Cannabiz Credit Association

Let’s elevate the cannabis industry toward better business. 

The Cannabiz Credit Association is the primary, member-based organization that advocates for better business practices and credit standards for cannabis creditors nationwide. The CCA believes that through the sharing of data, we can empower cannabis businesses to make better business decisions and raise the bar for extending trade credit. 

Trust. Transparency. Transformation.

www.cannabizcredit.com

Founder

CannaBIZ Collects

As Founder and Managing Partner at CannaBIZ Collects, Brett Gelfand operates the nation’s first and leading cannabis-focused collection agency. He is passionate about advancing the industry forward to protect good actors from the bad in the cannabis industry. 

While helping clients recoup their outstanding accounts receivables is his core mission, Gelfand takes great pride in his leadership role towards improving credit and collection practices in the cannabis industry.

CannaBIZ Collects has worked with over 1,000 companies and processed over $100M debt to date. 

CannaBIZ Collects is a no collect, no fee agency. 

"Grow Your Green. We'll Collect It."

www.cannabizcollects.com

Managing Partner

PAQCASE

As Co-Founder and CEO of PAQcase, Brett Gelfand is responsible for articulating and steering the vision of the company that created the world’s first gasket-sealed, child-resistant case for rolled smoking material. 

His responsibilities at PAQcase including high-level stewardship for partnerships with industry leading brands including Canopy Growth, ZigZag, Alien Labs, Justin Bieber’s Peaches, Seth Rogan’s House Plant, and Snoop Dogg’s LBS.

Brett sold his equity in PAQcase in April of 2022 to focus on other ventures. 

Premium. Preroll. Packaging. 

www.paqcase.com

CEO, Co-Founder

Colorado Product Services

Oversight of 60+ employees and 5 brands, including Jimi Hendrix edibles, Mountain Flower and Double Black Extracts. Maintained investor relations, built sales team, managed payroll/expenses, established financial budget/projections, led overall strategy, and helped grow the business from $0 to $500,000 in sales in less than 1 year.

Chief Executive Officer

Executive Vice President

Assistant to the CEO of a start-up cannabis wholesale company in the Western Slope of Colorado. Colorado Product Services owns a newly built 43,000 sq ft high-tech indoor grow warehouse, a 7,000 sq ft marijuana infused product facility, as well as a retail dispensary located in Carbondale, CO. Direct involvement includes: new product development, financial forecasting, budgeting, accounting,  social media marketing, web design, marketing campaigns, branding, equipment/packaging decisions, HR/ recruitment, management and oversight, investor relations, and sales strategies.

Executive Assistant

Protiviti

•Created risk analysis survey to identify key risk areas impacting client

•Automized team’s project log dashboard 

•Drafted planning and scoping memos for multiple audits

•Reviewed and tested over 12 controls for interim SOX testing

Strategy Consultant

Caterpillar Financial

•Initiated and designed the first market intelligence report for Cat Power group

•Organized and segmented industry research 

•Actively participated in various client and deal facilitation meetings

•Presented market intelligence report to Cat Financial executives and employees

Business Development

Student Managed Investment Fund

•One of twenty students selected in the 2014 graduating class to manage the $200K portfolio for the University of Georgia Foundation

•Prepared and presented buy/sell recommendations through fundamental analysis of equities 

•Actively watched and managed six securities in the technology sector

Technology Sector Associate

Leech Gary Asset Management

•Assisted in allocation and management of portfolios ranging from $500K to $50 million 

•Analyzed client portfolios, researched stocks, and pitched potential buy and sell opportunities

•Participated in weekly meetings to understand short and long-term strategy goals 

•Compiled reports comparing performance of ETFs and REITs

•Promoted new business by cold call sales

Intern

Campus Protein

•Expanded Campus Protein to the University of Georgia campus

•Supervised the distribution, inventory, and sales of workout supplements

•Managed three college representatives to sell and distribute products

UGA Division Manager

Craze Entertainment

•Entertained small to large social events including mitzvahs, concerts, fraternity and corporate parties

•Avg event cost ranged from $1,000 - $5,000 

•Responsible for the marketing, production, and management of the company

Owner

Managing Partner @ CannaBIZ Collects & CCA | 🌎 Travel | Innovative Disrupter | Helping companies collect their 💰

I’m driven by the challenge to build great businesses with great people to solve real problems. 

My career began in 2015 after being promoted to CEO of a vertically integrated cannabis company in Colorado, where I gained hands-on experience and deep insights into the industry.

Later, I co-founded a specialty child-resistant cannabis packaging business, where I served as CEO. In 2022, I sold my shares in the company, achieving a personal exit while the business continued operating independently.

Currently I’m the Founder & Managing Partner of CannaBIZ Collects, the nation’s first and leading cannabis-focused collection agency started in 2017. In this role, I work to support cannabis businesses in navigating the unique legal and financial challenges related to A/R and collections.

