BOLD MOVES

How Annie Iselin is Shaping the Cannabis Industry in Arkansas.

By Tricia Larson
Photography By Ebony Blevins

Annie Iselin in the grow room at Bold Cultivation.

If there’s one thing Annie Iselin has learned in her cannabis career, it’s that no two days — or markets — are the same. “Challenge and cannabis are perpetual,” she said, laughing. “I liken being in this space to calling audibles often and frequently.” And if there’s one person equipped to do that with grace, grit and humor, it’s her.

Iselin entered the cannabis industry in 2009, when medical marijuana was newly legal in Colorado. At the time, she worked in the nonprofit sector, helping at-risk and homeless youth. But when two college friends landed one of the first cannabis licenses in Denver, they called her up with an offer — one they said they could “kind of” afford to pay her for. (Spoiler: They couldn’t.) She took the job anyway.

That decision landed her at Mile High Green Cross, a small dispensary on Ninth and Broadway, where she did a little bit of everything — budtending, bookkeeping, harvesting, growing, trimming and even transporting. There, she met advocates for legalization, patients seeking alternatives to prescription drugs, and discovered cannabis users came from all walks of life. “Working here is where I learned my business acumen and my love of helping people,” she says.

As the Denver market scaled, so did Iselin. She moved on to Kind Love, an “institution” in the area. Known for quality products and customer service, the Glendale dispensary handily competed with larger cannabis companies. “I’m still quite proud of that,” Iselin remarked. “Some of my former colleagues are now doing amazing things for cannabis all over the nation.”

Eventually, Iselin transitioned into cannabis application writing, consulting on licensing processes nationwide — including Arkansas, where BOLD came into the picture.

“I remember my VP telling me about this group and saying I was probably the only project manager who would align with their values and vision,” she said. Eight years later, Iselin is BOLD’s senior director of operations, overseeing one of the state’s largest cannabis companies.

BOLD embraces a “humans first” philosophy that guides its mission. “No matter what business you’re in, it’s about people first,” Iselin said. That means prioritizing not just quality cannabis, but also relationships with staff, dispensary teams, patients, physicians and even skeptics.

“The stigma in Arkansas is still a challenge,” she admits. “Cannabis has been out of prohibition for a while in other states, but here, we’re still working to educate people. It’s imperative for cannabis users to feel comfortable speaking about their use and their ‘why.’”

If there’s anyone equipped to build those bridges, it’s Iselin. Her strategy? Open doors instead of closing them. Back in Denver, when regulators were still trying to wrap their heads around cannabis, she welcomed them in. “While most weren’t answering their doors, I was inviting them inside, teaching them, asking them questions. We were literally creating the system while we operated.”

She brings that same collaborative spirit to Arkansas. “It’s about finding common ground. The way we overcome stigma is by leaving what we think we know at the door and learning what actually is.”

Iselin describes her leadership style as a balance between “firm when needed, soft when needed.” While she has high expectations, she understands that employees have lives beyond the cultivation facility. “Leadership has to couple accountability with empathy,” she said. “It can make things more challenging sometimes, but it’s how we honor the people who make up our family.”

That responsibility extends beyond the workplace. When asked what keeps her going in an often difficult industry, she points to her relentless drive and those watching her.

“I was born this way,” she said. “My mom instilled individualism. She made sure I knew being different was a superpower. My dad taught me discipline — if you’re going to do something, do it right the first time. I’m a balance of both.”

She also knows that the next generation is paying attention. “I’ve got young people who love me and look up to me. They’re watching how I handle obstacles — how I carry myself when adversity is handed to me as the main course.”

Outside of work, Iselin enjoys disconnecting from technology, reading, watching a good TV series and spending time with her twin grandsons, who keep her “reinvigorated and completely worn out at the same time.”

A lifelong music lover, she lets her playlist set the tone for her day. One artist who stands out: Aretha Franklin.

Iselin was emotional when the Queen of Soul passed. “When her records played in my house as a kid, my dad would get up to dance and say, ‘Can you wiggle your hips?’” she recalls. She admires Franklin not only for her voice, but for her no-nonsense approach to life.

When it comes to cannabis role models, she names Wanda James, the first Black woman to own a fully vertical cannabis company in the U.S. “Wanda is unapologetically herself,” Iselin said. “She embraced me at a time I needed it most. Women are special. She is extraordinary.”

When it comes to the future, Iselin remains pragmatic. “I’m not sure anyone truly knows what’s coming,” she said. “There are benefits to staying a medical-only state, like ensuring patients have access to specialized products. But the industry is always evolving.”

What she does know is that BOLD will continue to set the standard. “We are massive in terms of operation, but we still operate like a small business — at least in how we approach our staff and day-to-day,” she said. “That makes us unique.”

She welcomes the competition in Arkansas’s market. “I love good competition. It brings out the best in everyone — and that’s always better for the patient.”

Since its inception, BOLD has remained committed to building community, producing an exceptional product and providing standout service. With Iselin at the helm, one thing’s for sure — BOLD isn’t just a name. It’s a way of doing business.