Known as a real time connector, Krista Whitley is an established community leader who was a founding board member for the Conscious Capitalism Chapter of Las Vegas. Honored as a Woman to Watch by Vegas, Inc, Krista serves as the Women Grow Market Leader for Las Vegas and moderates the monthly Las Vegas Medical Marijuana Association Market Trends in Marijuana panel. An experienced business leader, Krista is a “un-stoner” who is dedicated to helping leaders and brands do what they do best.

What​ ​motivated​ ​and​ ​inspired​ ​you​ ​to​ ​start​ ​your​ ​own​ ​business?

I’m​ ​an​ ​award-winning​ ​serial​ ​entrepreneur, ​so​ ​Social​ ​Media​ ​Unicorn​ ​and Altitude​ ​Products​ ​aren’t​ ​my​ ​first​ ​businesses. ​​They​ ​were​ ​created​ ​because there​ ​was​ ​such​ ​a​ ​need​ ​in​ ​the​ ​early​ ​days​ ​of​ ​regulated​ ​medical​ ​marijuana​ ​for professional​ ​branding​ ​and​ ​advertising,​ ​but​ ​none​ ​of​ ​the​ ​big​ ​ad​ ​agencies would​ ​touch​ ​it.​ ​I​ ​wanted​ ​to​ ​pair​ ​my​ ​fast​ ​growth​ ​experience​ ​with​ ​what​ ​I​ ​saw as​ ​the​ ​fastest​ ​growth​ ​industry​ ​in​ ​America.

Tell​ ​us​ ​about​ ​your​ ​business.

Altitude​ ​Products​ ​is​ ​the​ ​umbrella​ ​for​ ​three​ ​businesses​ ​that​ ​I​ ​am​ ​the​ ​CEO and​ ​founder​ ​of. ​Social​ ​Media​ ​Unicorn​ ​is​ ​a​ ​thriving​ ​advertising​ ​agency working​ ​exclusively​ ​with​ ​the​ ​cannabis​ ​industry.​ ​Altitude​ ​Products​ ​has​ ​a licensing​ ​division,​ ​where​ ​we​ ​own​ ​the​ ​license​ ​for​ ​Caviar​ ​Gold​ ​and​ ​other brands​ ​in​ ​the​ ​state​ ​of​ ​Nevada.​ ​As​ ​well,​ ​we​ ​have​ ​our​ ​own​ ​products,​ ​that include​ ​wildly​ ​successful​ ​brands​ ​like​ ​The​ ​Weekend​ ​Box.

List​ ​awards/certifications/accomplishments.

• Over​ ​25​ ​fast​ ​growth​ ​entrepreneur​ ​awards
• Most​ ​recently,​ ​honored​ ​as​ ​a Woman​ ​To​ ​Watch​ ​by​ ​Vegas​ ​Inc
• Watched​ ​on​ ​three​ ​different​ ​reality​ ​TV shows;
• Women​ ​Grow​ ​Las​ ​Vegas​ ​Market​ ​Leader
• Las​ ​Vegas​ ​Medical Marijuana​ ​Association​ ​Market​ ​Trends​ ​in​ ​Marijuana​ ​Moderator;
• CLAB​ ​Social Chair​
• Chair​ ​of​ ​Launch​ ​Event

Where​ ​is​ ​your​ ​business​ ​based?

Las Vegas, NV.

What​ ​were​ ​the​ ​first​ ​few​ ​steps​ ​you​ ​took​ ​to​ ​get​ ​your​ ​business​ ​up​ ​and running?

