Press Releases
October 7, 2025
Leadership Akron Welcomes Diaz-Brown As Program Facilitator
Leadership Akron is proud to announce that Lilly Diaz-Brown has been hired as Program Facilitator, effective October 6, 2025.
Diaz-Brown brings a wealth of experience in global corporate HR and IT, program management, talent development, and inclusive leadership to her new role. Over the course of her career, she has contributed to major organizations, including Eaton Corporation, Lubrizol, Sherwin-Williams, J.M. Smucker, Nestlé, and the Cleveland Clinic. In these roles, she led strategic talent initiatives, launched high-impact employee resource groups, and facilitated experiential learning programs that connected leadership development with organizational outcomes.
Her work includes leading global rollouts of modern workplace technologies, building regional diversity councils, and designing performance management processes that integrate cross-cultural competency and adult learning principles. She is known for her thoughtful program design, collaborative leadership, and ability to foster environments where leaders can grow with purpose. She led the creation and rollout of a company-wide “Learning Day” initiative, which earned recognition for its innovative design and deep resonance across the organization. Her company-wide Learning Day initiative, recognized for its innovation and resonance, is just one example of her ability to inspire meaningful engagement at scale.
Diaz-Brown’s commitment to inclusive leadership and community impact extends beyond the workplace. She has been actively involved in numerous organizations, including Cleveland Homeless Stand Down, getWITit National, The Young Latino Network, and Esperanza, Inc., where she mentored emerging professionals and helped advance equity-focused initiatives.
In her role at Leadership Akron, Diaz-Brown will support the Insight Akron, NEXT, and Community Leadership Institute programs, curating immersive experiences that connect corporate and community leaders. Her work will deepen Leadership Akron’s mission to experientially connect Greater Akron leaders in ways that spark lifelong connections and community-centered leadership that move Greater Akron forward.
Leadership Akron President & CEO Justin Hilton shared, “Lilly brings a rare combination of strategic insight and relational depth. Her career reflects an ongoing commitment to inclusion, growth, and community, all of which resonate deeply with our identity as a platform that connects leaders to impact Greater Akron. We’re honored to welcome her to the Leadership Akron stafFamily.”
About Leadership Akron
For more than 40 years, Leadership Akron has inspired, strengthened, and empowered leaders to create a greater Akron. Through immersive experiences and community connections, Leadership Akron serves as the only community platform experientially connecting leaders across sectors, backgrounds, and generations. With a network of more than 2,000 alumni, Leadership Akron continues to expand the experience of leadership, fostering relationships, building knowledge, and catalyzing impact for the future of Greater Akron.
