NuWu Sessions Podcast Episode 45: GTI Sales Director Maggie Presley on Leadership, Brand Integrity, and the Future of Cannabis
NuWu Sessions Podcast Episode 45: GTI Sales Director Maggie Presley on Leadership, Brand Integrity, and the Future of Cannabis
The NuWu Sessions Podcast is back, and this episode delivers one of its most thoughtful, experience-driven conversations yet. Hosted by Tom Nieves, the podcast welcomes Maggie Presley, Sales Director at Green Thumb Industries (GTI)—one of the nation’s leading multi-state cannabis operators—for a wide-ranging discussion on leadership, compliance, brand trust, and what it truly takes to scale responsibly in the cannabis industry.
Recorded inside Nevada’s original cannabis lounge, the conversation blends real-world cannabis culture with executive-level insight, offering value to consumers, operators, and aspiring industry leaders alike.
Tom Nieves and Maggie Presley cheers during the recording of NuWu Sessions Podcast inside Sky High Lounge in Las Vegas
0:00 – Intro & Welcome to the NuWu Sessions Podcast in the Sky High Lounge
Tom opens the episode by welcoming listeners back after a brief break and immediately setting a familiar, conversational tone:
“What is going on, guys? Welcome back to the NuWu Sessions podcast. Back from a little bit of a hiatus, but we’re back and ready to rock and roll. Happy to welcome my friend here, Miss Maggie Presley, to the podcast. How you doing today, Maggie?”
Maggie responds simply and warmly:
“Great. It’s so good to be here, Tom.”
Tom emphasizes that this conversation has been a long time coming:
“Long time overdue. Obviously, I’ve known Maggie for years. We’ve been working in this industry for a while now. Seen you with a few different brands and companies. We’ll get into all that, but you’re right—we’re overdue.”
Before diving into industry talk, the two ease into the episode the NuWu way—by acknowledging the setting, the lounge, and the shared ritual of cannabis consumption:
“This is the fun part about being on NuWu Sessions… this is an early morning smoke sesh for us. This is not for the faint of heart, but I know Miss Maggie can hang.”
Maggie Presley, Sales Director at Green Thumb Industries, speaking during the NuWu Sessions Podcast
0:28 – Meet Maggie Presley (GTI) - Cannabis Industry Leader at Green Thumb Industries
Tom formally introduces Maggie’s role and GTI’s footprint in the cannabis space:
“Miss Maggie is the sales director for Green Thumb Industries. A little bit about Green Thumb Industries for those who might not be familiar—you guys are one of the nation’s top CPG companies in the cannabis sector.”
He continues by naming GTI’s portfolio of brands:
“They’re home to iconic brands like Rythm, Dogwalkers, Beboe, and Incredibles. GTI is also known for its high-quality flower, intentional innovation, and immersive brand experiences across multiple markets.”
Tom also calls out GTI’s recognition at the NuWu Cup:
“This year GTI celebrated two wins at the NuWu Cup—Influencer’s Choice Best Pre-Roll and Consumer’s Choice Best Flower. That’s not easy to do.”
Maggie confirms her tenure in the Nevada cannabis market:
“I’m going on year 11.”
Tom reacts:
“Once you get into double digits in this industry, that’s a different thing. This industry is wild.”
Maggie reflects on what that longevity means:
“I’m just so honored with the journey—being able to work in multiple roles for multiple companies, helping build businesses from nothing into fully functioning and profitable entities. The lessons learned through the path are what I needed to get to this point. Everything happened for a reason.”
NuWu Sessions Podcast host Tom Nieves interviewing Maggie Presley inside Sky High Lounge
2:10 – Maggie’s Background & Entry Into the Cannabis Industry
Maggie’s story is grounded in doing the work—often the unglamorous kind.
“When I started, I popped seeds. I cleaned floors. I took out trash. I put up lights on ladders. I put together rolling tables. I helped my team with everything that it took to put it together.”
She pushes back against the idea of entitlement in cannabis leadership:
“You can’t just come into this industry with experience from another industry and expect to be successful right away. It takes time, effort, and actual love. You have to put the passion into it.”
