2026
Are you Ready?
October 2, 2026
8:00 am-3:00 pm
The Hogan Center
College of the holy cross
1 College St, Worcester, MA 01610
Where Leaders Grow and Multiply Impact
The iGrow Leadership Conference (Previously Live2Lead Worcester) is where leaders grow and multiply impact. This isn’t just another conference; it’s a leadership experience that connects you with inspiring speakers and like-minded leaders, equips you with practical tools and fresh insight, and strengthens your ability to grow yourself, develop others, shape healthy team cultures, and sustain your leadership over time.
This year’s theme, “The Power of Us: Community. Collaboration. Connection.”, reflects our belief that leadership is not meant to be done alone. Through shared experiences, diverse perspectives, and meaningful conversations, iGrow creates a space where leaders can learn from one another, build authentic connections, and grow together.
Gain practical insight into how to lead yourself with clarity and confidence by strengthening your mindset, self-awareness, and emotional intelligence.
Discover how to turn insight into action by shaping healthy team cultures—building trust and navigating change with care and consistency.
Discover actionable strategies to develop and multiply others through coaching, mentoring, and communication that builds trust and psychological safety.
Build leadership rhythms that help you lead well for the long haul—strengthening resilience, setting boundaries, and preventing burnout.
ACCESS PRICES
Founders Early Access
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Be apart of the first group of leaders stepping into Grow.
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Full-day access, curated swag, meals, and exclusive speaker access
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A special gift for the first 10 registrants
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Table, Exhibitor, and Student Registration Available
General Access
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Registration is now open for all leaders ready to grow and multiply their impact.
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Full-day access, curated swag, meals, and exclusive speaker access
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Table, Exhibitor, and Student Registration Available
Final Access
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Final tickets available-Don't miss this year's iGrow experience.
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Full-day access, curated swag, meals, and exclusive speaker access
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Table, Exhibitor, and Student Registration Available
Meet Our Host and Speaker
Dr. Sheri-ann McLean-Williams
Founder and CEO, McLean Coaching and Consulting, LLC, iGrow Leadership Conference Host
Dr. Sheri-Ann McLean-Williams, founder and CEO of McLean Coaching and Consulting, leverages over 14 years of experience in coaching, training, and community development to empower individuals and organizations. Born and raised in Jamaica, her passion for helping others ignited at an early age. Recognized as one of Worcester Business Journal’s 40 Under 40 Honorees for 2025, Dr. Sheri-Ann’s expertise in team building, leadership development, and community engagement is enriched by her diverse background and work in both Jamaica and the US. She is also the author of You Belong in the Room: Activating the Power of Self-Leadership and the BREATHE 30-Day Journal. Outside of work, she cherishes time with family, church, and community activities, along with travel and writing.
Meet This Year's Speakers
Abbey Acevedo
Founder, Business and Being
Abbey Acevedo, Business Consultant + Marketing Strategist + Operations Leader with a Master’s Degree in Communication Management & Organizational Change.
Board-accredited and certified Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) Practitioner, Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) Practitioner, Clinical Hypnotherapist, T.I.M.E Technique Practitioner, and Life and Success Coach.
Sundoor International Certified Firewalk Instructor.
Abbey blends operations, marketing, subconscious coaching, and transformational experiences to support both the business and beings behind it.
Adriana Vaccaro
Culture Strategist | Author | Speaker
Adriana is the CEO of Culture Redesigned , a consulting firm dedicated to helping organizations build cultures where people and performance thrive. An organizational culture strategist, speaker, and author of Culture-Minded, Adriana works with leaders to transform workplace cultures into environments that foster trust, innovation, and engagement.
With extensive experience in leadership development, organizational culture transformation, and workforce strategy, Adriana partners with executives, nonprofits, and public sector organizations to design practical solutions that drive sustainable change. She is also the creator of the Culture-Minded™ framework and certification program, equipping professionals with the tools to lead culture transformation initiatives.
Adriana is passionate about empowering leaders to create workplaces where people feel valued, connected, and inspired to contribute their best
Tim Hally
Co-Founder of Munq
Tim Hally is the Co-Founder of Munq (munqcreative.com), an award-winning marketing agency based in Downtown Worcester. Over the past eight years, Tim has been on a spiritual and entrepreneurial journey of service. From caring for his mother after her stroke to serving as an adjunct professor at his alma mater, Clark University, Tim is deeply committed to the people he loves and to the greater Worcester community. Mentoring the next generation of entrepreneurs is a major pillar of his mission.
In 2024, Tim was named to the Worcester Business Journal’s 40 Under Forty list, and in 2025, he was recognized as the Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce’s Entrepreneur of the Year. His agency, Munq, has won the WBJ’s Best Video Production Company award three years in a row, along with Best Advertising Agency. As Munq continues to grow, Tim hopes to expand the company’s impact across the region and throughout Massachusetts.
