August 26 2019
The cannabis industry is growing at a record pace, employing thousands across the nation including budtenders, extractors and director of cultivation positions. For women in cannabis, however, the numbers are slowly dwindling. In 2015, women executives and directors held nearly 40 percent of the seats; a number much higher than other industries. Fast forward just four years, as the cannabis business continue to balloon and larger money is getting involved that number has shrunk to just 17%.
That number will plateau and work its way back up if Diana Coats has anything to say about it. Accepting the role as Director of Cultivation for CLOVR Cannabis in Kansas City she brings years of experience and a Ph.D. education to back to where she received her degree and to brand new Missouri business full of potential.
Between answering cultivation application questions and helping with the design and build out of a 175,000 square foot facility she took a moment to answer some questions.
What were you doing before the you entered the cannabis space?Before I entered the cannabis space, I was in academic/traditional agriculture research at University of Missouri. Right before joining the cannabis industry, I had a federally funded Postdoctoral fellowship working on Maize (corn) research on plant responses to changing environments (light, drought, etc.).
I have always been a “plant” person- I was fascinated by science as a kid, then I took a plant biology class in undergrad and was hooked- outwardly, plants seem so simple, but they are so complex and fascinating- there is so much that we don’t know about how they work- cannabis is no exception. I have been involved in plant science and agriculture ever since
I was at a transition point in my career, and decided to jump on an opportunity to join a cannabis startup. It sounded like an adventure!
It has always been important to me to make a positive impact in the world. In college, I found that I had a passion for agriculture and plant science- I was lucky to find a way to follow my passion into agricultural and plant science research. When it came time for me find my career path outside of the academic world, I found that the cannabis industry offered many of the things I was looking for: agriculture, opportunity, while still be able to make a positive impact- by producing safe, high quality medicine.
No, before I joined the CLOVR team, I was at a medical cannabis startup in the New England. When I started, they had just begun the design and build process. I learned so much- not just about cannabis, but about construction, irrigation, automation, environmental controls- far beyond what I ever thought.
Startups can get a bad rap because they can be crazy, challenging and stressful, there are so many things happening at once. But, it is also exciting, and the best part is the sense of accomplishment and pride that you helped build something much larger than yourself.
Working in cannabis is challenging, fun and rewarding! At the end of the day, I love the science, working with plants and I love knowing that the products we are producing have the potential to change someone’s life for the better.
I love the rare and the mutant strains. It’s the geneticist in me ?
My goal for CLOVR cultivation is to grow the best product in the Midwest- for CLOVR to be the go-to for the patients of Missouri. When you see the name CLOVR, or any of our products, I want you to know that those products are safe, reliable, grown with scientific precision and personal care.
I chose to work for CLOVR because of who CLOVR is and what the company is doing. CLOVR is not a giant multi-state company looking to take over the Missouri market, they are local to the area and care about the community. Joining CLOVR is a chance for me to do something that I love, in a place that I love, with a company I believe in. It was a no-brainer!
The whole CLOVR team is invested in bringing the highest quality medical marijuana and medical marijuana products to the patients of Missouri. I am so excited to be a part of building CLOVR cultivation and growing it into a leader in cannabis production. We are taking the time to do it right- no cutting corners, no shortcuts. We are building a state of the art facility to grow the best product available.
Being a woman, and a mother in any industry has its fair share of challenges. The cannabis industry is new compared to other industries, I think there is a conscious effort to be inclusive and diverse. But we all have a role in supporting each other.
Know your strengths, know your limits, set your goals and always work hard. Find someone who can be a mentor for different aspects of your life- I have had the fortune of having some very positive mentors in my career, both men and women, who have pushed me when I needed it most.
At the end of the day, cannabis cultivation is not as glamorous or easy as people think- it is indoor agriculture, where everything in the environment has to be controlled. There is a massive amount of science, engineering and thought that goes into these operations.
There is opportunity out there, but you have to be willing to go for it. I feel like many people feel that they are owed something but the reality is, the world owes you nothing. You have to set your goals and focus your effort to achieve them.
There is so much potential in the cannabis industry, especially in new markets like Missouri. If you are willing to work hard, and always have the mentality to always learn, then there is lots of opportunity!
At the park with my kids ?
If you’re interested in working for CLOVR Cannabis, check out our current openings and send us your resume!
