Upcoming G.R.O.W. Conference to Empower, Inspire and Celebrate Women in Business
Writer / Jerry Winans
Photography Provided
Women entrepreneurs and business owners – get ready to grow.
On Saturday, November 4, the first-ever Growing Remarkable Opportunities With Women (G.R.O.W.) conference launches at Muncie’s Horizon Convention Center. This event promises to empower, inspire and celebrate women in business. 
Business owners River Lin and Brittany Scott co-created this premier conference. Lin is a creator of Zokawa: The Center of Happiness (zokawa.com). Scott is a perinatal fitness expert and creator of Mom Gets Moxie (momgetsmoxie.com). Their goal for the G.R.O.W. conference is to empower female entrepreneurs to start and grow businesses, and to become tomorrow’s great leaders.
The conference grew from G.R.O.W., a weekly Muncie mastermind networking group for women, co-founded by Lin and Scott in January 2023. Lin says the mastermind group combines education with networking for women in business, nonprofit or university settings.
“We found it’s not just entrepreneurs and business owners who need support,” Scott says, regarding who could benefit from the conference. “It’s for any woman who needs support and resources to grow and help advance their career.”
Two keynote speakers will provide inspiration and motivation, including Kristin Irving, a Muncie native, entrepreneur and business owner who will deliver a motivational keynote about overcoming obstacles to be successful. Rachel Landis, a lecturer at the Kelley School of Business at Indiana University Bloomington and entrepreneur, will speak about managing time and creating systems to honor your time.
The following speakers at breakout sessions will offer practical business information:
- Tania Said, owner of Tania Said Consulting (com), will speak about language diversity in the workplace.
- WaTasha Barnes Griffin, chief executive officer of the YWCA Central Indiana, will speak about “Women Leaders: Decisive, Effective, Inclusive.”
- Candy Dodd, associate program director at the Ball State University Entrepreneurial Leadership Institute, will speak on “Lego Leadership.”
- Anna Stumpf, adjunct professor at Ball State University (also known as the Golden Ticket Professor), will speak about using LinkedIn to grow professionally.
- Jennifer Stanley, owner of Living Well by Jennifer Stanley (com), will speak about “The Trilogy of Living Well: Enneagram. Purpose. Health.”
Because of the success of Muncie’s G.R.O.W. mastermind networking group, Lin and Scott will lead a breakout session for anyone interested in either joining locally or starting a new branch.
And if someone doesn’t have a business yet? The conference includes a vendor expo to help startups.
“They’ll learn what’s available to them, how to get started, topics like legal paperwork, insurance, marketing and more,” Scott says. “They’ll find tangible resources at the vendor expo as well as connections with all the other business people who can help get them started.”
Sponsors include Ball State University’s Entrepreneurial Leadership Institute, led by Dr. Rob Matthews and Candy Dodd. The City of Muncie is sponsoring the keynote speakers. Other sponsors are Mathewson Law and Walls Furniture. Also, the Marriott offers a significant room discount for participants.
The cost to attend is $200 per person, which includes lunch and an early-evening social mixer with a cash bar and live music. To register, visit growmastermind.org or search for “Collaboration: Together We GROW” on eventbrite.com.
