Full Name
Leah Heise
Job Title
Founder & CEO
Company
Gemini Twin Consulting
Speaker Bio
Leah Heise is an entrepreneur, regulatory attorney, and pioneering cannabis executive with deep expertise in highly regulated industries in the U.S. and abroad. Over the past decade, she has been part of the industry’s first wave of growth, helping shape companies and standards as legal cannabis evolved into a billion-dollar market.
An accomplished C-suite leader, Leah has held senior roles at Ascend Wellness Holdings (Chief Administrative Officer), Women Grow (Chief Executive Officer), 4Front Ventures (Chief Experience/Compliance Officer), and Chesapeake Integrated Health Institute (Founder & President). She has successfully exited four companies—two through acquisition, including one that delivered more than a 10x return for investors, and two through IPO. At Ascend, she focused on building scalable infrastructure, guiding headcount growth from 73 to more than 1,300 in under 18 months and contributing to the company’s trajectory from $19M in 2019 revenue to a $1.6B market cap at IPO in May 2021.
Leah is a sought-after advisor and speaker on the complex issues facing cannabis, hemp, psychedelics, and intoxicating beverage markets. Known for anticipating regulatory shifts, she was among the first voices in cannabis to flag the implications of the Supreme Court’s Chevron decision. She has appeared at SXSW, MJBizCon, MJ Unpacked, Benzinga Capital Conference, NECANN, and other leading forums to address scaling, infrastructure, M&A, risk and compliance, retail operations, technology, licensing, and public listings.
In 2022, global management consultancy Kearney invited Leah to join its Consumer & Retail Practice’s Constellation Advisor Program to bring operational expertise to cannabis. She is the Founder & CEO of Gemini Twin Consulting, advising operators and investors in emerging markets. Leah also serves as a Board Director at Standard Wellness Maryland, as Chairman of the International Cannabis Quality Standards Association, and on the advisory boards of ProCanna and Vannadium.
Leah’s connection to the plant is personal. After a debilitating pancreatitis diagnosis and more than 35 hospitalizations, her physician recommended medical cannabis in 2015. The results were life-changing, informing her advocacy for patient-centered, data-driven policy and responsible industry growth.
An accomplished C-suite leader, Leah has held senior roles at Ascend Wellness Holdings (Chief Administrative Officer), Women Grow (Chief Executive Officer), 4Front Ventures (Chief Experience/Compliance Officer), and Chesapeake Integrated Health Institute (Founder & President). She has successfully exited four companies—two through acquisition, including one that delivered more than a 10x return for investors, and two through IPO. At Ascend, she focused on building scalable infrastructure, guiding headcount growth from 73 to more than 1,300 in under 18 months and contributing to the company’s trajectory from $19M in 2019 revenue to a $1.6B market cap at IPO in May 2021.
Leah is a sought-after advisor and speaker on the complex issues facing cannabis, hemp, psychedelics, and intoxicating beverage markets. Known for anticipating regulatory shifts, she was among the first voices in cannabis to flag the implications of the Supreme Court’s Chevron decision. She has appeared at SXSW, MJBizCon, MJ Unpacked, Benzinga Capital Conference, NECANN, and other leading forums to address scaling, infrastructure, M&A, risk and compliance, retail operations, technology, licensing, and public listings.
In 2022, global management consultancy Kearney invited Leah to join its Consumer & Retail Practice’s Constellation Advisor Program to bring operational expertise to cannabis. She is the Founder & CEO of Gemini Twin Consulting, advising operators and investors in emerging markets. Leah also serves as a Board Director at Standard Wellness Maryland, as Chairman of the International Cannabis Quality Standards Association, and on the advisory boards of ProCanna and Vannadium.
Leah’s connection to the plant is personal. After a debilitating pancreatitis diagnosis and more than 35 hospitalizations, her physician recommended medical cannabis in 2015. The results were life-changing, informing her advocacy for patient-centered, data-driven policy and responsible industry growth.