I’m also the founder of the Cannabiz Credit Association, the first trade credit group in the cannabis industry, where we provide tools for risk monitoring and credit assessments to help businesses make better financial decisions and manage risk effectively.

I earned a BBA in Finance from The University of Georgia, and today, I’m based in St. Petersburg, FL. I’m committed to exploring new opportunities, improving business practices in the industry, and mentoring aspiring entrepreneurs who are looking to make an impact.

Brett Gelfand

Pumped to be holding a panel with this amazing group of industry leaders on Thursday at 10:50am at #MJBizCon 2025. Let's catch up in Las Vegas this December 2 -5. Will be posted up at CannaBIZ Collects booth #7112.

See you at MJBizCon and use my 15% off discount code to attend: SPR25 Link to Registration: https://lnkd.in/djfR2YdB

Recovering unpaid 💰 and reducing credit risk for cannabis companies | Founder @ CannaBIZ Collects & Cannabiz Credit Association (CCA)

The NJ market is starting to feel the same collection pressures that operators in CA, MI, CO, MA, etc have been battling for years.

Glad to see leading brands in the state working with us to get ahead of the problem, and not wait for it to blow up. 

A proactive credit and collections strategy beats the reactive scramble that has become far too common in cannabis today.

View company: Cannabiz Credit Association

We’re excited to announce that Jersey Smooth has officially joined the Cannabiz Credit Association community!

Jersey Smooth is a science-driven, research-focused cannabis brand rooted in New Jersey, committed to producing premium, flavorful extracts and vape products with precision and care. Their “gold in = gold out” philosophy ensures they source top-tier flower and extracts, delivering outstanding quality in every product. 

Their portfolio includes disposable vapes, cartridges, and pre-rolls, all crafted for a smooth, richly flavored experience — whether you're chasing potency, purity, or terpene complexity. 

As a family-owned business deeply rooted in its local community, Jersey Smooth brings not just innovation but also warmth, dedication, and a commitment to wellness.

We’re proud to welcome their leadership, craftsmanship, and passion for elevating the cannabis experience.

#WelcomeJerseySmooth #CannabisExtracts #VapeInnovation #CannabisCommunity #CannabisQuality #CannabisIndustry #CCAMembers

Getting stronger every day to help push our industry forward. 

CCA provides the first and only way to check real-time credit scores and risk in the cannabis industry.

We’re excited to announce that Order.co has officially joined the Cannabiz Credit Association community!

Order.co is a modern, AI-powered procurement and finance automation platform that helps cannabis businesses streamline their purchasing lifecycle — from requisition to payment — with full visibility, compliance, and control. 

With Order.co, operators can:
- Eliminate manual ordering and invoice tasks with automated procurement and AP workflows 
- Gain real-time spend insights and enforce approval workflows to prevent out-of-policy purchases 
- Unlock flexible net-terms (30/45/60 days) for all purchases, improving working capital and cash flow 

Leverage AI sourcing to optimize supplier selection. The platform’s AI recommends cost-effective suppliers based on price, availability, and vendor reliability.

We’re proud to welcome Order.co’s innovation and strategic sourcing leadership to our association. They’re empowering cannabis businesses to scale smarter, save more, and operate with greater financial clarity.

#WelcomeOrderCo #CannabisProcurement #FinTech #CannabisFinance #CannabisOperations #SpendManagement #CannabisIndustry

CCA continues to grow and lead the industry in helping cannabis companies truly know their customers through first-of-its-kind credit reports, insights, and AR monitoring.

We’re excited to announce that Grown Rogue has officially joined the Cannabiz Credit Association community!

Grown Rogue is a multi-state cannabis cultivator known for its craft-quality flower, precision-driven cultivation, and genetics-first approach. With operations focused on consistency, scalability, and sustainability, they continue to raise the bar for premium cannabis production.

Their disciplined operating model and commitment to quality make them a standout cultivator in competitive markets — and a strong addition to the CCA network.

We’re proud to welcome their leadership and cultivation excellence.

#WelcomeGrownRogue #CannabisCultivation #PremiumCannabis #CannabisIndustry #CannabisBusiness #CCAMembers

Proud of the work our team is doing to uncover the gaps that rescheduling won’t fix. Tax relief is great, but without true credit visibility, cannabis operators are still playing with one hand tied behind their back.

Schedule III may remove 280E, but it won’t fix one of the cannabis industry’s biggest financial barriers — credit invisibility.

Even with potentially massive tax relief, most cannabis operators will still struggle to be seen by the traditional credit system. The major credit bureaus remain cautious about onboarding cannabis-related data as long as federal law hasn’t resolved the gap between state-legal markets and federal compliance frameworks.

And without credit reporting, improved cash flow doesn’t translate into better lending terms, lower interest rates, or stronger credit profiles.

In short:
 ✅ Better financials
 ❌ Still invisible to the U.S. credit system
Until federal banking reform addresses this gap, rescheduling alone won’t unlock true financial access for the industry.

