focus on these three things: lead with empathy, stay hungry for knowledge, and always act with integrity. It will take you much further than any shortcut or quick win.

How would you spend the next decade if you somehow knew that it was your last?

One of the biggest challenges I’m facing right now is the shift in the media landscape. It’s changed dramatically over the years. In the past, people bought newspapers and magazines—it was simple: good content, people paid for it. Today, it’s a whole different ballgame. Audiences still expect super high-quality content, rigorous and unbiased journalism, but fewer people are willing to support it financially, whether through subscriptions or sponsorships.

And that creates a real dilemma. How do you sustain a company, a team, and all the jobs that go with it when there isn’t enough support from the community or from the companies that rely on—and profit from—our reporting? It’s not about complaining; it’s about adapting to this challenge.

We’re constantly trying to find new ways to keep the lights on while still delivering the kind of journalism we believe in. It’s a tough balance, but I think a lot of people in media can relate. We’re in this space because we care about telling important stories and making a difference, but we also need the right support to keep going.

Contact Info:

Suggest a Story: BoldJourney is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems,
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
Resilience
Where does your optimism come from?

Optimism is the invisible ingredient that powers so much of the incredible progress in society

Confidence
Stories of Overcoming Imposter Syndrome

Learning from one another is what BoldJourney is all about. Below, we’ve shared stories and

Resilience
The Power of Persistence: Overcoming Haters and Doubters

Having hates is an inevitable part of any bold journey – everyone who has made