On the Block With The Scotts | Episode 7 | The Scott Team NJ
What does it take to walk away from a successful corporate career, turn down the comfort of a steady paycheck, and build something entirely your own?
For Lauren Grove, CEO of The Grant Access, the answer started with faith, purpose, and the realization that professional success doesn't always mean personal fulfillment.
In Episode 7 of On the Block With The Scotts, Jen Scott of The Scott Team NJ sits down with Lauren to discuss her journey from corporate America to entrepreneurship, her passion for celebrating Black culture, the realities of building an event production business, and why the historic Seven Oaks neighborhood in Orange, New Jersey, holds a special place in her family's heart.
From working with major brands to producing meaningful cultural experiences, Lauren's story is about much more than business. It's about creating opportunities, embracing community, and having the courage to pursue the life you envision.
Watch Episode 7: Lauren Grove of The Grant Access
Watch the full interview below, or open Episode 7 on YouTube.
Taking a Leap of Faith: Leaving Corporate America
Before founding The Grant Access, Lauren spent approximately a decade working in corporate media and advertising.
She had built a successful career, but something was missing.
During a church service, Lauren heard a message about the importance of using the gifts you've been given. That message prompted her to reconsider what she wanted from her professional life.
Although she was progressing in her career, she realized that advancement alone wasn't bringing her the fulfillment she was seeking.
Lauren made the decision in March to leave her position in June.
Then came an unexpected challenge: her employer offered her a raise and an opportunity for advancement.
For many professionals, that might have been enough to reconsider leaving. But Lauren had already made a commitment to herself.
She recalls how difficult it was to submit her resignation, describing the anxiety surrounding that decision and the support she received from a friend who helped her follow through.
Her experience raises a question that many aspiring entrepreneurs face:
When opportunity and purpose seem to pull you in different directions, which one do you follow?
For Lauren, choosing purpose ultimately led to the creation of The Grant Access.
Ten Years of The Grant Access: Building a Business With Purpose
Today, The Grant Access is an event production agency with a decade of experience creating memorable experiences and cultural activations.
Lauren and her team have worked on projects involving major brands and organizations, including Nike, the US Open, and other prominent names.
But what makes her story particularly compelling isn't simply the scale of the events.
It's the intention behind them.
Lauren is a graduate of Florida A&M University (FAMU), where she earned her bachelor's degree and MBA. She credits her HBCU experience with helping shape her professional values.
FAMU's guiding principle of "Excellence With Caring" remains an important influence in how she approaches her work.
Through The Grant Access, Lauren seeks to create experiences that celebrate culture, build connections, and open doors for other businesses.
Creating Opportunities for Minority- and Women-Owned Businesses
One of the most meaningful aspects of Lauren's work is her commitment to expanding opportunities within the event production industry.
Throughout the interview, she discusses the importance of bringing minority-owned and women-owned businesses into major projects.
From vendors and production partners to creative professionals, these opportunities can help smaller businesses gain exposure, develop relationships, and participate in experiences that might otherwise feel out of reach.
Lauren's work also intersects with HBCU culture and events such as HBCU Springcoming.
For Lauren, cultural representation isn't simply a theme to incorporate into an event.
It's part of the mission.
Her approach demonstrates how entrepreneurship can create a ripple effect, allowing one successful business to help other businesses grow.
Behind the Scenes: The Reality of Event Production
From the outside, a successful event can appear effortless.
The music is playing. Guests are enjoying themselves. Every detail seems perfectly coordinated.
But Lauren shares that the reality behind the scenes can look very different.
During the interview, she recalls a particularly challenging production in Washington, D.C., when a truck carrying essential materials was delayed for approximately six hours.
Rather than allowing the setback to derail the event, the team had to adapt, solve problems, and find a way forward.
It's an example of something entrepreneurs understand well: plans don't always unfold as expected.
The ability to remain flexible, collaborate, and make decisions under pressure can be just as important as the original vision.
Lauren also discusses her business partnership with Sheria and the importance of working with people who bring complementary strengths to the table.
Together, these experiences offer a glimpse into the leadership and problem-solving required to build a successful event production agency.
