Our Story
(Brief history of G2G Global, origins, evolution, and milestones)
G2G Global History
G2G was birthed in 2013 as a transformational conference experience for women of faith. The exposure to different locations, people, cultures and experiences transformed these women – many of whom had never left their state, and some who had never left the city in which they were born or lived. The conferences below tell the story of their transformation by showing how we used the theme of the conference to determine the best location and outing to embody the theme.
2013 – Embracing the Child Within – Orlando, Florida, Disney World
2014 – Embracing the Servant within – Charleston, SC – Old Slave Mart, Plantation
2015 – Embracing Balance - Work Hard: Play Hard – Cruise to the Bahamas
2016 – Embracing our connection to creation – Niagara Falls and Butterfly Conservatory
2017 – Embracing the Climb – Flagstaff, AZ – Grand Canyon
2018 – Embracing the Journey – Washington, DC – African American Museum of History and Culture.
“Inspiring women and girls to rise above every challenge, embrace their inner power, and rewrite their stories with strength, purpose, and unwavering confidence.”
The annual conferences consist of worship experiences, plenary sessions, workshops, lectures, panels, and training sessions on a wide array of topics related to emotional, financial, mental, physical, psychological, spiritual and sexual wellness and wholeness. We will also provide opportunities for individuals to share relevant knowledge and experiences about their own wellness journeys.
In 2023, the name of the organization was changed from Getting to Greatness to Getting to Greater recognizing that we might not all perceive the achievement of greatness, but we can all achieve greater. As we consider achieving greater things, we recognized that there was a gap in our programming and some women we were not reached because of the word – greatness. We have had two getting to greater conferences.
2023 - Embracing the Sabbath as Sacred, Mexico Paradisus All inclusive Resort
2024 - Ignite: Rekindling the Fire, Fueling the Flame - St. Lucia - Soufriere Volcano
In 2024, we made a final shift - moving from Getting to Greater to Getting to Greater Global. As we changed the name of the organization, we also made three shifts to expand our reach and make G2G more inclusive and accessible.
To expand the audience, we we included girls. The negative impact of social media on young girls has been detrimental to their healthy maturation. G2G can provide these girls with positive role models, mentorship and resources to build and nurture self-confidence.
To expand our reach, we shifted the organization out of the church to its own non-profit status to include women of all races, nationalities, religions and spiritualities. This important work could not be limited to the members and friends of our church, it needed to reach those who may not have a church affiliation.
To expand our impact, we organized G2G as a global organization. We recognize that women’s health and wellness is not a national goal but a global one, and we impact women and girls all over the world.
When women are healthy, their families and communities are healthy. When girls are confident, the future of our world is infinite. We are hopeful that these shifts will provide greater impact for G2G Global. Thank you for your support.
Our Work & Hope
Vision: A world where women and girls thrive, lead, and inspire change.
Our Work: Transforming lives through national and global experiences that nurture emotional, financial, mental, physical, psychological, spiritual, and sexual wellness.
(i) to educate women and girls through conferences, retreats, workshops, panel discussions, and classes;
(ii) to equip women and girls to activate their power, potential and passions;
(iii) to enrich the lives of women and girls by helping them expand their understanding of success and achievement through mentoring;
(iv) to empower women and girls with the confidence and strength to take control over their lives by making informed decisions;
(v) to elevate women and girls to overcome obstacles through their creative imaginations.
Meet our Founder
The Reverend LaKeesha Walrond, Ph.D.
Educator, visionary leader, sought after speaker, and consummate change agent, the Rev. Dr. LaKeesha Walrond is a force faithfully encouraging those she encounters to embody their infinite possibilities. Dr. Walrond is a dynamic speaker who draws both national and international audiences. She has spoken in over 20 states in the US and engaged audiences in India, South Africa, Ghana, Canada, Bahamas, South Korea, St. Lucia, Mexico, and Guyana.
Rev. Walrond has received numerous recognitions including honors from the New York Liberty WNBA Basketball Association, the National Action Network, the McDonald’s GospelFest, NCNW, NAACP, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., The Positive Community, Harlem Congregations for Community Improvement, The Black Author’s Festival, Union Theological Seminary and Morehouse College. She has preached Homecoming and Founder’s Day services in Sister’s Chapel at her alma mater, Spelman College and her portrait hangs in the Martin Luther King Jr. International Chapel at Morehouse College.
Dr. Walrond has a passion for children and education. She worked in the public-school system in North Carolina for eleven years as a teacher, a coordinator for special education programs, assistant principal, and as a principal. From June 2019 to August 2024, she served as the first woman President of New York Theological Seminary. During her tenure, NYTS began of a Master of Professional Studies (MPS) program at Bedford Hills Correctional Facility and graduated 16 incarcerated women in its first two years. Her challenging five-year term concluded with NYTS relocating its campus and engaging in a strategic partnership with Union Theological Seminary, ultimately saving the institution’s mission and legacy. Former New York City Mayor Bill DeBlasio named October 26, 2019, “Rev. LaKeesha Walrond Day” in the city of New York.
Dr. Walrond answered her call to the ministry in December of 1995 and began her journey in ministry serving as an Associate Minister at Zion Temple UCC in North Carolina for six years. She served as the Executive Pastor and Chief of Staff of First Corinthian Baptist Church (FCBC) in Harlem, NY for thirteen years, As Chief of Staff, she used educational and organizational strategies to maximize FCBC’s capacity and influence in the community and abroad. As Executive Pastor, she implemented strategies to create a culture of learning which evolved into a community of learners. For the past five years, Pastor LaKeesha and has been serving FCBC as Preaching Pastor focusing her attention on preaching, speaking, coaching and consulting.
In an effort to authentically reach the hearts of women, Dr. Walrond launched the Getting to
Greatness (G2G) Women’s Conference in 2013. In 2024, G2G become Getting to Greater, honoring the call to engage in greater peace, joy, love, living, giving and serving. As founder of CEO of G2G, she is relentless in her pursuit to empower women to Work Smart, Rest Well, Play Often, and Dream Big through leadership development and a sevenfold wholeness emphasis - spiritual, emotional, mental, psychological, sexual, financial and physical wellness. She is the author of My Body is Special (2017), which is the first of her six-part “Let’s Talk About It” (LTAI) children’s book series, written to help end sexual violence against children.
A native Texan, Dr. Walrond earned her undergraduate degree from Spelman College, a Master of Education (MEd), Master in School Administration (MSA), and Doctor of Philosophy in Special Education (PhD) from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and a Master of Divinity (MDiv) from Union Theological Seminary in New York, NY - where she later served as a trustee for three years.
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Founder and Board Chair - LaKeesha Walrond, PhD
Vice Chair - Dawn Gant
Secretary - Lenier Thomas
Treasurer - Pamela Flood Morrison, MBA
Assistant Treasurer - Crystal Sidberry
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Tamish Cumberbach
Dawn Gant
Sharon Edwards
Rhonda Kellums
Monique Matthews
Ruth E. Lowe Tuitt