Episode #144: "I Have SOMETHING To Say" with special guest, Claudia Mercado

<p><span data-ogsc="black" data-ogsb="white">GRIT. TENACITY. DETERMINATION. INTELLIGENCE. COURAGE. PURPOSE.</span></p> <p><span data-ogsc="black" data-ogsb="white">These are the qualities that describe a badass like Claudia Mercado, Founder and CEO of Calibueno, an online dispensary and cannabis brand that provides quality, affordable cannabis to adults throughout the state of California.</span></p> <p><span data-ogsc="black" data-ogsb="white">In this episode of I HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY, Claudia shares her migration story from Mexico with her parents and growing up in the Bay Area where the wealth gap between the “haves” and “have nots” is likely greater than anywhere else in the U.S.</span></p> <p><span data-ogsc="black" data-ogsb="white">Understanding that pursuing a career in tech would be her ticket to social mobility, after earning both a BA and MBA from Mills College, she did just that. Soon enough Claudia dominated in her tech roles, however, she also realized that her chances of experiencing a quantum leap in her career advancement would be limited by a broken business ecosystem in which she had no real power.</span></p> <p><span data-ogsc="black" data-ogsb="white">In 2016, she saw an opportunity in the cannabis industry and began preparing to be a key player once California passed laws giving the green light to its commercialization for medicinal and recreational purposes. Claudia was one of the first 50 people to secure a cannabis license in the state (yeah, badass) and the rest is history in the making. </span></p> <p><span data-ogsc="black" data-ogsb="white">As a Latinx social equity brand, Calibueno’s mission is to establish an ecosystem of people, plants, brands, and businesses that spreads wellness and fosters a diverse cannabis industry. </span>Claudia works only with select brands that fall in line with Calibueno’s values of quality, affordability and supporting primarily Latinx and people of color-led companies.</p> <p>She has identified trusted farm workers with small family-owned farms that are