Her Story
About Mahala
Mahala Herron serves as Founder and President of Ceremonium, where she makes and manufactures fine edibles and cannabis products for dispensaries. She entered the consumer packaged goods field in 2021 after beginning to create CBD items such as honey sticks, bath bombs, and lotions in 2019, then shifting to cannabis products. Herron earned her undergraduate degree from UCLA, majoring in African American Studies and minoring in Earth Science, and is currently enrolled in graduate school at UC Berkeley. She credits her professional success to trusting herself and knowing her own capabilities, especially without formal business training or certifications. In her role, a typical day involves coordinating with dispensaries via email, visiting stores to discuss products with customers, and working to expand retail placements. Her company achieved placement in six stores within three months of market entry with a niche chocolate product. Herron values advice to listen to herself amid unsolicited opinions common in the male-dominated cannabis sector. She advises young women entering the industry to seek a resonant mentor and trust their own judgment. She identifies heavy government regulations as the primary challenge but sees significant opportunity for creativity in product development due to the regulated environment.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Mahala
01What do you attribute your success to?
I would attribute my success to trusting myself. I know myself, and I think because of that, I do really well in this industry. I've never failed myself, especially in business.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I've ever received was just yesterday from a friend named Sam who does marketing at Mo Green's dispensary in San Francisco. She told me 'Don't listen to anybody. Just listen to yourself.' I think that's great advice, especially in this male-dominated industry where I get a lot of unsolicited opinions.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
My advice would be to seek a mentor that resonates with you and you resonate with them. Trust them. I would also give them the advice that Sam gave me: Don't listen to anyone, just listen to yourself or your mentor.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The biggest challenge in my field is probably the heavy regulations. It's kinda hard to keep track of everything because we have to be compliant with the government since it is a regulated good. The biggest opportunity is there's a lot of space to be creative in cannabis, ironically because it is so regulated. There's just so much possibility into what we can create in this industry.
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