A New Beginning at AcceleRISE: My First Event as a Founder

Change is a funny thing. For more than seven years, I had colleagues to cheer me on and a path that continued to grow, but the pull of entrepreneurship was too strong to ignore. I recently took the biggest leap of my professional life, leaving that comfort behind to launch my own corporate event marketing company. With that leap came a new set of challenges, the scariest yet: reintroducing myself to the world not as an employee, but as a founder. My first test? The AcceleRISE conference in Boston.

AcceleRISE was my first in-person conference since starting my own company. While I knew a few people attending ahead of time, I was thrust into many interactions with new faces. The event represented a personal and professional test. I saw it as an opportunity to practice with training wheels on and find my footing in a smaller, more intimate environment filled with industry peers who understood the landscape. The nerves were real, but the excitement was greater.

The agenda was packed with incredible sessions on artificial intelligence, financial acumen and leadership, but my primary mission was to connect. Every selfie, Dunkin’ run, seat move and conversation was a chance to build the foundation of my new business. During one of the networking breaks, I had my moment of truth. Another attendee asked about my company and role. For the last few years I have had a stable title at a reputable company and now representing myself was a new world. I delivered the pitch I had been rehearsing in my head (and staring at on a computer screen) for weeks:

“You know how event planning can be a major distraction for your sales and marketing teams? We take that completely off your plate. We design, plan and execute unforgettable events—from sales kickoffs to global trade shows—all engineered to deliver a powerful return on your investment.”

Saying those words out loud to a potential peer for the first time felt monumental. The positive reception was more than just validating; it was the fuel I needed. Each time I shared my vision, the words felt more natural, and my confidence grew.

The genius of AcceleRISE is how it seamlessly blends formal learning with informal connection. After a full day of sessions, we were given Charlie Cards and a challenge to navigate public transportation to Fenway Park. Just as the game’s outcome was a win for the home team, the atmosphere was a win for networking. There’s no better icebreaker than the shared, lighthearted chaos of finding the right gate to enter and then rewarding ourselves with ballpark hot dogs! It set a collaborative and approachable tone for the entire conference.

I met so many young professionals driving change in their roles across organizations large and small. After seven years in the security industry attending other events, it was refreshing to see so many people’s genuine excitement to apply new knowledge and connect with peers. I also had the pleasure of finally meeting Tristin Vaccaro in person. I’ve admired her presence on LinkedIn, and the security industry’s strong LinkedIn community is truly a testament to its beauty—it allows you to easily identify active voices that resonate with you. While we had a brief introduction at ISC West this year (before I ventured into solopreneurship), we had the chance to discuss the challenges and rewards of starting a business, the valuable resources available in the security industry and the importance of networking over breakfast.

AcceleRISE was the perfect launchpad. It provided the ideal environment to test my pitch, engage in meaningful conversations and absorb security industry knowledge that is now more relevant than ever. I left Boston not just with multiple LinkedIn connections and an iPad full of ideas, but with a renewed sense of purpose and the assurance that my leap of faith was the right decision. This was more than just another conference—it was the first chapter of my new story.

The views and opinions expressed in guest posts and/or profiles are those of the authors or sources and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Security Industry Association.