With everything it takes to create and run a business it’s easy to get sidetracked, but it is very important to stay grounded and truly care about the people on your team. If you do, they will do the same for you and your company.
I had the pleasure of interviewing Patrick Brauckmann, Executive Chairman of Pasha. With two decades of experience identifying, structuring, and financing public and private companies in a vast range of sectors, Patrick Brauckmann brings a unique skill set to Pasha. Throughout his career, Patrick has served in management teams and on boards. He was the founder of Corazon Gold Corp., and also co-founded Healthworks, Canada’s first multidisciplinary medical facilities, as well as Chopra Yoga Studios. Most recently, Patrick moved into licensed production in the US and Canadian cannabis markets. He has advised and financed Canadian cannabis producers Abcann Medicinals and Doja Cannabis Co. of which he was also a founding board member. In 2018, Doja merged with Hiku Brands and was later purchased by Canopy Growth, the world’s largest cannabis company.
Thank you so much for doing this with us! Can you share with us the story about what brought you to this specific career path?
The last company we had financed and which I sat as a Founding Director had just sold for over $500 million to the largest cannabis company in the world and we were all novices in the industry, relatively speaking. I had felt badly that so many great people, including industry founders, were made to sit on the sidelines because they were involved in the former illicit cannabis industry. With this, I saw a great opportunity as a result of the way Canada’s government had been approaching the regulations around cannabis legalization, leading to the creation of Pasha Brands.
Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you began leading your company?
One of the most interesting things that’s happened throughout my career is when I met a cannabis farmer and broker who told me his story of how he had been growing weed in the gulf islands of British Columbia since his teens but had been marginalized by the legalization in Canada due to the stigma around grey market producers. His inability to get a mortgage for his family because of being involved in an illegal industry was enough for me to see how his story would be meaningful to others and was a big part of the inspiration to launch Pasha Brands.
Can you share a story about the funniest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?
The very first funny mistake I made was showing up to work wearing one brown and one blue sock, teaching that paying attention to detail is key.
Are you working on any exciting projects now?
We have launched our company Pasha Brands in Canada, a craft cannabis organization and home to brands which were popular in the pre-legalization or prohibition era. We recently went public on the CSE (Canadian Stock Exchange), FRA (Frankfurt Stock Exchange) and OTCQB, making trading available in the United States. My vision sees Canadian craft products on the shelves of stores in Tokyo, Japan one day. That’s as exciting as it can get!
None of us are able to achieve success without some help along the way. Is there a particular person who you are grateful towards who helped get you to where you are? Can you share a story?
My wife and partner of 30 plus years took me from boyhood and turned me into a father and a man. I’d be a fraction of the person I am today without her patience and ability to pick up the pieces to get me turned around. She’s one of the most beautiful human beings our world has created.
This industry is young dynamic and creative. Do you use any clever and innovative marketing strategies that you think large legacy companies should consider adopting?
No, we just believe that people are looking to connect with other people and their stories. Our world is looking for authenticity so we simply bring real people in the cannabis industry to the forefront without spending a bunch of money on slick campaigns that aren’t really that meaningful.
Can you share 3 things that most excite you about your industry? Can you share 3 things that most concern you?
I love that our industry has so many people focused on health and well-being, that the industry is in the first few innings of what will be a long game and that prohibition is ending.
I believe the industrialization of weed isn’t a healthy thing. The government will make their way down the road to legalization, but in the process, hinder access to products that people need more of.
Can you share your “5 Things I Wish Someone Told Me before I Started”? Please share a story or example for each.
· Everyone is a beginner for the most part
· It’s going to be bigger than anyone predicts
· It’s really hard to grow great weed so leave it to those who’ve done it best
· Just because someone else hasn’t thought of it doesn’t mean it’s not a big thing
· Authenticity and trust in a brand is extremely important
What advice would you give to other CEOs or founders to help their employees to thrive?
With everything it takes to create and run a business it’s easy to get sidetracked, but it is very important to stay grounded and truly care about the people on your team. If you do, they will do the same for you and your company.
You are a person of great influence. If you could inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger. 🙂
Educate oneself and others about the threat and effects that animal consumption has on our world.
What is the best way our readers can follow you on social media?
I’m not really active, but when I have time I post on Twitter. @vonbrauckmann
This was very inspiring. Thank you so much for joining us!