Vladimir Bautista is the CEO and Co-Founder of Happy Munkey, a globally recognized New York City lifestyle brand at the intersection of cannabis, culture, and community. Born and raised in Sugar Hill, Harlem, Vlad is a legacy pioneer who has emerged as a leading voice for social equity and cultural representation in the legal cannabis industry.

Under Vlad's leadership, Happy Munkey made history by opening two state-licensed dispensaries in New York City-151 Dyckman Street in Manhattan and 453 Fulton Street in Brooklyn-marking a major milestone in the movement to bring equity, culture, and creativity to the forefront of the cannabis space.

A sought-after speaker and thought leader, Vlad has spoken at global and national cannabis conferences including MJBizCon, CannaSalud in Mexico, and The Yale Club, where he shares his vision for bridging the gap between legacy operators and the legal market. His work and advocacy have been featured in The New York Times, Rolling Stone, CNBC, Bloomberg, Crain's, USA Today, and more.

From producing iconic social consumption events to educating underserved communities alongside institutions like Columbia University, Vlad's mission is rooted in uplifting voices that have been historically left out of the conversation-particularly those from Black and Latino communities.

As the recipient of a Silver Clio Award for experiential cannabis marketing and a recognized cultural strategist, Vlad continues to prove that the future of cannabis is not just legal-it's local, inclusive, and unapologetically New York.