Stevie Palmateer: Championing Social Change through Cannabis Technology and Leadership

Stevie Palmateer, the chief technology officer at LeafLink, was recognized for her leadership in cannabis technology at the Green Market Report Women in Cannabis Awards in New York. With 15 years of experience in technology and computer science, Palmateer joined the wholesale cannabis platform in late 2020 with a vision to contribute to social and cultural change through technology.

At LeafLink, Palmateer leads a team of 50 full-time employees and manages enterprise, platform, and product engineering along with IT operations. She played a key role in launching the company’s Flex and Direct Pay payment products within an aggressive timeline of six months. Despite challenges, Palmateer’s focus on engineering excellence has resulted in various improvements across LeafLink’s operations.

While facing economic headwinds, Palmateer believes that making difficult decisions is crucial for a good leader. She sees the challenges as an opportunity to strengthen LeafLink for the future. Reflecting on her journey, Palmateer remains optimistic about the industry’s potential, especially regarding potential cannabis rescheduling and its impact on the industry.

Palmateer is eager to see how rescheduling may bring about practical changes in the industry and spark further reforms, particularly in terms of access to capital. Despite the industry challenges, Palmateer remains committed to her goal of leveraging technology for positive change and contributing to the growth and development of LeafLink in the evolving cannabis landscape.