Meet Red Rodriguez

We were lucky to catch up with Red Rodriguez recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Red, so excited to talk about all sorts of important topics with you today. The first one we want to jump into is about being the only one in the room – for some that are being the only person of color or the only non-native English speaker or the only non-MBA, etc Can you talk to us about how you have managed to be successful even when you were the only one in the room that looked like you?
As a Queer Hispanic man, I have learned to be effective and successful even when I am the only one in the room that looks like me by embracing my unique perspective and leveraging my creativity. My core strength lies in my ability to be fearlessly passionate, and I have learned to use that passion to fuel my desire to learn and grow as an individual.

I have also learned to surround myself with people who support and encourage me, and to seek mentors who can help me navigate the challenges of being a minority in a predominantly white-dominated industry.

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?
TI am a extremely passionate  marketer I’ve been in the cannabis industry since 2010. I’ve worked for & have launched some of the best dispensaries in Los Angeles CA including the nation’s first cannabis restaurant.

Today I am the Director of Brand Partnerships for GRAV, the world’s largest bong company.

We recently collaborated with an amazing cartoonist Brian “Box” Brown. The industrialization of cannabis and its subculture is happening right in front of our eyes & His work centers on the nuances currently happening within the legalization of cannabis. His method of delivery is through comics which makes very complex legal and business issues easy to digest. We collaborated with him & created a printed zine titled: Rebrenading Reefer Madness: Resisting Modern Cannabis Propaganda, we took some of the artwork from the zine and created a Rolling Tray & Tshirt. Spearheading this project with Box Brown has been amazing, he was easy to work with & from a culture perspective working with him is important for us at GRAV. We also have some dope collaborations happening this year including a highly anticipated restock with streetwear brand Pleasures.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Being adaptive, creative, and passionate are qualities that are the most impactful to the success of myself n the cannabis industry. These qualities are important because they allow me to be flexible and innovative in my approach to problem-solving, which is crucial in a rapidly evolving industry like cannabis.

These qualities can help individuals stand out from the crowd and make a name for themselves in the industry, which can lead to greater opportunities for success.

They can also help individuals stay motivated and passionate about their work, which can lead to higher levels of productivity and job satisfaction.

Contact Info:

Image Credits
Red Rodriguez

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