Celia Johnston Blue
President and CEO of the MAWOCC
Meet This Year's Leadership Panel
Jen Smith
Director of Strategic Partnerships at At Work Collaborative and Founder of Mindset REDESIGN
Jen Smith is the Director of Strategic Partnerships at At Work Collaborative and
Founder of Mindset REDESIGN. A natural connector in the construction and design industry, she’s spent 20+ years building business the same way she builds relationships, through trust, energy, and showing up for people.
Jen is known for creating spaces where connection actually happens. She manages a 1,400+ person AEC newsletter by sharing curated networking events and opportunities, making it easy for people to get in the room and build real relationships. She has a reputation for bringing the right people together at the right time, sparking partnerships, ideas, and momentum.
Through Mindset REDESIGN, Jen helps people strengthen the relationship they have with themselves and others using subconscious reprogramming tools, so they can communicate better, show up with confidence, and create impact that lasts.
Michael Bastien
Michael Bastien is the Founder & CEO of Brothers in Arms Men’s Support Circle, a community-rooted organization advancing men’s mental health, restorative practices, and leadership development. Since launching in 2022, he has led the organization to serve over 300 men and youth in person—reaching individuals from age 7 to 80 through circles, mentorship, and crisis-support programming.
Under his leadership, Brothers in Arms scaled from $36,000 to over $260,000 in one year, expanding its reach and impact. He is also the Co-Founder of the Juneteenth Arts & Awareness Festival, attracting over 1,000 attendees annually.
Michael is developing the Fatherhood Relief Fund to equip men with financial literacy, life skills, and long-term stability, with a vision to grow it into a six-figure resource.
His work centers on building emotional strength, accountability, and brotherhood among men.
Anabelle Rondon
Anabelle Rondon is the Director of the Transformative Development Initiative (TDI) at MassDevelopment, where she leads a statewide effort to accelerate economic growth across Massachusetts’ Gateway Cities through cross-sector partnerships, community-driven strategies, and catalytic investment. With over 20 years of experience in community development, real estate, and public–private partnerships, she is known for aligning diverse stakeholders, building strong networks, and advancing people-centered economic development. Anabelle’s work is grounded in the belief that transformation is driven by social capital—trust, relationships, and local leadership, and she is deeply committed to equipping communities, particularly leaders of color, with the tools and access needed to shape their own futures. She is also the co-founder of the Planners of Color Network, expanding pathways into leadership within planning and development. She holds a Master of Public Administration and lives in Haverhill, Massachusetts, with her husband and two daughters.
Pierre Joseph
Pierre is a senior manager on the Working Places Team, where he leads the Inclusive Economies Initiative. The initiative aims to build partnerships and support distressed post-industrial communities by connecting civic leaders with capital for inclusive local economic development.
Prior to joining the Boston Fed, Pierre spent over a decade in various roles across philanthropy, impact investing, and government. As a grantmaker, Pierre supported integrated capital approaches and democratizing finance for small businesses. In government, he served as a policy analyst in the Department of Health and Human Services and the White House Rural Council. Pierre is a Harry S. Truman Scholar and holds a B.A. in Political Science with a concentration in urban policy from Amherst College.
Jeff Cammuso
Vice President of Strategic Development, Fontaine
Jeff Cammuso is Vice President of Strategic Development at Fontaine, a fourth-generation, family-owned construction management firm with offices in Springfield and Worcester, MA. With nearly two decades of experience across New England’s most respected construction firms, Jeff leads strategic positioning for Fontaine across higher education, independent schools, healthcare, and private development markets.
Beyond his work in construction, Jeff teaches construction technology to high school students in Worcester, connecting the next generation to careers in the industry. He is a recognized voice in the New England AEC community with a following of 18,500+ on LinkedIn, where he regularly writes about leadership, industry trends, and the people shaping the built environment.
Meet This Year's iGrow Spolight Speakers
The iGrow Spotlight features emerging leaders who are ready to share their voice, story, and leadership insights. In this fast-paced segment, selected speakers take the stage for five minutes to deliver powerful, real-world lessons that inspire growth and connection. It’s a dynamic part of the experience that brings diverse perspectives to life and reflects the true power of shared leadership.
Giselle Rivera-Flores
The People Praxis
Giselle Rivera-Flores works at the intersection of culture, communication, and systems change — examining how identity, power, and belonging shape organizational life and public institutions.
She built The People Praxis after spending years watching organizations invest heavily in communication while never testing what it actually produced. Her work in organizational psychology gave her a framework for what most firms miss: meaning isn’t transferred through messages — it’s constructed by the person receiving them, filtered through identity, trust, power, and history.
