Our mission is to forge impactful alliances between businesses and HBCUs, driving shared success and innovation.
ABOUT HBCUGROW
Connect. Collaborate. Create Impact.
HBCUgrow is a consortium dedicated to forging impactful alliances between businesses, nonprofits, government entities, HBCUs, and other institutions of higher learning to drive shared success and innovation.
We believe that sustainable progress happens when institutions work together. By connecting education, industry, and community stakeholders, HBCUgrow creates opportunities that strengthen talent development, expand economic mobility, and foster innovation ecosystems.
Through conferences, strategic partnerships, research initiatives, and workforce development programs, HBCUgrow serves as a catalyst for meaningful collaboration across sectors.
LEAD CONFERENCE 2026
The Strategic Alliance: Integrating Higher Ed into the Corporate R&D Value Chain
Join corporate leaders, HBCUs, research institutions, government agencies, community colleges, nonprofits and economic development organizations for a one day executive summit focused on building partnerships that build talent, innovation and growth.
The four pillars of LEAD CONFERENCE 2026
01
Co-Innovation &
Research Collaboration
Exploring how academia and industry can partner to accelerate research, innovation, technology transfer, and commercialization.
02
Strategic Philanthropy & Infrastructure Investment
Moving beyond traditional giving toward strategic investments that strengthen institutional capacity and regional innovation ecosystems.
03
The Talent Bridge:
Student Professional Development & Immersion
Building stronger connections between students and industry through exposure, mentorship, experiential learning, and workforce readiness initiatives.
04
Building the Ecosystem: Higher Ed & Economic Development
Strengthening collaboration between education, workforce development, economic development organizations, and community stakeholders.
LEAD & HBCUGROW PARTNERS
thanks to our sponsors
sponsorship opportunities
Help Shape the Future Innovation Ecosystem
Position your organization alongside leaders driving innovation, talent development, and economic growth.
Sponsor Benefits
- Brand Visibility
- Thought Leadership
- Strategic Partnerships
- Talent Engagement
- Executive Networking
- Ecosystem Leadership
past conference highlights
2024 LEAD Conference
The 2024 LEAD Conference & Awards was our highest attendance yet! We addressed The Intersection of Business & Education on November 12 @ U.S. Space & Rocket Center.
Seeing students, non-profits, government, business and education come together was inspiring Watch for highlights coming soon.
Our leading speakers discussed AI, empowering success through collaboration, STEM, getting your share of the $16T AI Economy, the Presidential Panel, and an experiential session with the US Space & Rocket Center.
past conference highlights
2023 LEAD Conference
2023 LEAD huge success 2023 presentations from National Alliance Against Disparities in Patient Health (NADPH) and US Space & Rocket Center can be accessed here.
Dr. Mona Nour's presentation at the LEAD Conference talks about steps HBCUs can take to help their students feel seen, embraced, and celebrated. The presentation can be accessed here: Student Mental Health: Redefining Belonging on College Campuses
PAST SPEAKERS HIGHLIGHT
Dr Tom Osborn, M.D.
Microsoft
Mona Nour, PhD,
LCMHC
Dr. Alex Carlisle
CEO of the National Alliance Against Disparities in Patient Health
Dr. Carolyn Henderson
Dean of Instruction, Drake State Technical College
Dr. Mark Brown
President, Tuskegee University
Dr. Felesia Stukes
Johnson C. Smith University
Capt. Anthony (AJ) Johnson, Ph.D.
Scientific Advisor & Training Director, NIMHD
Tamara Terry
RTI International
Be Part of the Strategic Alliance
Join the leaders shaping the future of research, innovation and talent development.
November 12, 2026 Research Triangle Park, NC