I​ ​always​ ​start​ ​with​ ​the​ ​vision​ ​for​ ​what​ ​I​ ​want​ ​to​ ​create.​ ​When​ ​you​ ​know where​ ​you​ ​want​ ​to​ ​go,​ ​it​ ​makes​ ​it​ ​easier​ ​to​ ​architect​ ​how​ ​to​ ​get​ ​there.​ ​All​ ​of my​ ​businesses​ ​have​ ​been​ ​deeply​ ​personal.​ ​They​ ​each​ ​have​ ​a​ ​name​ ​or vision​ ​that​ ​is​ ​tied​ ​to​ ​my​ ​personal​ ​brand​ ​and​ ​core​ ​values.​ ​Knowing​ ​who​ ​you are​ ​makes​ ​knowing​ ​what​ ​you​ ​want​ ​to​ ​do​ ​or​ ​create​ ​that​ ​much​ ​easier.

What​ ​has​ ​been​ ​the​ ​most​ ​effective​ ​way​ ​of​ ​raising​ ​awareness​ ​of​ ​your business​ ​and​ ​getting​ ​new​ ​customers?

Relationships. ​Every​ ​business​ ​I​ ​have​ ​ever​ ​built​ ​was​ ​built​ ​on​ ​relationships. It​ ​doesn’t​ ​matter​ ​how​ ​big​ ​your​ ​city​ ​or​ ​how​ ​small​ ​your​ ​business, ​​you​ ​need other​ ​people​ ​to​ ​get​ ​where​ ​you​ ​want​ ​to​ ​go. ​I​ ​don’t​ ​“network”.​ ​In​ ​fact,​ ​I​ ​hate it.​ ​It​ ​feels​ ​dirty.​ ​I’d​ ​rather​ ​invest​ ​deeply​ ​in​ ​one​ ​passionate​ ​person​ ​than​ ​have 40​ ​merely​ ​interested.

What​ ​have​ ​been​ ​your​ ​biggest​ ​challenges​ ​so​ ​far?

Finding​ ​great​ ​people​ ​is​ ​always​ ​a​ ​challenge. ​It​ ​was​ ​the​ ​hardest​ ​thing​ ​for​ ​me to​ ​understand​ ​in​ ​the​ ​early​ ​days​ ​of​ ​entrepreneurship. ​Not​ ​everyone​ ​is​ ​meant to​ ​succeed​ ​and​ ​sometimes​ ​failing​ ​is​ ​the​ ​catalyst​ ​for​ ​them​ ​to​ ​get​ ​where​ ​they need​ ​to​ ​go.​ ​We’re​ ​all​ ​on​ ​our​ ​own​ ​journey,​ ​so​ ​when​ ​things​ ​come​ ​too​ ​easily for​ ​folks,​ ​they​ ​don’t​ ​appreciate​ ​them.​ ​I​ ​look​ ​for​ ​individuals​ ​with​ ​a​ ​strong sense​ ​of​ ​self-awareness​ ​who​ ​have​ ​failed.​ ​That​ ​tenacity​ ​is​ ​something​ ​that appeals​ ​to​ ​me.

How​ ​did​ ​you​ ​overcome​ ​these​ ​challenges?

Back​ ​to​ ​relationships; ​​I​ ​find​ ​my​ ​network​ ​of​ ​like​-minded​ ​leaders​ ​has​ ​helped me​ ​to​ ​discover​ ​really​ ​talented​ ​leaders​ ​who​ ​are​ ​poised​ ​for​ ​great​ ​opportunity. If​ ​I​ ​have​ ​to​ ​explain​ ​the​ ​opportunity​ ​to​ ​people, ​​they’re​ ​not​ ​the​ ​right​ ​people.

How​ ​do​ ​you​ ​keep​ ​motivated​ ​through​ ​difficult​ ​times?

My​ ​daughters. ​Bella​ ​is​ ​9, ​​Mia​ ​is​ ​8. ​​I​ ​exist​ ​to​ ​show​ ​them​ ​that​ ​it​ ​can​ ​be​ ​done. They​ ​are​ ​the​ ​change​ ​I​ ​wish​ ​to​ ​see​ ​in​ ​the​ ​world​ ​and​ ​picking​ ​myself​ ​back​ ​up, fighting​ ​against​ ​the​ ​odds, ​working​ ​through​ ​the​ ​struggle​ ​is​ ​pivotal​ ​to​ ​their belief​ ​that​ ​they,​ ​too,​ ​can​ ​grow​ ​up​ ​to​ ​get​ ​through​ ​any​ ​challenge​ ​life​ ​throws at​ ​them.