Through applied diagnostics and strategic consulting, she helps leadership teams understand not just what they said, but what people were structurally positioned to hear — closing the gap between leadership intent and lived employee experience.
Her work prioritizes people-centered approaches grounded in listening, sense-making, and the belief that sustainable change requires communicative clarity, relational trust, and honest attention to systems.
Xena Robinson
Mahanaim Law
Xena Robinson is an employment attorney, nonprofit leader, and community advocate born and raised in Worcester, Massachusetts. As a proud daughter of Nigerian immigrants, Xena earned her Juris Doctorate from New England Law Boston in 2019 and went on to found Mahanaim Law, a certified minority- and woman-owned law firm dedicated to helping organizations navigate workplace challenges and build stronger workplaces.
In addition to her legal practice, Xena is co-owner of TrustUs Property Solutions, a minority- and woman-owned property management company, and serve as Program Director for the Mary and Robinson Okere Foundation, which expands access to education and healthcare for children in rural Nigeria. She is also a leader at Faith Fellowship Church in Worcester, where she is passionate about mentorship, service, and community engagement.
Through business, ministry, and nonprofit work, Xena is committed to empowering people, strengthening organizations, and creating lasting impact through practical leadership.
Racquel Knight
Own Your Legacy Ventures LLC
Racquel T. Knight, MBA is a social entrepreneur, founder, and community builder dedicated to creating opportunities through entrepreneurship, education, and innovation. She is the Founder and CEO of Own Your Legacy Ventures and the Founder and Board Chair of For One Child Foundation, leading initiatives that empower individuals, strengthen communities, and inspire lasting impact both locally and internationally.
Racquel also serves as the Director of the Auxilium Center for Entrepreneurship at Quinsigamond Community College, where she helps aspiring entrepreneurs transform ideas into action through mentorship, resources, and strategic guidance. With a background in marketing, business development, and nonprofit leadership, she is passionate about helping individuals and organizations build strong foundations for success.
Recognized as a Worcester Business Journal 40 Under 40 honoree and Massachusetts Commonwealth Heroine, Racquel is committed to empowering others to own their legacy, embrace opportunity, and create meaningful change in their businesses, careers, and communities.
Zita Echere
ZOLL Medical
Zita Echere is an OM Analyst at ZOLL Medical and holds a Master’s degree in Innovation from Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI). She is passionate about leveraging technology to drive business growth and community development.
In 2024, Zita contributed to the development of Ubuntu-AI, a platform that supported over 500 artisans across West Africa. Following this work, she organized a founders convening for creative entrepreneurs in Massachusetts, fostering collaboration and innovation within the creative ecosystem.
During graduate school, Zita founded the African Graduate Student Association at WPI, creating a platform for advocacy, leadership, and collaboration. As President, she leveraged the New England African Business Expo to bring together students from over 6 Universities across New England, helping create opportunities for more than 20 startups.
In addition, Zita contributed to research that improved outcomes for over 3,000 minority students. Her work sits at the intersection of responsible AI, business innovation, and building scalable solutions for community development.
Our Dedicated Partners
The Triple E Leader (Platinum)-1 Remaining
The Expanded Leader (Gold) - 1 Remaining
The Empowered Leader (Silver) - 5 Remaining
The Engage Leader (Bronze) - 2 Remaining
Partnership Packages
Our Exhibitors
FAQ
WHY SHOULD I SPONSOR iGROW LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE
Sponsoring the iGrow Leadership Conference positions your organization as a champion of leadership, growth, and community impact. This world-class leadership experience—features impactful speakers and attracts professionals, entrepreneurs, and emerging leaders across Central Massachusetts. By partnering with iGrow Leadership Conference, your brand gains visibility among purpose-driven influencers while supporting initiatives that develop future leaders and strengthen our local workforce. It’s more than sponsorship—it’s an investment in transformation, connection, and lasting legacy.
HOW WILL I BENEFIT FROM ATTENDING iGROW LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE?
Attending this event will provide you with a number of key benefits. You will:
✔ Gain powerful, fresh insights from impactful speakers.
✔ Learn practical strategies to lead yourself and others more effectively.
✔ Have the opportunity to connect with like-minded professionals and grow your leadership circle through transformative networking.
✔ Develop a new vision for your personal and professional growth.
WHAT’S YOUR RETURN POLICY?
All ticket sales are final. There are no returns or refunds.
ARE LARGE TEAMS WELCOME?
Yes! The iGrow Leadership Conference event is perfect for a team retreat. See the sponsorship section to see how you can save money for your large group.
WHAT IF I LOSE MY CONFIRMATION FOR THE IN-PERSON EVENT?
We will have a list of names associated with purchased tickets at the venue. You will also have a name badge upon arrival.