Before cannabis, Maggie’s life looked very different:
“I was going to school for nuclear medicine. I was working as a CNA to take care of my family, and then working odd jobs to make ends meet.”
Her pivot into radio became a turning point:
“That gave me my first opportunity to really shine and to use my noggin. I was programming, producing, helping generate new streams of revenue. I did a little bit of everything—and I loved it.”
Those skills eventually translated directly into cannabis operations, compliance, and leadership
During the conversation, Maggie shares insight into GTI’s brand philosophy and the intention behind its most recognized names, including RYTHM and Dogwalkers. From premium flower standards to Dogwalkers’ mission-driven giveback program supporting no-kill animal shelters, GTI’s portfolio reflects a balance of quality, consistency, and purpose.
5:06 – GTI’s Brand Philosophy: Building Consistent, Trust-Driven Cannabis Brands
When discussing GTI’s brand lineup, Maggie is clear that this isn’t about logos—it’s about belief:
“It’s such a blessing to have brands that you can stand behind and feel so good about selling. That’s how I feel about all of our brands.”
She pauses to speak about Dogwalkers, one of GTI’s most mission-driven brands:
“Dogwalkers comes from our founder’s love of his dog, Bailey. Bailey has since passed, but her legacy lives on through Dogwalkers.”
She continues:
“A portion of our sales every year go back to no-kill animal shelters. Here in Nevada, we’re partnered with the Nevada SPCA. With the donations we’ve made, they’ve been able to get a new building and take care of more animals.”
For Maggie, that purpose matters as much as the product:
“At the end of the day, that’s what’s important.”
Maggie Presley enjoying the Volcano Vaporizer during the filming of NuWu Sessions Podcast episode 45 at NuWu
9:12 – Scaling Cannabis Brands Responsibly in a Highly Regulated Industry
As the conversation shifts into operations and regulation, Maggie doesn’t sugarcoat the challenge:
“It’s a regulatory nightmare.”
She explains the complexity of cannabis logistics in detail:
“When you have three different points of distribution for one sale, things get messed up. The coordination is crazy. Compliance-wise, you have separate licensing for cultivation and production, and that creates so many nuances.”
Despite that, she emphasizes accountability:
“We’re partners to the state by participating in Nevada’s cannabis program. We want to maintain good relations and show what’s possible—not disrespect the system.”
14:40 – Cannabis Product Consistency, Quality Control & Consumer Trust
Consistency, Maggie explains, is non-negotiable:
“If someone finds something they like, they expect it to be the same every time.”
When discussing live resin and vape innovation, she gets technical:
“Everything is kept at a temperature that’s conducive to keeping the live resin in the form it should be in—making sure you still get the cannabinoids and terpenes you should see.”
Tom reinforces the consumer perspective:
“That’s how you build trust. You know what you’re getting.”
Podcast host Tom Nieves sparks a Dogwalker Preroll in Sky High Lounge during the filming of NuWu Sessions Podcast
19:05 – Cannabis Leadership, Internal Culture & Building Strong Teams
Leadership, for Maggie, starts with humility:
“No job is above or below you. You need to treat people the same—from the janitor to the CEO.”
She expands on that philosophy:
“You’ve got to trust the process. Get your foot in the door. Learn the business. Learn what drives people, what their values are.”
Tom agrees:
“A lot of the most successful people in big business started out in the mailroom.”
24:18 – Navigating Compliance Without Killing Creativity
When asked how GTI balances creativity with compliance, Maggie explains that innovation still exists—it just looks different:
“We were so happy when the regulations changed, because now we can work with them instead of fighting them.”
She highlights Nevada’s slow but meaningful progress:
“This is Nevada. This is compliant. It’s cool to see that.”
GTI Sales Director Maggie Presley joins NuWu Sessions to discuss leadership, RYTHM & Dogwalkers brands, NuWu Cup wins, and Nevada cannabis trends.
NuWu Cup Recognition, Product Validation & What the Awards Actually Mean
During the conversation, Tom takes a moment to highlight GTI’s recent recognition at the NuWu Cup, NuWu’s annual blind cannabis competition judged by both consumers and industry influencers. Rather than glossing over the wins, the discussion digs into why these awards matter—especially in a market where consumer trust is earned, not assumed.
