"I believe that culture impacts every aspect of an organization, from employee engagement and productivity to customer satisfaction and profitability."
Today, we are delighted to present our exclusive interview with Jack Blaeser, the visionary entrepreneur behind Mosaic, a trailblazing software that is transforming the cannabis industry.
Mosaic provides cannabis retail dispensaries with their own branded mobile app, offering a seamless eCommerce experience for order, pay, pickup, delivery, rewards loyalty, CRM, and more – all on a single platform.
Inspired by the Starbucks rewards app, Jack recognized the opportunity to create a user-friendly platform that would attract and educate a wider audience about the benefits of cannabis.
Despite the stigma and his own lack of experience in the industry, Jack saw the potential for cannabis to positively impact the health and wellness of millions of people.
In this interview, Jack shares his insights on what makes Mosaic unique and the company’s greatest strengths, as well as his thoughts on employee engagement, company culture, and the power of listening.
Check out more interviews with entrepreneurs here.
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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.
Jack Blaeser: In these demanding times of long hours and tired mornings, it’s hard not to be familiar with Starbucks and their rewards app. Mosaic has reimagined and reengineered this concept for cannabis. Mosaic’s software offers an extremely efficient and effective way for dispensary retailers to get their products in front of cannabis consumers in a familiar and engaging manner.
Mosaic provides cannabis retail dispensaries their own branded ’Starbuck app’ experience for eCommerce mobile that provides order, pay, pickup, delivery, rewards loyalty, CRM and more; in a single platform. There is nothing else like it in the growing $400 billion industry.
I was never an active user of cannabis throughout the years primarily because of the stigma attached to it. However, as more and more US states began to legalize cannabis, I became increasingly curious about its medical benefits and its potential to positively impact the health and wellness of millions.
The impact opportunity for replacing additive drugs such as opioids and provide beverage alternatives to alcohol is exciting.
Despite my relative inexperience in the industry, I recognized that my lack of knowledge was similar to the larger population that is not educated about cannabis but are the type of customer that the industry wants to attract.
As a result, I saw this as an opportunity to bring a fresh perspective and create a more accessible and user-friendly platform that would appeal to a wider audience.
If you were in an elevator with Warren Buffet, how would you describe your company, your services or products? What makes your company different from others? What is your company’s biggest strength?
Jack Blaeser: Mosaic a technology company that focuses on the cannabis industry, which we believe will impact the health and wellness of millions. With legalization in 36 states and an emerging 460 billion dollar global market, we see exciting new business opportunities.
However, the technology in this industry is terribly fragmented. That’s where Mosaic comes in – we change the game by providing dispensary stores with their own branded ‘Starbucks like’ app and loyalty platform. This enables them to better convert illicit users and drive adoption for new ones.
Our biggest strength is that we offer dispensaries the same business benefits in building its brand, engaging and keeping customers loyal, and optimizing operational efficiencies that has made Starbucks an industry icon. With our app and loyalty platform, dispensaries can gain a competitive edge in this fast-growing industry and stand out among their competitors.
Thank you for listening to our pitch. We believe that Mosaic has the potential to revolutionize the cannabis industry and we are excited about the possibilities it holds.
Quiet quitting, The Great Resignation, are an ongoing trend causing many businesses to struggle keeping talent engaged and motivated. Most are leaving because of their boss or their company culture. 82% of people feel unheard, undervalued and misunderstood in the workplace. In your experience, what keeps employees happy? And how are adapting to the current shift we see?
Jack Blaeser: People are different and therefore motivated differently. But, you are right, so many feel undervalued and unheard which is a major factor missing in most company cultures. I believe that the biggest communication problem is that we don’t listen; and when we do, we do so to reply. That is usually the case in companies too.
Listen and engage. I have a three question practice. One thing that I’ve found to be really helpful in understanding how things are going and building a strong culture within the business is to engage and listen to the people who work throughout the organization.
I made it a point to walk the floor of our office every day (harder to do in today’s virtual world) and ask a few open ended questions, such as “how is everything going” and “is there anything we should do differently?”. It’s amazing what you can learn and the insights that people have about the business.
