2024 NATIONAL CONFERENCE RECAP

More than 500 INROADS interns from across the country gathered during the 2024 INROADS National Conference, hosted virtually from June 18- June 19. During the conference, students experienced interactive workshops, networking opportunities, and heard from corporate leaders and INROADS Alumni on how to lead with with purpose by igniting passion and possibility.

CONFERENCE HIGHLIGHTS

FIRESIDE CHAT WITH TODAY SHOW GUEST & NYU PROFESSOR SUZY WELCH

Suzy Welch is a three-time New York Times best-selling author, popular social media influencer, and Professor of Management Practice at NYU's Stern School of Business. She is a regular contributor on The Today Show and writes op-eds for the Wall Street Journal. During the conference, Suzy shared her tips for identifying your true values and aptitudes so that you can lead a life of your own choosing.

VIEW SESSION

WORKSHOP HOSTED BY LAN PHAN ON GRIT, RESILIENCY AND HOW TO REWRITE YOUR STORY

Lan Phan, an expert in leadership and personal development and the author of "Do this Daily: Secrets to Finding Success, Happiness, and Purpose in Work and Life," led the workshop "Grit, Resiliency and How to Rewrite Your Story." She led hands-on activities that helped interns discover their inner strength, reshape their personal stories, and tap into their true potential.

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PITCH FOR PRIZES HOSTED BY THE MESSAGE MASTER, GLENN RUDIN

Glenn Rudin is known as "The Message Master." He helps business owners, entrepreneurs and students clearly understand the value they provide and distills that value into clear, concise messages. During this interactive and educational game, Glenn challenged interns with the question, "Have you mastered your elevator pitch?" Students gave their best elevator pitches for the chance to win a prize. Glenn taught interns how to enhance their elevator pitches and be ready to showcase their professional accomplishments at any moment.

INTERNS CONNECT DURING HAPPY HOURS

INROADS interns meet their fellow interns from across the country during the National Conference Intern Happy Hour. They had the opportunity to expand their networks, learn about other intern experiences, and build a community that will evolve into a support system to last a lifetime.

2024 INROADS NATIONAL CONFERENCE HEADLINE SPEAKERS

Joy Fitzgerald

Senior Vice President, Chief Diversity Inclusion Officer, UnitedHealth Group
Keynote Speaker

One of the nation’s most respected voices on diversity as a business strategy and featured in numerous publications, including Harvard Business Review, Fortune Magazine, The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, The Insider, Black Enterprise, Gallup, and Profiles in Diversity Journal. She was named by Diversity Journal as a “Woman Worth Watching” and by Black Enterprise as a Top Executive in Corporate Diversity, among many honors. Joy Fitzgerald currently serves as the Senior Vice President and Chief Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer of UnitedHealth Group.

Suzy Welch

Professor of Management Practice, NYU Stern School of Business
Headline Speaker (Fireside Chat with Suzy Welch)

An expert on careers and the future of work, a three-time New York Times best-selling author, popular social media influencer, and a Professor of Management Practice at NYU’s Stern School of Business, where she is also the Director of the NYU | Stern Initiative on Purpose and Flourishing. She is a regular contributor on The Today Show, and her op-eds about GenZ and the real culture of work today appear regularly in the Wall Street Journal.

Lan Phan

Author, Master Trainer and Speaker
Headline Speaker (Grit, Resiliency and How to Rewrite Your Story)

2024 INROADS NATIONAL CONFERENCE PRESENTERS

Forest T. Harper, Jr.
President & CEO, INROADS
Presenter (Welcome)

Bev Porter
Chief Programs Officer, INROADS
Presenter (Welcome)

Yvonne McKinnon
National Director of Learning and Development, INROADS
Presenter (Welcome)

Naysha Conway
Senior Workforce Development Specialist, Constellation
Presenter (Leadership of the Future, Constellation's Digital Strategy)

Stephen Adams
Director IT - Digital Strategy and Platform Enablement, Constellation
Presenter (Leadership of the Future, Constellation's Digital Strategy)

Robert Joseph
Co-Founder & President, Team MindShift
Presenter (Difficult Conversations, Career Next Steps)

Craig Preston
Chief Operating Officer, Team MindShift
Presenter (Difficult Conversations, Career Next Steps)

Keyona Meeks
Founder & CEO, ReRev
Presenter (Making it as an Entrepreneur)

Bryan Hobbs
Founder & CEO, Pruuvn
Presenter (Making it as an Entrepreneur)

Marcus Shute
COO & Co-Founder, Pruuvn
Presenter (Making it as an Entrepreneur)

Tommie Lewis
President and CEO, Make it Plain Consulting
Presenter (Diversity Conversations)

Eric Ellis
President and CEO, Integrity Development Corp.
Presenter (Diversity Conversations)

Ammar Iftikhar
Culture and People Strategy Manager, Peachtree Restaurant Partners
Presenter (Navigating Finance: Exploring Pathways to Success)

Nikki Lang
Head of Diversity, Equity & Belonging at Bimbo Bakeries USA
Presenter (Impacting the Communities Where We Live)

Rosanna Scarpati
Owner, Empower your Evolution Coaching
Presenter (Fireside Chat with Suzy Welch, Alumni Panel - Leveraging the Opportunity in Front of You)

Glenn Rudin
Sales and Marketing Coach and Business Consultant
Presenter (Pitch for Prizes, P.O.W.E.R. Up Your Potential)

Michael Williams
Owner, EXIT Realty West-Midtown
Presenter (Cheat Codes)

Max Polec
Founder & Executive Coach, The CEO Strategy
Presenter (Designing your Leadership Journey)

Lenford Rowe
Customer Strategy Manager, Nestlé Health Science
Presenter (Navigating a Career Change)

Israel Oyedare
Founder & Executive Director, TYIL
Presenter (Transformational Leadership Among Young Professionals: A Vehicle for Social Change)

Cassandra Whitlow
Certified Recruiting Expert, Career Coach, Author
Presenter (Power Up Your Soft Skills to Get a Job and Keep a Job)

2024 INROADS NATIONAL CONFERENCE ALUMNI PANEL

Rosanna Scarpati
Owner, Empower your Evolution Coaching
Panelist (Alumni Panel - Leveraging the Opportunity in Front of You)

Chaundra Frank
Vice President, Media & Community Relations, Legends of the Ball, LLC
Panelist (Alumni Panel - Leveraging the Opportunity in Front of You)

Ariel Solomon
Founder, Solomon Strategies
Panelist (Alumni Panel - Leveraging the Opportunity in Front of You)

Darien Wright
Chief Financial and Operating Officer, National Geographic Society
Panelist (Alumni Panel - Leveraging the Opportunity in Front of You)

Xavier Scott
Software Implementation Consultant, Manhattan Associates
Panelist (Alumni Panel - Leveraging the Opportunity in Front of You)

Darius Hockaday
Founder, Hockaday & Company
Panelist (Alumni Panel - Leveraging the Opportunity in Front of You)

Michael Jordan
Controller, Hightowers Petroleum Co.
Panelist (Alumni Panel - Leveraging the Opportunity in Front of You)

Joseph Ellis
Board Chair, SD Group
Moderator (Alumni Panel - Leveraging the Opportunity in Front of You)

National Conference Recap