In 2014, Ascendant Network identified that despite a myriad of professional marketing + retail networks and events there was an opportunity to create real communities of  like-minded executives. After 100s of interviews with industry leaders, and the support of a stellar founding council (+ led by all-women executive team), Ascendant was launched with a mission to lift exceptional individual leaders, and through them, their teams + the industry.

The goal from day one has always been to strive for 50/50 gender parity in the room + onstage, in order to offer a more authentic reflection of leadership and an alternative to the white, and often male bias of other groups. Today, 60% of speakers + members are female + diverse.

Anchored by the guidance of leading practitioners, Ascendant has built 3 successful + diverse professional communities focused on knowledge sharing + relationship building + professional development.