📘 Read the complete analysis here - https://lnkd.in/gDH5pm2m

#CannabisIndustry #CannabisBanking #CreditReporting #ScheduleIII #CannabisFinance #CannabisBusiness #BankingReform

Sara Simmonds

CEO Impact Innovator | Helping Purpose Driven Entrepreneurs Scale to $1 Million, $50 Million and Beyond | Follow Me For Systems On Sustainable Growth 🌎

With 100K+ followers, 14 years controlling $ Billion buying budgets generating $200M+ for corporates

Plus $10M+ growth for purpose led founder results and $50M+ in positioned expansion - I built the organic growth system for entrepreneurs I wished existed when I needed it most.

My $150K Lesson:

2007: Co-founded Sharkah Chakra, world's first award-winning impact jeans brand. Featured in Vogue, GQ. Winner/ 30 team members.

The insight: As a $Billion Dollar buyer, I saw what made offers succeed at scale. When I built my own brand, I realized most entrepreneurs don't think like buyers - they think like sellers.

The breakthrough: I stopped asking "What expert should I hire?" and started asking "What would make ME approve this budget?"

The answer: ONE Category of One business - fully integrated, perfectly aligned, impossible to ignore.

That shift changed everything

Impact Innovator OS - The Integrated Growth System

I built ONE system that integrates everything a Purpose Led Entrepreneur needs to scale:

Strategy - Your custom path to scale
Offer - Your Category of One Offer
Sales - Your revenue engine
Mindset - Your breakthrough leadership

Everything in-house. Everything you own. Forever.

My System Results:

£0 to £300K in 12 months without agencies
100K+ organic following through owned systems
Multiple 6-figure months, 40-hour weeks
Zero debt, 100% profitable

Founding Member Results Using This System:

Eugenie & Luis: $1M+ additional revenue
Ami: 0- $300K launch
Carol: $200K Sell out launches and scaling to $30MN
Rachel: $500K funding round achieved 
Jo: $2MN -$4MN Sales Increase 
Marie & Jason: Eliminated $144K agency costs
Alexandra: Closed $75K funding deal 
Paula: Scaled and exited in 12 months
Elizabeth: Ideal to Launch and 18 International Awards, plus Amazon Prime Distribution
Simon: High Ticket Offer launched in 90 days and Best Selling Author of his niche


Founding Member Access (Limited):

▸ Foundation: $15K - Build Your Category of One (12 months)
▸ Scale: $30K - Scale Your Growth System (12 months)
▸ Empire: $60K - Full Integration & Implementation (12 months)

(All programs replace $150K+ in agency costs with ONE in-house system you own forever)
(Limited spots)

For purpose-led entrepreneurs ready to scale to $1M, $50M and beyond as a Category Of One:

▸ Next Masterclass: "5 Systems to Build Your Category of One Business"
▸ Newsletter: Weekly buyer intelligence insights
▸ Strategy Session: 45-min Category of One assessment

→ DM 'SYSTEM' for founding member details
→ DM 'MASTERCLASS' for registration link
→ DM 'NEWS' for newsletter

Business Mentor

Packing for Patagonia made me cry this morning.

Not because I'm sentimental.

Because my suitcase just showed me the living visual proof of the impact I make

And we make here at Impact Innovator OS

I'm taking 6 of our founders with me - not literally, but packing their genius in my case

Six founders. Six category-of-one brands. All are coming with me to the edge of the world.

I have in my suitcase: products, books, and coaching from the innovators I mentor.

Let's have a look at the IMPACT inside out:  

Carol Chyau - Carol's Category Of One Premium Yak Jumpers - to keep warm and stylish hiking

A year ago, Carol was "just" making sustainable jumpers. Now her yak wool is having $200K sell out launches, and is worn by the worlds to influencers 

Kristi Mayfield,- Kristi's Wine as a social power skill coaching wheel - to taste the best of Argentina

Kristi was "a brilliant wine educator" when we met, and now, 60 days later has launched

The number 1 network for wine as a social power skill in the US..

Vanessa Marshall - Vanessa's B CORP Impact shampoo in a bar - so I can travel light 

Vanessa had a brilliant impact beauty brand Jack59, figuring out how to scale to the next level. 90 days later, we have her game plan in place to double sales next year!

Simon Luthi - Simon's Personal Transformation book of the year - Rocket Shaman

Simon, when we met, was pioneering a brand new method of energy based executive coaching, together we simplified his innovation, now he is scaling 5 figure deals, and selling his services to the world's top 1%.

Jeannie Barsam - Jeannie's Not for Profit Gifing Brands - Collections from brands all sales go to charity

Jeannie had been running a not for profit for a few years, figuring out the best way to scale her genius. Together in 90 days, we have helped Jeannie scale to attract billion dollar partnerships, and have a roadmap in place to scale donations by millions    

Alexandra Merlino - Alexandra B Wild Play Longer  Outside Impact Sunscreen 

Alex is a passionate diver, hiker, and skin cancer survivor, we bonded over love of the outdoors and the lack of brilliant sunscreen - high quality and high impact. Together through Impact OS Alexandra has already raised £340K in funding and is set for an awesome launch next year in 2026!   