How​ ​do​ ​you​ ​distinguish​ ​yourself​ ​from​ ​your​ ​competitors?

A​ ​strong​ ​sense​ ​of​ ​individual​ ​and​ ​brand​ ​identity.​ ​Competition​ ​makes​ ​all​ ​of us​ ​better​ ​and​ ​for​ ​me,​ ​I​ ​can​ ​be​ ​in​ ​a​ ​room​ ​with​ ​100​ ​of​ ​my​ ​competitors,​ ​but you’ll​ ​either​ ​want​ ​what​ ​I’m​ ​selling​ ​or​ ​you​ ​won’t.​ ​I’m​ ​the​ ​only​ ​one​ ​in​ ​the room​ ​selling​ ​the​ ​magic​ ​that​ ​is​ ​my​ ​team​ ​and​ ​I.​ ​If​ ​you​ ​don’t​ ​appreciate​ ​the level​ ​of​ ​concierge​ ​service​ ​we​ ​provide,​ ​you​ ​won’t​ ​be​ ​a​ ​fit.​ ​That’s​ ​great because​ ​there​ ​is​ ​a​ ​room​ ​full​ ​of​ ​options.​ ​I​ ​never​ ​understood​ ​why​ ​people​ ​fear competition.

What​ ​is​ ​the​ ​best​ ​advice​ ​you​ ​have​ ​received​ ​recently?

The​ ​worst​ ​mistake​ ​that​ ​a​ ​business​ ​can​ ​make​ ​is​ ​not​ ​understanding​ ​clearly where​ ​they​ ​are. ​​It​ ​leads​ ​to​ ​business​ ​leaders​ ​who​ ​make​ ​decisions​ ​thinking that​ ​they​ ​are​ ​one​ ​place, ​when​ ​the​ ​reality​ ​is​ ​entirely​ ​different.​ ​I​ ​think​ ​this​ ​is how​ ​businesses​ ​end​ ​up​ ​in​ ​a​ ​ditch.​ ​Leaders​ ​who​ ​just​ ​thought​ ​everything was​ ​awesome,​ ​rather​ ​than​ ​having​ ​a​ ​clear​ ​understanding​ ​of​ ​the​ ​risks​ ​that are​ ​around​ ​the​ ​corner.

What​ ​advice​ ​would​ ​you​ ​give​ ​to​ ​other​ ​entrepreneurs?

Appreciate​ ​that​ ​you​ ​don’t​ ​know​ ​what​ ​you​ ​don’t​ ​know. ​​Surround​ ​yourself with​ ​experienced​ leaders​ ​who​ ​believe​ ​in​ ​you. ​​They​ ​will​ ​get​ ​you​ ​through those​ ​times​ ​when​ ​you​ ​didn’t​ ​even​ ​see​ ​a​ ​risk​ ​coming.

What​ ​are​ ​your​ ​favorite​ ​business​ ​tools/resources​ ​and​ ​why?

I​ ​worship​ ​at​ ​the​ ​churches​ ​of​ ​Google​ ​and​ ​Apple.​ ​Google​ ​because​ ​it​ ​is​ ​cheap and​ ​easy​ ​to​ ​collaborate.​ ​We​ ​don’t​ ​even​ ​buy​ ​Office​ ​anything.​ ​We​ ​just​ ​use Google​ ​docs​ ​and​ ​Gmail​ ​for​ ​everything.​ ​Apple​ ​because​ ​my​ ​phone​ ​talks​ ​to my​ ​iPad​ ​which​ ​talks​ ​to​ ​my​ ​laptop​ ​which​ ​talks​ ​to​ ​my​ ​iMac.​ ​The​ ​time​ ​saved alone​ ​is​ ​worth​ ​the​ ​investment.​ ​Invest​ ​in​ ​smart​ ​technology​ ​that​ ​makes​ ​your day​ ​more​ ​efficient.

