"Embrace surprises; they bring great opportunities."
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Before assuming the role of CEO at Bright Green in 2023, Groovy Singh had the honor of co-founding and driving the growth of various consumer goods, tech, and retail enterprises.
With stints as Chief Marketing Officer at Glass House Brands Inc. and Chief Strategy Officer at Pangea Global Technology, his focus remained steadfast on fostering innovation and expansion through nurturing strategic alliances, catalyzing substantial growth while positively impacting global markets and industries.
In 2022, the culmination of his prior experiences materialized in the establishment of Peak Visory Consulting. Specializing in guiding U.S. and Asia-based companies towards entry into U.S. markets, this venture paved the way for his acceptance of the CEO role at Bright Green.
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Table of Contents
We are thrilled to have you join us today, welcome to ValiantCEO Magazine’s exclusive interview! Let’s start off with a little introduction. Tell our readers a bit about yourself and your company.
Groovy Singh: I’m honored to be joining you!
Though you could probably trace the origins of my career back even further, I’ll start the “story” with my Bachelors Degree from Stamford College and my graduation from the OPM Program at Harvard Business School.
Since then, I’ve spent over three decades navigating various leadership roles that drew the roadmap to my current dual positions—CEO of Peak Visory Consulting and Bright Green Corporation, respectively. I’ve been immensely fortunate to have my journey enriched by my wife, Camille, and our three wonderful children.
As CEO of Peak Visory, I lead a team of strategists and creatives helping U.S. and Asia-based companies navigate the complexities of entry into U.S. Markets, including commerce, retail strategy, fundraising, and other critical go-to-market components.
I’ve had the privilege to work with some groundbreaking companies, including this exciting endeavor at the helm of Bright Green.
Joining Bright Green was a natural step for me, given my extensive experience in pharmaceuticals, wellness, and international markets. Initially focused on manufacturing cannabinoid products, Bright Green has evolved into a leader in the research, development, and production of Schedule I and Schedule II plant-based drugs and APIs domestically.
Pending final approval for unique federal licensing from the New Mexico Board of Pharmacy, we’re poised to expand operations at our 1 million+ sq ft Grants, New Mexico facility, aiming to lessen U.S. dependence on foreign imports of these drugs and APIs.
Our mission is to establish a domestic supply chain, reducing the risks that such a heavy reliance on importation can pose.
In the past year, what is the greatest business achievement you’d like to celebrate with your team? Please share the details of that success.
Groovy Singh: I’ve had so many notable moments throughout my business career, but looking at the past year, the first that comes to mind is the strategic restructuring efforts the team at Peak Visory implemented for Pangea Global, a technology and hardware company, to pivot towards a more tech-forward approach, making their growth less dependent on their hardware division (as it historically had been).
Facilitating this shift helped catalyze innovation and resulted in substantial growth for both revenue and operations, which has helped lay a solid foundation for their future endeavors.
A second milestone—and really one of the most exciting of my own career—was our collaboration with the Ministry of Health in Malaysia to introduce plant medicine as a treatment option.
Not only was this work incredibly fulfilling, but I felt it really let our ability to navigate diverse global landscapes and drive impactful change shine center stage.
What advice do you wish you had received when you started your business journey and what do you intend on improving in the next quarter?
Groovy Singh: There are quite a few answers I think I could give here, but if I had to offer advice to my younger self, it would be to always prioritize planning and execution, but still remember to trust your instincts.
I’ve always been an advocate of the 5 year plan in both my business aspirations and personal life, but I attribute a huge part of reaching those goals to going with my gut, building trust in the right people, and trying to find time to enjoy the journey.
I think it’s easy to get “tunnel vision” when we’re working so adamantly towards a singular goal, that you’re almost certain to miss opportunities that surface unexpectedly.
Some of the best milestones of my life have been unexpected, so staying open to those possibilities—both personally and professionally—is key.
As my teams and I look ahead to the next quarter, I’d say our primary focus is to prioritize communication within our teams, using a bit of a unique philosophy derived from my experiences as a private pilot (a hobby, but one that comes with some great learnings!). ANC: Aviate, Navigate, Communicate. Aviate meaning to focus on the tasks and challenges at hand.
To navigate by ensuring how I lead my teams is aligned with the directions our companies are moving in, and to create a space where every team member feels comfortable discussing and sharing thoughts and ideas.
I believe communication is truly the nucleus of any great organization, company, or brand, so I intend to keep it a primary focus of our 2024 action plan.
Here is a two-fold question: What is the book that influenced you the most and how? Please share some life lessons you learned. Now what book have you gifted the most and why?