I am so proud to be taking each founder's genius with me, and proud to be part of their brilliant scaling impact. 

This is the transformation I help purpose led founders create:

Our members become friends together with each other and with me.

Because we all believe

Together we will transform our world

Love Sara

Ready to join us? DM Tribe to find out more

Founder Impact Innovator OS | The #1 Integrated Growth System for Purpose Led Entrepreneurs to Scale to $1M, $50M and Beyond as a Category Of One Business

Out of office. Zero Slack. Zero client calls. Zero "quick questions."

My business is scaling without me.

Today is my first official day hiking in Patagonia, and this post is going out without me touching a thing.

Here's what's happening while I'm off-grid:

My team of 5 is running Impact Innovator OS.

My masterclass funnel is converting at 40%.

My clients are getting transformed through our frameworks.

My content is going out on schedule.

All without me touching a single thing.

This isn't a flex. This is what systems are actually FOR.

Most founders build systems to do MORE work.

I built systems so I could completely CHECK OUT.

Here's the billion-dollar buyer intelligence  Category-of-one founders know:

Your business isn't scalable if it can't run without you for a week.

Not "kind of run."

Not "survive."

Actually SCALE.

So here's my challenge for you:

Could your business scale for a week without you?

If not, you don't have a business. You have a job with extra steps.

The frameworks that make this possible:

✓ Masterclass funnel that converts without you on the call
✓ Team that owns outcomes, not just tasks
✓ Content systems scheduled weeks in advance
✓ Client delivery that doesn't depend on YOUR calendar

This is what 7-figure operations actually look like.

Not busier. FREER.

Enjoy this post. It went out while I was watching the sunrise over the Andes. 

If your business can't run without you, it will never scale beyond you 

DM Masterclass to find out how it's done

No alternative text description for this image

My client just sold out a $280K launch in 24 hours. (Yes - really.)

She did it using my Buyer Intelligence System.

No fancy ads.

No massive audience.

Just billion-dollar buyer psychology applied with precision.

Before we worked together, she already had:

• An innovative product
• Pioneer-level credibility
• A purpose-driven mission

What she didn’t have yet:

• Clarity on which offer buyers truly want
• A way to turn her credentials into influence
• A system that converts at scale

We fixed all three in 90 days.

How?

By using the same formula I used when I controlled $100M+ in retail buying decisions.

I know what makes buyers say “yes” at scale…

because I was the buyer saying yes at scale.

If you're brilliant, mission-driven, and struggling to understand what buyers actually want this is for you.

I’m breaking down the exact system in my upcoming masterclass:

5 Virtual Unknown Buyer Secrets

Monday, December 8th | 12pm CT

Link: https://lnkd.in/dqNVxTFy

This is 10+ years of billion-dollar buyer intelligence distilled into 90 minutes.

Because the world needs what you're building.

Love,
Sara

People often ask me my secret to helping founders sell out (here it is in 60 seconds)

People decide whether to buy you (or not) before they meet you.

My job for over a decade was to hunt out cool founders and brands and give them 6, 7, and 8 figure orders in the process.

Thousands of founders would bang on my door, and I would ignore them.

The one secret that made me buy - those who had a community of raving fans.

When you build that community, people hunt the world for you.

That's why I hunted out the coolest founders from the basements of Berlin (and your clients will too).

Those Berlin basement founders weren't trying to be seen everywhere. 

They had cult status among the buyers who mattered. 

That's what made them irresistible - and expensive.

This is exactly what I teach my clients to build. Not mass visibility. Cult status with your Dream 100.

The Dream 100 Formula:

Element 1: Category-of-One Thought Leadership

Become THE voice your Dream 100 follows (not one of many)

Element 2: Movement Building

Create strategic content and events - they feel part of something bigger

Element 3: Strategic Partnership Network

Credible leaders amplify your reach 24/7 - network effects compound your authority

Element 4: Founder-Led Sales System

Everything connects: your leadership → your movement → your partnerships → 24/7 inbound sales

When these 4 elements integrate, you stop chasing. You build a movement that sells 24/7.

Real status isn't about being seen by everyone. It's about being found by the right people.

Your Dream 100 is hunting for you right now.

Sign up to my newsletter to discover how to make sure they find you.

https://lnkd.in/dsVQABvv

Build Your Raving Fans In 60 Seconds

This is what purpose looks like in action. 💚

Together we will transform our world

Love Sara

A friend calls me 'Stara' - Sara + star. I light up every room I enter. 

Not because I'm performing, but because I stopped proving.

