A LIFE IN A DAY: David Peck, CEO of Headquarters

LOS ANGELES- In this edition of A LIFE IN A DAY, Highly Capitalized Network catches up with David Peck, the founder and CEO of Headquarters (HQ)—an operations partner for Cannabis businesses across the country. HQ helps retailers and operators run smoother by handling the work most companies don’t have time or teams for: staffing, systems, automation, and everything in between.

Here, David walks us through a typical day, sharing what life’s like at the helm of a fast-growing company in Cannabis—and what it takes to stay grounded while growing fast.

What’s your morning routine, and what do you think about when you wake up?

I’m usually up around 7 a.m. Mornings revolve around my kids—getting breakfast ready and helping our nine-year-old and four-year-old get dressed and out the door. I usually drive them to school.

While that’s happening, my brain’s already turning—running through the day ahead, or unpacking some idea I half-dreamt the night before. Some of those ideas actually turn into projects later on. Sometimes I even remember to make the bed.

Three or four mornings a week, I’ll squeeze in a run. It’s nothing complicated—but it clears my head, gets the blood moving, and gives me a little win early in the day. Showing up consistently matters.

We live in Culver City, right in the middle of Los Angeles. My wife and I built our home from the ground up, which makes it feel intentional. It’s one of my favorite places to be. That said, we’ll be relocating to Toronto soon. It’s a big shift, but we’re excited to be expanding our East Coast presence and growing the business across new markets.

Culver City, Los Angeles.

Is there anything non-negotiable about your mornings—something you need to have a successful day?

Honestly, the run. It doesn’t always happen, but when it does, everything else seems to fall into place. I’m not chasing some meditative zen state—it just feels good. I think momentum is everything.

How did you get started with Headquarters, and what’s your current role?

Headquarters was born out of necessity. Cannabis companies were trying to grow but couldn’t scale operations fast enough. Too many CEOs were stuck doing the kind of work that should’ve been delegated—but they didn’t have the systems or people in place.

So we built HQ as a partner to help those businesses run more smoothly. Today, we work with operators across the U.S., helping them with data management, process automation, and back-office management.

I’m the CEO, and my role spans a few key areas:
– Business Development – I’m always chasing new opportunities or pushing client conversations forward.

– Project Oversight – A lot of my time is spent on product and process development, especially automation tools that make our clients more efficient.

– Recruiting – We’re growing fast—around 100 people now—and building the right team is how we scale without breaking.

How do you plan your day, and what does your work style look like?

Each night I review my calendar with my assistant to make sure the next day is structured right—deep work blocks, client calls, internal check-ins. I try to protect time for long-term thinking, but it’s not always easy.

What publications do you recommend reading in Cannabis?

I keep tabs on what Highly Capitalized Network is doing, of course. But I don’t follow a strict rotation of trade publications. Most of the content out there is either too reactionary or surface-level. I prefer spending that time building or talking to real operators. That said, we’ve got team members who stay plugged in through their connection at High Times, and that helps keep us looped into industry trends.

What’s your lunch routine—and how does your day unfold after that?

There’s no set lunch. Today I grabbed a burger at 2 p.m. and kept working through it. Most days, I eat at my desk unless I’m meeting someone.

When I do have a proper lunch, it’s usually with a partner or client—more of a relationship-building thing than a meal. Those moments matter. Cannabis is still a people-first industry.

Afternoons are when the engine really runs: internal team check-ins, pushing forward deliverables, checking in with Vedrana (our Head of Client Success), and troubleshooting anything that needs my attention. It’s a mix of strategic and tactical.

What’s one thing you look forward to most each day?

Honestly? The rhythm. Even with the chaos of Cannabis, there’s satisfaction in solving problems and watching a plan come together. Whether it’s a new client win, a smoother process, or a breakthrough with the team—those are the little victories that keep me going.

What’s your evening routine like?

I live just a few blocks from HQ’s office, so the commute home is nothing—though I still end up driving most of the time. Evenings are family time: dinner, helping with homework, winding down with the kids.

Around 8:30 p.m., I usually get back on the computer to think through longer-term initiatives or catch up on anything I missed during the day.

I’m typically in bed around midnight—and I’m asleep the second I hit the pillow. That’s what a day in Cannabis will do to you.

Final thoughts?

Cannabis is still a hard industry. There’s a lot of skepticism, and trust is rare. At HQ, we’ve tried to build a company that earns that trust through real execution. We’re not just consultants—we’re partners who show up and get the work done. If more people operated with that mindset, I think the entire industry would be further along.

Copyright ©2025 Highly Capitalized Network. Thanks to David Peck for sharing his day with us. You can connect with him on LinkedIn or learn more about his company at https://www.headquarters.co