Her Story
About Heather
Heather Joned serves as Leader in Training with the People Area of Responsibility at Green Thumb Industries, managing scheduling, interviewing, hiring, onboarding, training, and coaching for a team of 23 at the Rise dispensary in York, PA. She entered the medical cannabis field in 2019 after a retail career that included positions as shift leader and assistant manager at Dollar General, customer experience coordinator at Marshalls, and various roles at Verano, where she participated in their leadership development program involving corporate training in Chicago and shadowing at Philadelphia stores. Joned attributes her success to a passion for helping patients find natural relief, inspired by personal loss, and emphasizes psychological safety, individualized leadership, and patient education in her work. She is proud of her company's partnership with the Last Prisoner Project.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Heather
01What do you attribute your success to?
I think what makes me successful is actually having passion for what I do in terms of helping people find something natural to help with their pain or their condition. I've lost my stepfather who passed from medication that wasn't studied enough after a car accident, and that drives my passion for a holistic approach.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice is to remember that everyone has their own perspective and specific set of strengths and weaknesses. Embrace that by figuring out the work style of each employee so you can lead each one effectively in an individualized way.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Keep focused on your reason why and your passion. Don't ever hesitate to ask questions even if you feel like you should know. Confidently advocate for yourself and use the tools given to productively advance your career.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The biggest opportunity is the connection with the people that we serve and maintaining those connections. While regulated, there is freedom in connecting with patients and educating them on proper dosage and productive use for relief from medical conditions.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Psychological safety is very important in the workplace because the cannabis industry has more anxiety and pressure due to regulations. Making sure folks feel supported, not harped on, and approaching conversations thoughtfully after thinking them through.
Join Influential Women and start making an impact. Register now.