Here is how I started to operate from self love rather than self loathing, proving or trying

I used to think magnetism came from doing more, being more,  or trying more

I thought if I just worked harder or closed that next deal

I would feel worthy, but it never happened

The more I tried to feel worthy by achieving, the less I achieved    

Then I realised: buyers don't choose you

UNTIL YOU CHOOSE YOURSELF

When I began to choose myself

Buyers choose me  because they FELT I was honouring my own light

Here are my 7 light warrior mastery tips for you

Implement them (and thank yourself later) 
 
1. Make decisions from your throne, not the gallery. You're not trying to earn the seat - you're already in it.

2. Stop treating your spiritual practice like a side hobby. 

My 1-2 hours of Buddhist chanting daily isn't "woo woo" 

It's the foundation that enables me to shine my light on the world.

3. Build relationships that nurture you, and do not extract from you.

Real radiance attracts =  real relationships. 

My top 1% network exists because we elevate each other, not use each other.

4. Understand that elevating your  consciousness and results aren't separate. 

Make time to do more elevating and receive more results = Simple Math

5. Stop asking "Am I enough?" and start asking "Is this a match for my frequency?" 

Not everyone gets access to your light; protect it.

6. Become known as number one in your purpose. Not by shouting louder, but by integrating your own light deeper.

7. Realise: the work you do on yourself IS the work that scales your business. 

They're not two paths. They're one becoming.

The moment I stopped proving my worth and started operating from it? 

My Results upgraded. My team upgraded. My entire reality shifted.

Not because I learned a new strategy. Because I let go and allowed my light to shine

This weekend, allow yourself permission to let go and allow your light to shine.

And ask yourself 

What would change if you stopped proving and started being? 

For more insights, sign up for my Impact Innovator newsletter here:

https://lnkd.in/dsVQABvv

Together, we will transform our world

Love Sara

My 7 Light Warrior Tips To Scale

In lockdown, I dreamed to dance tango in Argentina. Last night I danced in Buenos Aires until 3am 

I learned tango in my living room during lockdown.

Me and my partner Anthony practising all night long to YouTube videos

With a dream of dancing in Buenos Aires one day.

My teacher was a pixelated Argentine on a laptop screen. 

We practised our moves night after night

The neighbours  probably thought we'd lost it 

But every night after work, I'd clear the coffee table, and we'd practice ochos and dance.

"One day," I told myself. 

"One day I'll dance where tango was born."

Five years later, I'm writing this from a café in San Telmo, Buenos Aires.

Not on holiday. I'm here for a month. Working mornings, dancing afternoons. 

My business runs completely without me being "in the office."

Last night, I danced at La Catedral until 3am. Real floors. Real partners. Real Argentine tango where it began.

The woman next to me asked how long I'd been coming to Buenos Aires.

"Five years of dreaming. First time actually here."

She smiled. "The tango waited for you."

I think she's right.

Dreams don't have deadlines. They just need you to start.

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Talks about #impact, #entrepreneurship, #productinnovation, #businessinnovation, and #businessmentorship

Take time out to soar higher 

Taking time to BE is not being lazy

It's being powerful 

I asked our members 

At our Impact Inner Circle This Week

This powerful question

If you let go and BELIEVE

In your unique brilliance 

What would be your number 1 goal for 2026 in the influence you want to build?

Who would be the top 3 dream people
You would bring into your network 

1. Dream Client 
2. Dream Person of Influence 
3. Dream Network

There was joy, there were tears, there was laughter

Because when you hold space 

For yourself to give permission 

To unlock that deep dream within your heart 

Anything is possible 

Here is what I learnt that will transform your mindset in 60 seconds 

Going bigger takes the same effort

As remaining small

So why not go big?

That is my invitation to you today 

Take time out to slow down

Stop running and dream big 

You have the power to transform 

Your world and our world

My love of mountains began unexpectedly 

People ask me why I love being in the mountains 

I realised this week in Los Colorados, Argentina, the reason 

Right here at this moment in this video 

Mountains allow you the space to breathe 

To let go and to be held

The problem with life today 

We try to control everything 

We hold on so tightly, thinking we can 

Problem solve our way through everything 

And we can ... with systems to help us

But when you have put the systems in place 

The next secret of sustainable growth 

Is to let go of

And to TRUST

Trust yourself to make the right investments 

Trust your team to hold you 

Trust your systems - leave them space and time to work 

Trust g-d, the universe, whatever you believe 

To listen and to support you to thrive 

Being in the mountains 

Allows me to implement all the above 

To breathe and let go 

To see the magnitude of what is possible 

When you allow yourself to receive 

And 

When you allow yourself to be supported 

Together we will transform our world

I share more thoughts on leadership, growth, and trust in my newsletter. 

You’re welcome to join here: https://lnkd.in/dsVQABvv

My Systems = Permission To Let Go

Systems aren't about control.

They're about permission to let go.

Most founders think systems mean MORE structure, MORE rules, MORE micromanaging.

They're building prisons, not processes.

Here's what I know with billion-dollar buyer intelligence:

The best systems don't need you watching them.

They need you TRUSTING them.

I just spent a week in Patagonia. Zero Slack. Zero check-ins.

My team ran the business.

My masterclass converted at 40%.
My clients got a transformation.
My content went out flawlessly.