However, I’ve noticed that often, if not always, people tend to tell me what they think I want to hear. So, I’ve developed a three question practice that I’ve found to be really effective. After asking the same question twice, I’ll follow up with a third one: “I really want to know, what are some challenges that you see that we have?”
That seems to be a psychological tipping point where people feel more comfortable opening up and sharing their true thoughts and insights. They either were fed up with my question or realized I was serious about knowing.
These conversations not only provide me with valuable information, but they also send a powerful message and changed the nature of conversations going forward.
I feel more connected with my team and over time, and I would see more and more people approach me with issues or opportunities. The next step is building that mindset throughout the organization.
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?
Jack Blaeser: I’ll share a couple books by the same author, Yuval Noah Harari, that have not only influenced my thoughts about human nature but also fueled my thirst for learning.
The books “Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind” and “Homo Deus: A Brief History of Tomorrow” have had a significant impact on the way many people perceive the human race and its future.
“Sapiens” provides a comprehensive history of the human species, from the emergence of Homo sapiens in Africa to the present day. The book covers a wide range of topics, including the evolution of human societies, the development of language and culture, the rise of agriculture, and the creation of empires and religions.
Harari argues that the success of Homo sapiens can be attributed to our ability to create and believe in shared myths, such as money, religion, and nation-states.
“Homo Deus” explores the potential future of the human race, focusing on the ways in which technology and science could transform humanity in the coming decades. Harari examines the possibilities of immortality, superhuman abilities, and the creation of a new species through genetic engineering and artificial intelligence.
He argues that these developments could lead to a future in which the traditional concepts of human nature, society, and morality become obsolete.
The impact of these books on my perspective of the human race and its future is profound. Harari’s writing challenges you to question your assumptions about humanity and to consider the implications of historical and future developments for our species. The recent emergence of ChatGPT only reinforces Harari’s earlier insights.
His books encourage you to think about the big picture of human existence and to consider the long-term consequences of our actions. It’s my first recommendation of many thought provoking books.
Business is all about overcoming obstacles and creating opportunities for growth. What do you see as THE real challenge right now?
Jack Blaeser: For my business, as a startup company, the main challenge is today’s challenging capital market environment. On the other hand, I believe that this environment will create opportunities for those that can make it through and provide a window of opportunity to establish competitive advantages as barriers to entry are raised.
In your experience, what tends to be the most underestimated part of running a company? Can you share an example?
Jack Blaeser: Culture in a business can be undervalued, underestimated, and overlooked for a few reasons.
First, it can be difficult to quantify and measure the impact of culture on the bottom line, which can make it seem less tangible and therefore less important to business leaders. Second, culture can be difficult to get right, and it often requires ongoing effort and attention from leaders and employees.
Finally, culture is often deeply ingrained in an organization, which can make it difficult to change or improve. It’s incredibly hard work and requires alignment and effective communication to get it right.
Get it right and it is magical. I take great pride in the culture that we built at BTC Inc where hundreds of careers were developed and team members continue to share fond memories years later on their social accounts.
It was a culture where employees felt that they had input and ability to deliver impact every day. It was a culture where differnt departments not only worked but socialized together. It was a work hard and play hard environment which fueled dynamic growth from startup to $300 million in a highly competitive environment.
I am a Simon Sinek fan and share his belief that culture is a critical factor in determining the success of an organization. That a positive and healthy culture is one where individuals feel valued, supported, and encouraged to take risks and innovate.
In contrast, a toxic culture is one where people feel discouraged, unsupported, and afraid to speak up. I believe that culture impacts every aspect of an organization, from employee engagement and productivity to customer satisfaction and profitability.
On a lighter note, if you had the ability to pick any business superpower, what would it be and how would you put it into practice?
Jack Blaeser: I’d chose the business superpower to see the future. I take that back, what fun would it be after all;)
Jed Morley, VIP Contributor to ValiantCEO and the host of this interview would like to thank Jack Blaeser 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 Jack Blaeser or his company, you can do it through his – Linkedin Page
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