Recorded live at ICBC Berlin 2026, Chuck sits down with Stephanie Pow of Emerald Lane Recruitment to explore the people building the global cannabis industry. Pow explains why human capital remains the foundation of every successful cannabis company and shares her unconventional journey from Canadian government and health care work to Humboldt County, cannabis recruitment, and international talent acquisition. She also reflects on the industry’s early “billion-dollar years,” when companies hired aggressively, and how today’s leaner market demands adaptable employees who can thrive in startup environments. The conversation examines how Emerald Lane helps cannabis companies fill critical positions, conduct confidential executive searches, develop compensation plans, and enter unfamiliar markets. Pow discusses the importance of referrals, reputation, regional expertise, language skills, and ensuring that every placement works for both the company and the candidate. The episode also explores Europe’s pharmaceutical cannabis model, the increasingly international supply chain, emerging opportunities across Asia, Africa, Europe, and South America, and Emerald Lane’s new fractional recruiter model. Pow concludes by discussing the recruitment technology and artificial intelligence tools already changing how talent professionals work. 🔥 Topics Covered • Why people remain the foundation of cannabis companies • Stephanie Pow’s journey from health care to Humboldt County • The cannabis industry’s early hiring boom • Recruiting in emerging and mature cannabis markets • Identifying candidates who can thrive in startups • Reputation, referrals, and specialized industry experience • How Emerald Lane approaches critical and confidential searches • Creating job descriptions, compensation plans, and organizational structures • Why hiring should be a two-way conversation • International cannabis recruitment • Europe’s pharmaceutical cannabis framework • Language skills and regional business knowledge • Building lean teams across the global supply chain • Emerald Lane’s fractional recruiter model • Artificial intelligence and recruitment technology 👤 Guest Stephanie Pow, Emerald Lane Recruitment 🌐 Learn More Emerald Lane Recruitment: https://emeraldlanerecruitment.com Stephanie Pow on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephaniepow-globalcannabisrecruiter ⏱️ CHAPTERS 00:58 The people behind the cannabis industry 02:20 Why human capital determines success 03:02 From government and health care to Humboldt County 04:24 What makes cannabis recruitment different 05:56 Experience, reputation, and startup risk tolerance 06:16 Why cannabis employees need a startup mentality 07:33 How Emerald Lane’s recruitment process works 08:57 Building talent networks through referrals and headhunting 10:06 Making hiring a two-way conversation 11:01 Recruiting across international cannabis markets 11:33 Europe’s pharmaceutical cannabis framework 12:10 The evolving international supply chain 12:59 Language, culture, and regional business knowledge 14:22 Germany’s growth and emerging global markets 15:16 Connecting with Emerald Lane Recruitment 15:50 The fractional recruiter model 16:55 Artificial intelligence and recruitment technology 💬 What do you think? What matters most when hiring in cannabis: direct industry experience, startup adaptability, or knowledge of the local market? Let us know your thoughts in the comments! #EmeraldLaneRecruitment #StephaniePow #CannabisCareers #CannabisJobs #CannabisIndustry #GlobalRecruitment #TalentAcquisition #ICBCBerlin #CannabisBusiness #CannabisTechTalks WEBSITE: https://cannatechtoday.com/ Make sure to follow our other social media platforms to stay up-to-date on all things Cannabis & Tech Today. https://twitter.com/cannatechtoday https://www.facebook.com/CannaTechToday https://www.instagram.com/cannatechtoday