2022 ASCEND
CONVENTION

August 15 to 17
Disneyland Hotel, Anaheim, CA

STUDENT
SYMPOSIUM

August 1 (Virtual)

CAREER
FAIR

August 2, 1 to 5pm ET (Virtual)

Thank you to all our attendees, speakers, staff and volunteers who helped make this another memorable convention, see you at our next convention in Austin!

VIEW CONVENTION PHOTOS HERE

SAVE THE DATE

2023 Ascend Convention

July 17-19 | Austin Texas

 
 

#ascendleadership #ascendconvention #ascendtogether #ibelong

With the backdrop of a global health crisis which exacerbated anti-Asian sentiment, hatred and violence, coupled with the perpetual feeling of otherness experienced by APIs, and significant advancement barriers they face in the workplace, we are at an inflection point. Now more than ever, organizations and leaders must work together to instill and advance a culture of belonging and inclusivity for all.  
With the overarching theme of belonging, the Convention will offer a series of engaging programs and experiences where we explore the meaning of belonging, combating barriers to belonging, tangible ways to enable cross-cultural and inter-Asian allyship, and ways to effectively leverage intersectionality in the workplace. 
The program will also feature Ascend’s signature leadership forums geared towards developing holistic leaders at all career levels who drive positive workplace and societal impact while celebrating API resilience, ingenuity and talent!

Due to overwhelming demand, the Ascend Convention is now SOLD OUT. But you can still purchase your virtual tickets here. For convention partners/delegates who have received a registration code, please proceed to register for the convention.

  • iBelong when:

    "There is a sense of comfort in my surroundings and peers.”

  • How Ascend makes me feel iBelong:

    "By creating safe spaces for sharing and listening to each other.”

  • Barriers to Belonging:

    "Being talked over, overlooked, not asked for my opinions, not given opportunities, not seen as a member of the community.”

  • iBelong when:

    "I am comfortable sharing and educating my peers every day of the year, not just one month out of the year.”

  • How Ascend makes me feel iBelong:

    “By bringing together leaders that look like me to share stories, their pain, anger, and solutions to combating hate and violence.”

  • Barriers to Belonging:

    "It's not a few examples to make me feel I don't belong. It's more like people never fail to remind me at all times that I don't belong.”

  • iBelong when:

    "I don't have explain who I am, why inclusivity matters.”

  • How Ascend makes me feel iBelong:

    "By enabling me to build the language and the confidence I need to speak out.”

  • Barriers to Belonging:

    "When your voice does not matter and is not welcomed.”

 

Highlights

  • Career forum for API talent seeking career opportunities and networking with hiring managers from across industries (hosted virtually on Aug. 2)
  • CPE-credit eligible sessions that provide learning opportunities through a series of workshops for early and mid-career professionals
  • Ascend Talks on leadership topics designed for all career levels delivered by high caliber business and community leaders
  • Sessions on the art of storytelling and how to leverage it for career advancement, navigating generational differences in the workplace and the meaning of belonging to different generations
  • Executive forums on hot topics that are on top of mind for business executives and corporate directors
  • Ascend Cafe mentoring sessions for student and professional members geared towards providing career advice and guidance in an intimate group setting (hosted virtually in the month of July)
  • Career development programming for undergraduate and graduate students, and celebration of API student scholars for academic and leadership excellence
  • In-person and virtual networking opportunities combined with high energy entertainment segments
  • Mental and physical wellness activities
  • ERG Impact Awards that recognize and celebrate ERGs’ workforce, community and business impact in various categories

#AscendTogether Forums
Dialogue -> Awareness -> Action

  • Belonging Forum to discuss how businesses and leaders can create a culture of workplace inclusion and belonging for APIs and how to tackle barriers to belonging
  • Allyship Forum where we explore the importance of cross-cultural and inter-Asian allyship, and intersectionality in the workplace
  • #StopAsianHate Forum which builds on our ongoing focus on creating safe spaces for individuals, businesses, and the community at large to discuss practical solutions to combat hate, violence and microaggressions
  • Mental Health Forum which sheds light on the mental health and career impacts of microaggressions, stereotypes and violence on APIs and provides solutions to fight the stigma associated with mental health in support of API professionals
  • ERG Forum & Showcases to share how ERGs enable workplace belonging for APIs, address barriers to belonging, champion women's leadership advancement, support API mental health, address anti-Asian sentiment and violence and provide professional development opportunities for members
  • Women’s Leadership Forum that spotlights the barriers to advancement for API women while imparting action-oriented advice on ways to address the leadership deficit
 

Get Inspired

Watch highlights from our past Ascend National Conventions to see what’s in store.