NutraWomen Wednesday: Paola Fernandez, Founder and CEO of High Hemp

While working at her father’s cigar company, Paola Fernandez invented a ‘natural’ alternative to tobacco-based rolling paper. In 2016, High Hemp was born and sells its flagship hemp wraps along with CBD gummies and tinctures. In under 5 years, Fernandez managed to turn her idea into a $10 million business, all before the age of 30.

As a Latinx woman and member of the LGBTQ community, the entrepreneur said she is especially proud of her accomplishments.

“I think it's awesome to be probably one of the few, if any, especially in the roll-your-own space. At least everybody that I've met with is male, mostly White males. So I just think it's nice to be able to be that changing factor in the industry and I pride myself on employing people like me and people of diverse backgrounds and just bringing in a new culture, I think that's what the cannabis industry was made for. Even though we don't try to discriminate against any gender, we do give opportunities or try to seek out a variety of LGBTQ members, women and any kind of people that are looking for employment in the cannabis industry or want to get involved with a start-up, our doors are open.”