Tom Nieves:
“You guys just had a really strong showing at the NuWu Cup. You took home Influencer’s Choice Best Pre-Roll and Consumer’s Choice Best Flower. That’s not easy to do—especially when you’re talking about blind judging.”
He emphasizes that the NuWu Cup is intentionally designed to remove branding, hype, and preconceived notions:
“The NuWu Cup is one of those competitions where the product really has to speak for itself. Consumers don’t know what brand they’re judging. Influencers don’t know what brand they’re judging. It’s all about quality.”
Maggie Presley:
“Those awards mean a lot to us because they come directly from the people actually consuming the product.”
She explains that GTI doesn’t approach competitions as marketing stunts:
“We don’t create something just to win an award. We focus on consistency across the board—because if someone likes something once, they expect it to be the same every time.”
Maggie:
“When consumers choose something as their favorite, especially in a blind competition, it tells us we’re doing something right.”
Tom connects that directly to trust and repeat business:
Tom:
“That’s the ultimate test. When people don’t know what they’re smoking and they still pick your product—that’s real.”
Maggie agrees, noting that blind judging removes ego from the equation:
“There’s no bias. There’s no packaging influence. There’s no reputation involved. It’s just the flower. It’s just the pre-roll. And that’s huge.”
She also points out that awards like the NuWu Cup help brands stay accountable internally:
“It pushes us to keep our standards high. You can’t get complacent when consumers are paying attention and giving honest feedback.”
From Maggie’s perspective, the NuWu Cup isn’t just a competition—it’s a feedback loop.
“It’s one thing to say you make good product. It’s another thing when consumers and influencers independently agree on it.”
Tom reinforces that the NuWu Cup was built for that exact purpose:
Tom:
“That’s why we do the NuWu Cup the way we do it. It’s about highlighting brands that are actually delivering—not just talking.”
As the segment wraps, both agree that recognition from a platform like NuWu—especially one rooted in education, access, and community—carries added weight.
Maggie:
“We’re proud of those wins. Not because of the title, but because of what they represent.”
Maggie Presley enjoying Nitro Dabs out of the Dr Dabber XS Vaporizer during the filming of NuWu Sessions Podcast episode 45 at NuWu
29:33 – The Future of Cannabis Brands and Industry Innovation
Looking ahead, Maggie sees smarter consumers and a need for authenticity:
“Consumers know what they like. They know when something isn’t real.”
She believes brands that stay honest and consistent will win long-term.
34:21 – Career Advice for the Next Generation of Cannabis Industry Leaders
Maggie’s advice is direct and grounded in experience:
“You’ve got to start somewhere. Build your toolbox. Learn something.”
She reiterates:
“No job is above or below you.”
Podcast host Tom Nieves passes a Dogwalker Preroll to Maggie Presley of GTI during the filming of NuWu Sessions Podcast
38:10 – Closing Thoughts, NuWu Sessions Podcast Takeaways & Where to Follow
Tom wraps the episode with gratitude:
“This has been an amazing episode, Miss Maggie. Thank you for being on.”
The episode closes the same way it began—grounded in appreciation, experience, and community.
Watch the NuWu Sessions Podcast Now!
🎧 Watch the full episode of NuWu Sessions Episode 45 on YouTube or listen now on Spotify to hear Maggie Presley’s perspective on leadership and the future of cannabis in Nevada.
See our recap of NuWu Sessions EP.43: Nature’s Chemistry Interview for more industry leadership insight.
Explore more episodes in our full NuWu Sessions Podcast archive.
Be sure to subscribe to the NuWu youtube Channel to stay up to date with all things NuWu Sessions Podcast!
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Green Thumb Industries (GTI)
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gtigrows/
Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/gtigrows
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/gtigrows
Dogwalkers: https://www.instagram.com/dogwalkers/
incredibles: https://www.instagram.com/incredibles/
Volcano Vaporizer
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/storz_bickel/
Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/storz_bickel
NuWu Cannabis
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Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NuWuLV/
Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/NUWULV/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@nuwulv