When Fortune Magazine launched its first Fortune 500 back in 1955, the list included both publicly and privately held companies for which revenues were publicly available. As we all know, companies typically are identified with their brand and superior products or services, the people who run the company and who are charged with maximizing profitability (the Chief Executive Officer or the Chairperson) or for some faux pas that was so egregious and public that their leadership became public pariahs (you know what I mean Ken Lay, ex-CEO & Chairman of Enron?).
In today’s world, the Glass Ceiling has come down bit by bit as leadership positions become increasing filled by women that have earned and pioneered their way to the top of the mountain. The first woman to head-up a Fortune 500 company was Katherine Graham of the Washington Post Company in 1972.
This year’s CBE’s Most Influential Woman is composed by policy makers, entrepreneur’s seasoned business executives, activists and politicians and we at CBE believe that their presence on the list will only grow in years to come. In lieu of a lack of financial transparency to date for much of the industry, we expect that to change in the future.
Members of the list will surely face new challenges and opportunities as they lead their companies. Dale Sky Jones has just taken on the CEO title at Oaksterdam University and will have to balance that responsibility with contributing heavily to California’s effort to legalize cannabis in 2016.
Amy Poinsett and Jessica Billingsley have their hands full leading MJ Freeway, the leading seed-to-sale software supplier in the industry past their recent implementation troubles.
And…Dr. Nora Volkow, 2014’s CBE Most Influential Woman, for leading the charge against drug addiction while the end to prohibition approaches.
There are many other deserving women that will surely be included in future lists and will contribute to eliminating the glass ceiling and taking the Cannabis Industry to new heights. Enjoy the list and please share your thoughts!
Rob Meagher
President & Editor-in-Chief
CBE Press LLC