2026 NATIONAL CONFERENCE RECAP
This year’s INROADS National Conference, themed “The Power to Lead, Own It. Do it. Share It.” brought together college students from across the nation for a dynamic two-day virtual experience from June 25-26, 2026.
As INROADS signature leadership and professional development event, the conference empowered students with invaluable career insights, practical strategies, and the confidence to lead in their future careers.
2026 INROADS NATIONAL CONFERENCE Keynote
Etosha Thurman
Chief Marketing Officer
SAP Finance & Spend Management
2026 Inroads National conference alumni panel
Lenny Rowe
MBA Marketing Intern
at Nike
La'Nita Johnson
Founder & Principal Consultant of Iluminada+ Consulting Co.
Chandra Frank
Vice President, Media and Community Relations at Legends of the Ball, Inc
Tiffani Knowles
PR consultant and professor atthe University of Miami
Eric Reeves
Communications Associateat New Rural Project
2026 INROADS NATIONAL CONFERENCE SPEAKERS
Naysha Conway-Hart
Workforce Development Leader at Constellation
The Commercial Organization 101
Nancy Fischer
Senior Vice President of Commercial Operations at Constellation
The Commercial Organization 101
Lan Phan
Peak Performance Expert, Author & CEO of Community of SEVEN
Future-Ready You: The Mindset and Skills
to Thrive in the Age of AI
Jevon Wooden
Author, Speaker & CEO of BrightMind Consulting Group
Owning the Room: Executive Presence & Professional Confidence
Malika Grayson-Duncan
Engineer, Author, Co-Founder of Career Factory 360™ & Founder of STEMinist Empowered LLC
Visualize, Plan, Achieve:Mapping Your Professional Future with Purpose
Kerron Duncan
Digital Transformation Leader, Executive, Author, Speaker, Coach & Co-Founder of Career Factory 360™
Visualize, Plan, Achieve:Mapping Your Professional Future with Purpose
Kadejah Omokaro
Events Manager at NAACP
Reclaim Your Time: A Practical System for Weekly Planning and Intentional Focus
Lauren Hampton
CEO, Founder & Creative Director of Hollywood Hampton Productions
There’s Room for Access: How to Get into the Rooms That Shape Your Career
Lindsay Benitez
Credentialed Coach, Trainer, Speaker & Founder of Lindsay B Coaching
Building Your Authentic Leadership Style
Charles D. Wilson
Educator, Grammy U Mentor, Founder & Creative Director of E3 Nexus
Own the Room Before You Enter It
Roshika Thompson
Financial Professionalat Rethink Wealth
Protect Your Future: Financial Organization for Thriving Early Careers
Courtney Crenshaw
Financial Advisor at Rethink Wealth
Protect Your Future: Financial Organization for Thriving Early Careers
Nkoyo White Robinson
INROADS Alumna, Digital Marketing, Program Management Leader & Founder of The Nko Edit
Growth Mindset for High Achievers: Turning Feedback into Career Power
Martina Rodriguez
INROADS Alumna, Director, Consumer Strategy & Personalization at Bath &
Body Works
Stand Out Early: A 4-3-2-1 Playbook to Think, Decide, and Lead
Nadia Batchelor
INROADS Alumna, Founder & CEO of Inspired by Nadia
Money Moves Early: Building Financial Confidence from Your First Paycheck
Khalid Umar
INROADS Alumnus & Senior Program Director at Pacific Defense
Think Smarter: Practical Problem Solving for Emerging Professionals
2026 INROADS NATIONAL CONFERENCE HBCU SCI SPEAKERS
Tiffini Buchanan
Principal Engineer, Configuration Management at Collins Aerospace
The Journey Is Not Always a Straight Path
Dr. Tabaris D. Smith
Regional Director, DMV and Interim Regional Director, Northeast at Emerald Cities Collaborative Inc.
Planning for Climate Justice — Youth Leadership, Resilient Communities, and Sustainable Future
Olu Afolabi
PSD Sales Manager, Carter Machinery Company, Inc.
Divergent Paths & Intersectionalities in Tech, Law, and Agriculture
Dennis McCloud
Corporate Counsel
Divergent Paths & Intersectionalities in Tech, Law, and Agriculture
Mark Allan
Product Designer, Startup Investor, President of Mahtco Group, and Co-Founder of Qalori
Divergent Paths & Intersectionalities in Tech, Law, and Agriculture
Ni’Cholas Johnson, Ph.D.
Management and Program Analyst – State Operations Office at USDA Rural Development
Science for Justice — Using Data, Research, and Community Action to Build Sustainable Rural Futures
Jordan McKenzie, MPA
Senior Divisional Planner at the University of Tennessee’s Center for Local Planning
From Systems to Solutions — Advancing Sustainability Through Social Justice and Student Leadership
Lauren Garrott
Senior Planning Specialist at NEOO Partners Inc.
The Planner Behind the Plan — My Career Story
2026 INROADS NATIONAL CONFERENCE ROUNDTABLE MODERATORS
Jalen Johnson
Business Illinois State University
Screens, Streams & Self-Esteem
Donovon Brown
Data Analytics major with minors in Political Science and Philosophy
Nebraska Wesleyan University
Faith, Focus, & the Future
Malcolm “MJ” Edwards
AccountingHigh Point University
Online but Overwhelmed: Digital Burnout
Greg Fields
Accounting, minor in Finance Colorado State University – Global Campus
Beats, Bars, & Breakthroughs: How Music Helps Us Process Growth
Jordan Keeney
Computer/Electrical EngineeringUMBC — University of Maryland, Baltimore County
AI, Automation, and Ambition
Julian Joseph
Finance and Business ManagementTulane University
Algorithms & Authenticity
Trevon Coppin
Accounting, Minor in AIBaruch College
Becoming Who You Needed
Janaea Estiven
Business Administration/AccountingMiami Dade College
First-Gen, Next-Gen
Milo Parades
HR Management, minors in Psychology and Digital Communication &Information
Rutgers University–New Brunswick
Your Inner Voice Has a Mic
Natalie Fernandez
Psychology Pre-MedicalUC Irvine
Vibes Don’t Lie: Reading the Room & Yourself
2026 INROADS NATIONAL CONFERENCE SPONSORS
INROADS NATIONAL CONFERENCE RECAPS
2025 NATIONAL CONFERENCE RECAP
2024 NATIONAL CONFERENCE RECAP
2023 NATIONAL CONFERENCE RECAP
2022 NATIONAL CONFERENCE RECAP