Allison is a trailblazer in equitable capital access and a fierce advocate for entrepreneurs. She is the Founder and CEO of Scroobious, a capital access platform connecting early-stage founders, investors, and service providers to drive economic growth and innovation. A former medical device co-founder, she has raised over $11M across her companies. Her personal experience with fundraising bias fuels her mission today. Allison co-authored California's landmark Senate Bill 54, which brings transparency to venture capital, and serves as an angel investor, Boston Co-Chair of All Raise, and a member of the DEI task force for the Angel Capital Association. She is a sought-after speaker and mentor.
CEO & Founder, Mom’s Hierarchy of Needs, LLC
Leslie is the CEO and Founder of Mom’s Hierarchy of Needs® and soon-to-be published Author of Repair with Self-Care: Your Guide to the Mom’s Hierarchy of Needs (Jossey Bass, September 3, 2025). Her business provides evidence-based tools to help moms reclaim their time and well-being from the never-done-list while also helping employers retain working parents and caregivers. Since March 2020, over 3,700 parents have participated in her research study—the longest-running of its kind—on the pandemic’s ongoing impact on work, care, and wellness.
With over 20 years in senior leadership and a decade focused on media and technology in childcare, eldercare, mental health, and education, Leslie is a sought-after speaker and consultant. She advises organizations like HubSpot, Merck, Scholastic, and the Barr Foundation on how to retain and support parents, caregivers, and people of color.
Her insights about wellbeing, equity, and the future of work have appeared in the Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, CNN, National Geographic, Fast Company, U.S. News & World Report, SHRM, and more.
CEO & Principal Consultant, Greylock Management Consulting
Samalid Hogan is a Latina entrepreneur, economic development strategist, and community leader with over 18 years of experience supporting small businesses and revitalizing underserved communities across Massachusetts. She is the CEO and Principal Consultant of Greylock Management Consulting, a Hispanic- and woman-owned firm, MBE/WBE certified with the State of Massachusetts, providing bilingual business advisory services in business planning, financial strategy, and access to capital. She also serves as Director of Business Support Services at the Boston Impact Initiative (BII).
Previously, Samalid was the Regional Director of the Massachusetts Small Business Development Center (MSBDC) Network Western Regional Office, where she significantly expanded client outreach. She co-founded the “Western Mass Means Business” partnership to align the educational initiatives of business support organizations in the region.
Her early career includes key roles with the City of Springfield, managing brownfield redevelopment and small business grants and loans, and at the Holyoke Innovation District, leading innovation-based economic strategies.
A dedicated civic leader, Samalid serves on the Governor’s Latino Empowerment Council, Springfield Technical Community College Board of Trustees, Tech Foundry Board, and the Springfield Regional Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors. In 2023, she made history as the first Latina President of the Rotary Club of Springfield.
She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from the University of Massachusetts Amherst and an MBA in Entrepreneurial Thinking and Innovative Practices from Bay Path University.
Samalid has received multiple awards, including the 2015 40 Under 40 Award from BusinessWest, 2016 Difference Maker Award, and the 2019 Women of Impact Award, recognizing her leadership, innovation, and dedication to economic justice and community empowerment.
Executive Vice President of Economic Inclusion, Associated Industries of Massachusetts (AIM)
Karen Wallace is an accomplished strategic business leader with experience in the financial services, higher education, arts, and non-profit sectors. . She is currently the Executive Vice President of Economic Inclusion for Associated Industries of Massachusetts (AIM), the Commonwealth’s premier business trade organization, where she leads all DEI efforts as well as AIM’s supplier diversity program.
Prior to her role at AIM, Karen ran her own marketing consulting firm, where she worked with clients such as Northeastern University and the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. She also spent over 20 years leading highly effective marketing teams at Fidelity Investments, in both B2B and B2C environments, as well as corporate settings. In her previous role as Senior Vice President, she developed and executed brand and business strategies, leading to an award-winning brand campaign. Her broad expertise includes product and program management, event management, primary and secondary research, client acquisition, and client engagement/retention.
Karen is personally passionate about all things related to economic inclusion and financial literacy. She has created programming that proactively identifies opportunities and resources for BIPOC, women, LGBTQ+, and veteran-owned businesses. She has also developed and taught comprehensive financial literacy programs that the Boston faith-based community has leveraged,
Karen holds a BS and an MBA from Simmons University , certificates from Tuck School of Management and MIT Sloan School of Management in Marketing, and a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion certification from Cornell University.