Not because I had cameras on everyone.

Because I built systems that give my team permission to OWN their outcomes.

The difference between control systems and freedom systems:

Control systems: "Here's exactly how to do it, check with me before every decision"
Freedom systems: "Here's the outcome we need, here's the framework, you own the how"

Control systems: Team waits for your approval
Freedom systems: Team makes decisions and moves forward

Control systems: You're the bottleneck
Freedom systems: You're irrelevant to daily operations

That last one? That's the goal.

This is the shift:

Stop asking: "How do I build systems so I know what's happening?"
Start asking: "How do I build systems so I don't NEED to know what's happening?"

Your business will scale the day you become irrelevant to its daily operations.

Not because you abandoned it.

Because you built systems that give everyone else permission to own it.

That's not losing control. That's gaining freedom.

You have the power to protect your peace

Most founders think they need a louder brand, a prettier website, and a “unique offer.”

That’s why they stay invisible while weaker competitors jump to the front of the line.

I spent years inside billion-dollar buyer rooms watching how decisions actually get made. 

And the truth is wild. 
Buyers don’t choose the “best” offer. 

They choose the offer that hits 5 very specific psychological triggers (nobody talks about).

On December 8 at 12 PM CST, 
I’m running a private masterclass.

We are revealing all 5 secrets.

Not the surface-level stuff. 

The real levers that make someone choose you instantly and confidently hit purchase.

Here’s a taste:

1. The real reason “being different” backfires and what top buyers use to decide who wins the deal.

2. How certain founders sell out 200K launches in 24 hours with zero ads or fancy funnels.

3. The 2 hidden mechanisms that turn growth from random spikes into momentum.

This is the playbook I used to greenlight more than 100 million in deals.

Founders have used these frameworks to scale from 1M to 50M.

Without hiring a giant agency.
Without burning money on guesswork.

Seats are limited.

This masterclass will not be public.

Register now to unlock the pre-video series before the live session.

Save your seat: https://lnkd.in/dqNVxTFy

Salih Safdar, Dr. Layomi Balogun, Pharm.D and 76 other attendees

5 Billion-Dollar Buyer Secrets That Make Customers Choose You

This time next week, I will be starting a hike in El Chalten Patagonia Fulfilling a life Dream

To walk the path of innovators

I made myself this dream 10 years ago when I wanted to quit being a purpose led founder

Here is what saved me

The Innovator: Yvon Chouinard who founded Patagonia the $Billion Dollar Brand

Chouinard was a broke mountain climber not a business person with a desire to get rich

He simply had a dream to climb mountains

So he taught himself blacksmithing and made awesome mountain equipment.

His friends wanted them. He sold them from his car for $1.50 each.

He didn't set out to build a billion-dollar company.

He just refused to compromise what mattered to him.

When being a purpose led founder got tough for me,

And every bone in my body wanted to quit

I remembered Yvon famous words

"Impossible is the lamest of excuses" Yvon Chouinard

And I realised quitting does not make life easier

It just delays your dreams from being realised - because your dreams don't quit

They keep going back to haunt you - until you realise them

What stopped me from quitting was realising

Everything is "figurable outable" - Including how to build sustainable growth

Like Yvon for mountain climbers, I did the same for purpose led founders

When there was no roadmap for what I wanted to achieve, and help founders achieve

I figured out the roadmap over 10 years

And build the solution - Impact Innovator OS

What would you do if you knew your purpose was the path not the obstacle?

Your Purpose Is Your Compass To Success When The World Feels Like It's Spinning Out Of Control (Like Now)

Read the news, and you'd never get out of bed.

(That's why I stopped reading it years ago.)

With the right formula to share your purpose with the world, you thrive and scale 24/7, no matter what is going on

Even if the zombies come! :)

Here is my advise: Proven over 20 years choosing which brands people buy and don't buy

If you want to scale, go INWARD to the heart of your unique innovation - and simplify it, that is what your dream buyers want.

Stop listening to the jungle drums of uncertainty and fear from the media, from well meaning friends, from family.

Start listening to really hard facts on purpose-driven data.

Here's what the data shows:

Purpose-driven businesses: 31% hit double-digit growth

Everyone else: 21% PWC

And this was WHILE the market dropped from 43% to 25% overall, PWC

Translation: When things get harder, the purpose gap gets WIDER.

Why purpose wins in chaos:

IBM's purpose: "Make a connected world smarter" 

Result: This mission became the focus of 25% of their research in year one - salesforce

Their Smarter Cities mission innovation delivered:

Stockholm: 22% traffic reduction + $92M revenue gain Salesforce
Malta: 15% water savings, 25% energy reduction salesforce
100+ cities transformed
Here's what billion-dollar buyer intelligence taught me:

When you can't see the path forward, purpose becomes your decision filter.

Most founders spin-chasing every lead, every trend, every "strategy."

Category-of-one founders ask ONE question: "Does this align with my unique purpose?"

That keeps you moving forward while everyone else panics.