What​ ​is​ ​a​ ​good​ ​article​ ​or​ ​book​ ​you​ ​have​ ​read​ ​recently?

I​ ​make​ ​a​ ​point​ ​every​ ​month​ ​to​ ​read​ ​“7​ ​Habits​ ​of​ ​Highly​ ​Effective​ ​People” because​ ​how​ ​the​ ​habits​ ​correlate​ ​to​ ​my​ ​life​ ​changes​ ​as​ ​I​ ​grow​ ​as​ ​a​ ​leader. Great​ ​leaders​ ​are​ ​constantly​ ​improving.​ ​You​ ​have​ ​to​ ​grow​ ​to​ ​keep​ ​up​ ​with your​ ​organization​ ​because​ ​your​ ​organization​ ​can​ ​only​ ​grow​ ​to​ ​your leadership​ ​ability.​ ​Eventually​ ​you​ ​may​ ​have​ ​to​ ​get​ ​out​ ​of​ ​your​ ​business’ way.

What​ ​are​ ​you​ ​currently​ ​learning​ ​about​ ​for​ ​your​ ​business​ ​or​ ​looking​ ​for​ ​help with?

Right​ ​now​ ​I​ ​am​ ​in​ ​the​ ​middle​ ​of​ ​studying​ “Hyper​ ​Sales​ ​Growth”​ ​by​ ​Jack Daly.​ ​I​ ​love​ ​that​ ​guy.​ ​If​ ​you’re​ ​a​ ​savvy​ ​sales​ ​person​ ​in​ ​California,​ ​Maine,​ ​or Massachusetts​ ​that​ ​wants​ ​to​ ​sell​ ​cannabis​ ​all​ ​day,​ ​every​ ​day,​ ​we​ ​should talk.

What​ ​are​ ​your​ ​goals​ ​for​ ​the​ ​next​ ​few​ ​months​ ​and​ ​how​ ​are​ ​you​ ​striving​ ​to achieve​ ​them?

We​ ​launch​ ​The​ ​Weekend​ ​Box​ ​into​ ​California​ ​November​ ​1st​ ​and​ ​a​ ​key component​ ​for​ ​me​ ​was​ ​growing​ ​our​ ​team​ ​with​ ​people​ ​I​ ​trusted​ ​to​ ​lead​ ​that expansion. ​I​ ​am​ ​thrilled​ ​to​ ​have​ ​added​ ​Catherine​ ​Goldberg​ ​and​ ​Doug Helfman​ ​to​ ​our​ ​team.​ ​They​ ​are​ ​determined​ ​to​ ​exceed​ ​all​ ​of​ ​our​ ​expectations.

What​ ​social​ ​media​ ​outlets​ ​do​ ​you​ ​use? ​​List​ ​them​ ​below.

Instagram @socialkrista
Twitter @SocialKrista
Facebook www.facebook.com/KristaWhitleyCastellarin
Facebook Group www.facebook.com/SocialMediaUnicorn
Website www.altitudeproducts.com

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Elaine Rau

Founder and CEO at LadyBossBlogger

Former National Wedding Sales Manager, Elaine Rau lost her brother-in-law, her job, and her home all in one week. Stuck in a developing country with no job opportunities, she had to learn how to make an income online... ASAP. So she spent her last bit of savings, $12.18 to be exact, and invested in a blog domain: LadyBossBlogger.com. Since its conception, LadyBossBlogger has garnered a massive audience of 150K in under 2 years. It's a platform that helps female entrepreneurs learn how to start, grow and scale their own online businesses and blogs. Email ladybossblogger@gmail.com to request the resources you need!

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