Building a Business While Building a Family
Entrepreneurship doesn't happen in isolation.
As a wife and mother, Lauren has navigated the challenge of growing a business while also being present for her family.
During the conversation, she discusses how motherhood has influenced her approach to leadership, work, and the people she brings into her organization.
She also shares how her business has created opportunities to work with stay-at-home mothers and other talented professionals whose lives may not fit traditional corporate schedules.
One of Lauren's leadership goals is to become the kind of boss she wishes she'd had earlier in her career.
That doesn't mean she has everything figured out.
Even after ten years in business, she acknowledges that leadership continues to be a learning experience.
Her perspective offers a reminder that building a successful business isn't only about revenue, clients, or recognition.
It's also about the environment you create for the people who help make that success possible.
Bringing Cultural Experiences Home to Newark, New Jersey
Although The Grant Access has worked on events with national reach, Lauren also values opportunities to produce experiences closer to home.
During the interview, she discusses event activations in Newark, New Jersey, including community experiences connected to major sporting events.
These local projects are especially meaningful because they allow her family to see the work she does.
They also create opportunities for residents to participate in experiences that celebrate community and bring people together.
For Lauren, producing events in New Jersey is another way to connect her professional accomplishments with the place she calls home.
Why Seven Oaks in Orange, NJ, Feels Like Home
One of our favorite parts of On the Block With The Scotts is asking guests about the neighborhoods and communities where they live.
After all, a community is more than its houses, streets, and buildings.
It's the people who give a place its character.
For Lauren and her family, that place is Seven Oaks, a historic residential neighborhood in Orange, New Jersey.
During the interview, Lauren recalls visiting one of the first homes they considered in Seven Oaks.
What stood out wasn't only the property.
It was the connection the homeowners felt to their neighbors.
They cared about the community they were leaving behind and wanted to know who might become part of it.
That experience left a lasting impression.
Lauren describes a neighborhood where residents communicate, spend time together, and genuinely enjoy one another's company.
The neighborhood group chat isn't simply a place for sharing information.
It's also a way for neighbors to organize activities, get together, and strengthen their relationships.
During the interview, Jen and Lauren even laugh about neighborhood outings, including a trip to the Greenwich Polo Club.
It's a small detail, but one that illustrates something meaningful about the neighborhood's sense of connection.
For families considering where to live, these everyday relationships can become some of the most memorable aspects of homeownership.
A house may be what initially attracts you to a neighborhood, but the community can be what makes you want to stay.
The Mantra That Keeps Lauren Moving Forward
Every entrepreneur encounters moments of uncertainty.
For Lauren, a personal mantra helps her maintain perspective when challenges arise:
"In the end, it will all be okay. If it's not okay, it's not the end."
It's a simple message, but one that reflects much of her journey.
From the anxiety of leaving corporate America to the challenges of managing major events and leading a growing business, Lauren has learned that difficult moments don't have to define the outcome.
Sometimes, they're simply part of the process.
Connect With Lauren Grove and The Grant Access
Interested in learning more about Lauren's work or exploring opportunities to collaborate?
The Grant Access
- Website: www.thegrantaccess.com
- Instagram: @thegrantaccess
- Email: leads@thegrantaccess.com
Be sure to watch the full interview to hear Lauren share her experiences in her own words.
Watch Lauren Grove on On the Block With The Scotts — Episode 7
Discover the People and Places That Make Essex County Special
At The Scott Team NJ, we believe that understanding a community means getting to know the people who live, work, and build businesses there.
Through On the Block With The Scotts, we introduce viewers to the entrepreneurs, creatives, professionals, and neighbors who contribute to the character of our local communities.
Whether we're discussing entrepreneurship, local culture, neighborhood history, or the experience of finding a place to call home, our goal is to highlight the stories that make Essex County special.
If you're interested in learning more about living in Orange, Seven Oaks, Bloomfield, Montclair, Maplewood, South Orange, West Orange, Glen Ridge, or surrounding New Jersey communities, we'd love to be a resource.
Explore more local stories and real estate resources at www.TheScottTeamNJ.com.
On the Block With The Scotts is a community interview series presented by The Scott Team NJ.