Your unique purpose is your secret sauce to 7 and 8 figures.

Not your framework.

Not your funnel.

Your PURPOSE is what buyers actually want.

If you want to supercharge your results, the data is clear:-

Stop listening to the jungle drums of fear.
Start leaning into what makes you a category-of-one.

To get clarity on your unique purpose, DM "CLARITY" and I'll send you a private invitation to our upcoming masterclass.

The world wants YOUR purpose, turned up loud FACT

Purpose Your Key To Success

When Purpose Costs You Everything (And You Do It Anyway)

Ben & Jerry's just did something most brands won't:

Founders Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield launched a campaign to 

"free" their ice cream company from parent company Unilever, 

claiming it has "stifled the company's political messaging and actions." VTDigger

The founders are literally fighting their own parent company to PROTECT their purpose.

"Ben & Jerry's has become successful precisely because people know it stands for 
something deeper than ice cream," VTDigger they wrote.

Here's where being the change you want to see delivers game changing results:-

Ben & Jerry's had higher growth rates than Unilever's other ice cream brands in three of the past five years. Inc

The activism MADE them money.

When Unilever allegedly fired their CEO in 2025 over his "commitment to Ben & Jerry's social mission" NPR rather than performance, the founders didn't back down.

They went to WAR for their values.

This is what purpose actually looks like:

25,000 people signed up for their email list after the People's March. Marketing Brew
Their activism manager says it perfectly: 

"The strongest bonds you can build with your customers are over shared values." Inc

Here's what inspires me about this story:

Two 73-year-old founders could have walked away rich and quiet.

Instead, they're fighting a multi-billion dollar corporation to protect what they built.

Not for more money.

For PURPOSE.

This is the permission slip you've been waiting for:

You don't need to compromise your values to scale.

You don't need to "play it safe" to be successful.

You need to stand for something so clearly that people FEEL it.

When your purpose costs you something and you do it anyway

that's when people know you're real.

That's when they become raving fans, not just customers.

Most brands fold the second purpose gets uncomfortable.

Category-of-one founders double down.

Because they know: Purpose isn't profitable until it costs you something.

Your move: What are you willing to fight for when it costs you everything? 

DM Hell Ya if you'd like to join Impact Innovator and together we will transform our world

Warm Wishes
Sar

Mountains don't apologize for taking up space.

Neither should you.

Before I start working with founders many feel like this 

(and its natural by the way, its an old in built operating systems that needs to change)

They shrink their offers to feel "more accessible."

They soften their prices to avoid "being too much."

They dim their genius to not "intimidate" people.

Here is why that old operating system needs to change:

Working as a  billion-dollar buyer taught me this:

The most magnetic founders never apologize for taking up space.

Not because they're arrogant.

Because they know their PRESENCE is their value.

Mountains don't say:

"Sorry for being so tall."

"Maybe I should be smaller so you're more comfortable."

"Let me make myself less imposing."

They just ARE.

Solid. Unmovable. Unapologetic.

Today embrace this: You are allowed to:

Charge premium prices without justifying them

Have standards that eliminate 90% of people

Take up space in your industry

Be too much for some people

Shine without dimming for anyone's comfort

Stop asking permission to take up space.

Just take it.

Most founders think they need better branding, more content, or a “stronger niche” to convert buyers.

But that’s not why they’re being ignored.

Meanwhile, competitors with weaker offers…
smaller audiences…
and zero differentiation…

Are closing deals faster.

After spending years in high-level rooms where multi-million-dollar buying decisions happen, I learned something most founders never hear:

Buyers don’t choose the most impressive offer.

They choose the offer that triggers 5 specific psychological buying switches.

And almost no one is using them.

On December 8 at 12 PM CST, I’m hosting a private masterclass where we’re breaking down these 5 buyer switches in detail.

Not theory.
Not generic “positioning advice.”
But the exact mechanisms top buyers use to say yes - fast.

Here’s a preview of what you’ll learn:

1. Why “standing out” is often the reason you’re NOT getting chosen, and what buyers actually look for instead.

2. The strategy behind founders who sell out 200K launches in a single day without ads, funnels, or giant teams.

3. The hidden systems that turn unpredictable sales into steady, compounding growth.

These are the same frameworks I used to greenlight over $100M+ in deals, and founders have used them to scale from $1M to $50M without burning cash or hiring bloated agencies.

This masterclass is not public, and seats are extremely limited.

Everyone who registers gets access to the pre-training video series before we go live.

🔗 Reserve your spot: https://lnkd.in/dqNVxTFy

If you sell expertise, transformation, or innovation, don’t miss this. This one session could change how buyers see you forever.

I knew my billion-dollar buyer secrets were powerful (Join me at 12 PM CT time today LIVE)

I will be sharing all 5 secrets with you:

How you can get more customers to buy your purpose led offer ( while doing less) 

Why?

Your success is what drives me. 

Watching you break through, exit successfully, own your positioning, regain your confidence, this is why I built these systems.