Groovy Singh: When it comes to influential books, Sam Zell’s “Am I Being Too Subtle?” tops my list, along with biographies of successful individuals like Sam Walton, Richard Branson, and Phil Knight.
These insights have shaped my approach to leadership and business strategy. As for the book I’ve gifted most frequently, Dale Carnegie’s “How to Win Friends and Influence People” takes the win.
Effective communication is just so critical in any endeavor, and I’ve always considered this book a valuable resource when learning how to create meaningful interactions and connections.
Business is all about overcoming obstacles and creating opportunities for growth. What do you see as THE real challenge right now?
Groovy Singh: We’re facing some significant challenges this year that are going to require careful navigation. The first is the credit crunch challenge, exacerbated by the dynamics of being in an election year and the anticipation of a new administration.
Historically, this always introduces a level of volatility in policies and regulations, making it essential to stay vigilant and adaptable. Factoring in the global economic realignment that’s still occurring post-pandemic, it’s crucial to stay hyper-focused on our core business drivers to sustain momentum and minimize losses.
But, at the same time, we can’t lose the ability to remain agile—ready to seize opportunities for collaboration and growth as they surface.
By seeking out strategic partnerships that complement our own business efforts, we can leverage synergies that drive mutual success and propel industries forward together.
Additionally, I can’t stress enough the importance of retaining top talent, especially as we’ve seen corporations reducing their workforces left and right. Rather than resorting to talent cuts during tough times, we must start exploring alternative strategies that maximize efficiency within our organization.
By staying attuned to market shifts and continuously investing in our people, businesses can use these challenges to their advantage to emerge stronger and more closely connected.
Years 2020-2023 threw a lot of curve balls into businesses on a global scale. Based on the experience gleaned in the past years, how can businesses thrive in 2024? What lessons have you learned and what advice would you share?
Groovy Singh: Reflecting on the tumultuous last few years, it goes without saying that businesses across the globe have all faced unprecedented challenges. From navigating the uncharted territory of worldwide lockdowns due to COVID-19, to managing fluctuating expectations of growth amidst economic uncertainties, it certainly felt like every “new year” just meant a new set of obstacles.
Being in business throughout these evolutions, however, helped me retain some lessons that I intend to lean on as we look to 2024.
First and foremost, patience is a virtue. The pandemic showed us—abruptly— that some challenges are beyond immediate resolution, and instead call for steadfast perseverance. Essentially, it taught us the importance of being proactive instead of reactive.
Similarly, 2021 highlighted the need to maintain resilience in the face of unpredictable changes, especially as businesses adapted to virtual environments and relied on remote talent. Flexibility became a non-negotiable—and it remains one today.
Looking back at 2023, I think last year truly underscored the necessity of a balanced approach to avoid the impacts of overinflation in the economy. As we move forward into 2024, we have to prioritize survival by amplifying core business functions.
The revenue streams that are the least volatile must become the focus, especially amidst uncertainties like the bubble cycle in cryptocurrency and the emergence of new technologies like AI. Staying grounded in what we know, and not being heavily reliant on projections and predictions in our decision-making, is going to be key.
What does “success” in 2024 mean to you? It could be on a personal or business level, please share your vision.
Groovy Singh: My goals for this year are multifaceted in both my business and personal world. On the professional front, my success “vision board” looks like equipping my teams with the support and tools necessary to achieve our immediate objectives in the year ahead.
Specifically, success for Bright Green entails actualizing the vision of our founding partners by establishing a profitable business model centered around plant-based drugs—an industry with an extensive global history, but one that has yet to gain real ground in the U.S. Market.
Bright Green is positioned to pioneer a true, standardized domestic supply chain, and that’s where we have our sights set in 2024. That looks like securing final approval on our licensing, maintaining our steadfast commitment to federal compliance, and working to obtain federal contracts to make an immediate impact in the “Drugs Made in America” movement.
Personally, my measure of success has always been intertwined with my upbringing and values. As I mentioned before, I’m a devout disciple of the five year plan, and this next one is about striking a harmonious balance between my family life and professional endeavors.
As a father to three young but fast-growing children, being present for them even amidst the whirlwind demands of business is paramount—getting to indulge in all the joys of the parenthood journey, while simultaneously steering our businesses toward unprecedented achievement.
Because ultimately, success, for me, is about finding fulfillment in both spheres of my life so that I can leave a legacy of balanced success for my children, and all the generations to come.
Jed Morley, VIP Contributor to ValiantCEO and the host of this interview would like to thank Groovy Singh for taking the time to do this interview and share his knowledge and experience with our readers.
If you would like to get in touch with Groovy Singh or his company, you can do it through his – Linkedin Page
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