Ascend A-List Awards
2025 A-List Awards
April 29, 2025
The Plaza | New York City
The A-List Awards is our annual gala that recognizes highly accomplished and impactful business leaders representing a wide spectrum of industries. We celebrate leaders for their professional achievements and advancement of others in their industries or for igniting change in the workplace and society.
Nominations
Ascend seeks to recognize leaders who have demonstrated Professional Achievement & Community Advancement and meet several of the following criteria:
Made a significant impact to his/her industry and demonstrated a record of service to the Pan-Asian community
Demonstrated commitment to the development and advancement of Pan-Asians in the workplace
A senior level executive who is the CEO or within three levels from the Enterprise-wide CEO of a Fortune 1000/Global 500 corporation or equivalent
An executive currently serving on the Board of Directors of a Fortune 1000/Global 500 corporation or equivalent
Is either an entrepreneur; a partner at a top-tier professional services firm; a thought leader; an academic leader; an innovator; an investor or a philanthropist
Highlights
2024 A-List Honorees
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Abeer Bhatia
Head of Enterprise Payments & Personal Lending
Wells Fargo
Past Honorees
The past honorees list is a prestigious recognition given to individuals who have achieved significant accomplishments in their respective fields. This list celebrates the achievements of inspiring individuals who have made a positive impact on society through their work. Each year, new honorees are added to this list, highlighting the diversity and excellence of the human spirit.
Benefit Committee
A distinguished group of API community leaders, tasked with nominating deserving candidates for the upcoming award ceremony.
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![Raj Sharma Headshot]()
"Organizations like Ascend are extremely important to create the platform, connectivity and allyship that is needed for Asian professionals to rise beyond great people to great management executives in the industry."
Raj Sharma
Americas Consulting Vice Chair, EY
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"I grew up in a small town in Indiana and never in a million years would I have thought that I would come to an event like tonight where I see so many successful confident Asians being able to stand up and be recognized."
Nancy Quan
Senior Vice President & Chief Technical and Innovation Officer, The Coca-Cola Company
FAQ
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The Awards Gala will take place on April 29, 2025 at The Plaza Hotel in New York City.
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The A-List Awards, builds on Ascend’s recognition of Pan-Asian business leadership. The Ascend A-List Awards give visibility to the contributions of accomplished and impactful business leaders, elevating their profiles within their companies, their industries and their communities while spotlighting the business case for the continuous pipeline of Pan-Asian talent across North America. Proceeds from the event benefit Ascend Foundation's programs and initiatives.
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Ascend seeks to recognize leaders who have demonstrated Professional Achievement & Community Advancement and meet several of the following criteria:
• Pan-Asian leader who has contributed significant impact to his/her industry
• Leader with record of service to the Pan-Asian community
• Leader with demonstrated commitment to the development and advancement of Pan-Asians in the workplace
• Senior level Pan-Asian executive who is the CEO or within three levels from the Enterprise-wide CEO of a Fortune 1000/Global 500 corporation or equivalent
• Pan-Asian executive currently serving on the Board of Directors of a Fortune 1000/Global 500 corporation or equivalent
• Notable Pan-Asian who is either an entrepreneur; a partner at a top-tier professional services firm; a thought leader; an academic leader; an innovator; an investor or a philanthropist
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Aligned with Ascend's mission of professional and leadership advancement, the award recipients are selected for their contributions for the advancement of others in their industries or communities as well as their professional achievements or philanthropic endeavors.
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To learn more about the Ascend A-List Awards and for sponsorship opportunities, please email molly.engen@ascendleadership.org.
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Ascend Foundation, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit Pan-Asian organization that is related to Ascend Inc., the premier professional organization dedicated to enabling its members, corporate partners and the professional Pan-Asian community to leverage the leadership and global business potential of Pan-Asian professionals worldwide. The Foundation: supports initiatives, campaigns, and scholarships to support the Pan-Asian community; and conducts research and provides thought leadership to enable Pan-Asians to become better leaders, innovators, role models and catalysts for work place and societal change.
Ascend adopted a 5-Point Action Agenda to: Promote Inclusion, Raise Awareness, Denounce Bias, Support Communities and Give Donations. To accelerate the tenets of the agenda, the Foundation’s Impact Fund has funded advocacy, allyship, education and mobilization campaigns, programs and initiatives.
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Guests are encouraged to dress in Black Tie or Asian Festive.
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JFK | LGA | EWR | HPN
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Delta Air Lines is pleased to offer special discounts for Ascend.
Please click here to book your flights.
Eligible Dates: 4/24/2025 - 5/552025Eligible Airports: JFK, LGA, EWR, HPN
You may also call Conferences and Events® at 1.800.328.1111* Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 6:30 p.m. (EST) and refer to Meeting Event Code NM4B2.*Please note there is no service fee for reservations booked and ticketed via our reservation 800 number.
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Information coming soon.
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The safety of our guests is paramount to Ascend. Masks are optional, but please note that there will be over 400 guests at the event. Ascend will monitor the evolving nature of COVID and adjust the guidance accordingly.
2024 A-List Sponsors
For more information on sponsorship or partnership opportunities, reach out to partnerships@ascendleadership.org
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