Here are some of our recent 5 Star Trust pilot  Reviews

"I used Sara's knowledge to fine-tune elements which were decisive for the sale. I exited successfully while taking my company to the next level."
– Paula

"With Sara's support, we confidently stepped into a 'category of one' position—owning what makes our brand distinct and valuable. Within weeks, we were executing with focus and seeing measurable traction."
– Vanessa

"Sara's guidance helps you regain confidence back in your very own unique business value proposition."
– Sarita

"Sara's focused guidance helped me reconnect with the deeper purpose behind my work and articulate my value with much more confidence."
– Pramila

If you want the same results, join us today at 12 PM CT.

I'm teaching the 5 Billion-Dollar Buyer Secrets that get more customers to buy your purpose-led offer.

https://lnkd.in/dqNVxTFy

Sara

Don't Fake It Till You Make It"

Starbucks just admitted what most brands won't:

Their purpose strategy misfired.

CEO Brian Niccol told Axios: "We had this strategy that was just a misfire of a purpose-driven store. It's like, well, the purpose is community connection. I think that's what got us off our game." TheStreet

Wait.

A $103B company with 40,000+ locations worldwide just said their PURPOSE got them OFF their game?

Here's what happened:

Starbucks tried to be everything to everyone.

Purpose became so broad it meant nothing.

Community connection? Great. But if your baristas can't make coffee fast enough, you've lost the plot.

Niccol's fix?

Go back to basics. "Above all else, a coffee company." Craver

This is the billion-dollar buyer intelligence lesson:

Purpose isn't about adding MORE missions to your business.

Purpose is about knowing your ONE thing so clearly that every decision flows from it.

The difference between purpose-washing and purpose as your operating system:

Say No To:- Brands trying to save the world while their core product suffers

Say Yes To: Brands whose purpose IS their product excellence

Look at Patagonia:

They don't talk about being a clothing company that cares about the environment.

They're an environmental company that makes clothing to fund the mission.
See the difference?

One is purpose bolted ON.

One is purpose built IN.

Most founders make Starbucks' mistake:

They add purpose to their pitch deck, their website, and their social posts.

But their operations? Still running on old systems that contradict everything they claim to stand for.

Category-of-one founders don't fake purpose till they make it.

They BUILD their entire business FROM purpose.

Every hire. Every offer. Every client decision.

Either it aligns with your purpose, or it doesn't belong in your business.

Don't fake it till you make it.

Make it real, or don't make it at all. 

Sign up to my newsletter here, for weekly strategic  on how to Be Impactful

https://lnkd.in/dsVQABvv

Read this if you want to stop  feeling like walking through GOOP growing your business 

$2M+ business.

And the founder wanted to quit.

Not because there business wasn't profitable.

Because every day felt like walking through GOOP.

Heavy. Sticky. Exhausting.

Never breaking through to the other side.

Here's what I heard on our first call:

"I'm working 60+ hour weeks. 

My offers convert, but they feel... generic. 

My thought leadership? Non-existent. 

I'm just another founder saying the same things everyone else is saying."

"I feel like I'm wading through mud. Every single day."

The problem wasn't work ethic.

The problem was no CATEGORY-OF-ONE positioning.

No billion-dollar buyer intelligence telling her what to say yes to and what to walk away from.

Just endless tasks, endless clients, endless sameness.

We worked together for 6 months.

Here's what shifted:

BEFORE: Walking through GOOP

Felt invisible in a crowded market
Working harder, not smarter
Burnt out from trying to be everything to everyone
Thought leadership? What thought leadership?

AFTER: Thriving in clarity

Category-of-one positioning that makes her MAGNETIC
Optimized offer that converts without her on every call
Team that owns outcomes, not just tasks
Thought leadership that positions her as THE expert

The difference?

This founder stopped trying to compete.
Started leading from unique genius.

The transformation:

Heavy → Light
Stuck → Flow
Invisible → Magnetic
Exhausted → Energized
Generic → Category-of-One

Same business. Different operating system.

Here's what I heard after 6 months:

"I finally feel like I'm running my business instead of my business running me. 

I'm not walking through GOOP anymore. I'm flying."

This is what's possible when you stop:

Trying to do what everyone else is doing

Working harder to prove your worth

Building offers that require YOU to deliver everything

And start:

✓ Operating from your category-of-one positioning
✓ Leading from inherent worth, not proving worth
✓ Building systems that give you permission to let go

Change the system. Change everything. 

One Day Or Day One You Decide

We’re going LIVE today at 12 PM CST inside a private masterclass.

Most founders think they need better branding or a stronger niche to convert buyers, but that’s not why buyers say no.

Meanwhile, competitors with smaller audiences and weaker offers are closing deals faster.

Why? 

They’re activating 5 psychological buyer switches that almost no one uses.

Today’s live masterclass breaks down exactly how these switches work and how to apply them immediately.

If you’re already registered, see you there.

If not, join us here:

🔗 https://lnkd.in/dqNVxTFy

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