Sheila Patel

My elevator pitch is literally about deciding to get into the elevator. The metaphor of an elevator either going up or going down in business - not knowing if your choices will get you to the penthouse of will you end up in the basement. Additionally, who joins you on what floors and where are they are headed matters. So, I tend to ask my clients, especially, in the industries I represent - to "get in or get out" of the elevator quickly. Things move fast in real estate or cannabis. You have to pivot and make changes as the laws and markets change. Cannabis is still federally illegal and yet it is a growing industry. SO decisions must be made swiftly and you must have a stomach for assessed/strategic risks. And you don't know which way the elevator is headed. Therefore, "get in or get out" has become my mantra. Additionally, I work with mainly women and minorities who have historically had less access or opportunities - risk assessment may be a new strategy for growth.