our mission: empower the professional
development of exceptional individual leaders
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.
meet your Ascendant leaders
Susan McDermid, Founder + CEO
Susan MacDermid has been an international business leader for 20 years, as President of global business units and geographies for media, tech, and professional services companies, both public and private. She embraces the opportunities birthed by digital disruption – combining strategic and go-to-market discipline with product innovation, delivering profitable growth and consistently increasing investor value… [Read more on Linked In]
Marti Funk, Partner + CMO
A veteran marketer, Marti has over 25 years of experience in digital strategy with a focus on media, emerging media technology, and leadership events. She brings a unique perspective having worked across agency, retail, tech, media and publisher sectors during one of the marketing industry’s most transformative periods… [Read more on LinkedIn]
Karen Kirkwood, Partner + COO
Karen is a seasoned business leader with a focus on building community and connecting progressive + influential change agents, and is passionate about connecting people and accelerating success. As an Ascendant community leader, She works with a roster of executive coaches to help community members focus on the skills, traits and characteristics next-gen marketers need to build success and influence and manage organizational change… [Read more on Linked In]