Ascend Convention

2023 Convention: I ASCEND

Join us for our signature annual gathering, the Ascend Convention, hosted by Ascend Austin Chapter. Anchored by the theme of I ASCEND, we will: 

  • Celebrate success stories of Pan-Asian upward mobility and resilience

  • Explore barriers to advancement and unique advancement aspirations and journeys across career levels

  • Impart best practices for enabling Pan-Asian advancement in the workplace

  • Share tangible solutions for addressing the obstacles to achieve our full potential

For questions, please contact convention@ascendleadership.org.

July 17-19 | Fairmont Austin | Austin, Texas

Highlights

Overview

  • Inspiring Ascend Talks Featuring Thoughts Leaders and Business Executives

  • Thought Provoking AscendTogether Symposiums (Pan-Asian Advancement, Women of Ascend, Mental Health)

  • CPE-Credit Eligible Sessions

  • ERG Impact Awards

  • ERG Leaders Forum

  • Exclusive Executive Forums

  • Social Events

  • Austin Inspired Cultural Performances 

What’s New this Year?

The convention will offer our staple signature programs, plus:

  • I ASCEND Stories Spotlighting Unique Career Opportunities and Challenges Across the Career Ladder 

  • Ascend Cares Showcases

  • Ascend Got Talent (AGT)

  • Aspiring Executive Academy (AEA)

  • Wellness Lounge

Agenda

For full agenda details, please visit our event page. 

  • For more information on each, please visit our event page.

    • Registration

    • [By Invite] Ascend Chapters Leadership Forum

    • Wellness Lounge

  • For more information on each, please visit our event page.

    • Registration

    • Wellness Lounge

    • [Executive - By Invite] AEA (Aspiring Executive Academy)

    o Myths of Asian Leadership

    o Implications of Global/National Issues

    o Networking LunchPlenary | Ascend Welcome

    • Plenary | I ASCEND Symposium: Uplifting Pan-Asians Through Intentional Leadership

    • I ASCEND Storyteller | Sam Hyun, Partner & Co-Founder, 1587Sneakers

    • Early Career Concurrent Session | Ascend Elevate: Thriving in a Hybrid Work Environment: Essential Strategies for Success

    • Mid-Career Concurrent Session | Workplace Conflict Management & Resolution

    • Executive Concurrent Session | An Inflection Point: Leading Through Disruptions & Thriving in the Future of Work

    • [Executive - By Invite] The U.S. Supreme Court’s Decision in Students for Fair Admission v. Harvard (the “Harvard Decision”)

    • Advanced Career AEA Session 2 | Crisis Management

    • Plenary

    • Ascend Talk | How Leaders Are Made – Perspectives from My Career Journey

    • Networking Reception

    • Ascend Socials

  • For more information on each, please visit our event page.

    • Registration

    • Wellness Lounge

    • Networking Breakfast

    • Plenary | Ascend Talk

    • Plenary | Women of Ascend Leadership Symposium: Elevating Women in the Workplace & the Community - Presented by Ascend Foundation

    • I ASCEND Storyteller | Jennifer Rasing, Global Lead: People Business Resource People Group of Pan Asian Network (PAN), BMS; Ascend Member & L&D Program Alumna

    • [Executive - By Invite] Advanced Career AEA Session 3A | Corporate Culture Part I: Authentic Leadership

    • Early Career Concurrent Session | Top Skills for Early Career Success

    • Mid Career Concurrent Session | Financial Planning for Mid-Career & Mid-Life

    • Executive Concurrent Session | View from the Top: Navigating Social Issues & Global Conflicts

    • I ASCEND Luncheon featuring ERG Impact Awards

    • [Executive - By Invite] Ascend ERG Executive Champions Forum

    • [RSVP Required] Wellness Session: Unlock Your Body’s Wisdom: Stop Saying Yes to Everything and Start Asking for What You Want

    • [Executive - By Invite] Advanced Career]AEA Session 3B | Corporate Culture Part 2 - Getting things done through Influence

    • Plenary | What is Your Why - Discovering Your Purpose

    • [Executive - By Invite] AEA Networking Reception

    • [Executive - By Invite] | Pan-Asian CEO Perspectives: Breaking Through Barriers to Reach the Pinnacle of Leadership

    • Ascend Socials

  • For more information on each, please visit our event page.

    • Registration

    • Wellness Lounge

    • Networking Breakfast

    • Plenary | Ascend Talk

    • Plenary | #AscendTogether Mental Health Symposium: Tackling Stigma & Supporting Employee Mental Health - Presented by Ascend Impact Fund

    • I ASCEND Storyteller | David Doan, Co-President, Ascend LA Metro

    • [Executive - By Invite] Advanced Career AEA Session 4 | Business Savviness & Increasing Financial Acumen, ESG and You, and Understanding the Implications of Technology (GenAI)

    • Early Career Concurrent Session | Navigating Early Career Challenges

    • Mid-Career Concurrent Session | Personal Branding for Pan-Asians

    • Executive Concurrent Session | Succeeding in the C-Suite - Skills that Matter Most

    • [By Invite] Pan Asian DEI Practitioner Roundtable

    • I ASCEND Luncheon featuring Ascend Got Talent (AGT)

    • [Executive - By Invite] Ascend CDCRO Forum

    • [By Invite] Ascend ERG Leaders Forum - Presented by Ascend Foundation

    • [Executive - By Invite] Advanced Career AEA Session 5 | Leaders Developing Leaders Panel Discussion & Program Close

    • Plenary | Ascend Talk: Opening Doors of Opportunity: AI as a Vehicle for Diversity & Inclusion

    • Plenary | Positive and Authentic Depictions of AAPI Characters in Storytelling

    • I ASCEND Storyteller I Reena Nazir, Treasurer, Ascend Austin; Trading Planning Associate, Blue Buffalo

    • [By Invite] President’s Reception

    • Ascend Gratitude Dinner

Travel & Lodging

Details to come next year for the 2024 Convention.

2023 Convention Partners

Platinum

Jade

Pearl

Silver

Bronze

 

FAQ

General Policies

  • Safety of our guests is paramount to Ascend. If you experience COVID symptoms or test positive, please do not attend the Ascend Convention. If you develop COVID symptoms while at the event, we request that you isolate yourself and inform Ascend by emailing health@ascendleadership.org. We also encourage any attendee who tests positive to notify the front desk of the Fairmont Austin as well as the hotel you are staying at (if different from the Fairmont) as they can assist with respective COVID protocols. Room extensions for quarantine will be honored if hotel inventory allows. Hand sanitizer and masks will be available for those who wish to use them. We will continue to monitor the evolving nature of COVID and adjust the guidance accordingly. We encourage attendees to practice good judgement to ensure the safety and well being of all.

  • Ascend will implement the needed measures to ensure that convention attendees are safe and protected. Convention badge must be worn at all times and will be required to enter convention premises.

Registration

  • Fairmont Austin
    101 Red River Street
    Austin, TX 78701

  • The Ascend Convention is SOLD OUT due to overwhelming demand.

    If you are attending as part of a sponsor or chapter delegation, please register using the direct registration link that the your sponsor or chapter liaison has provided. For questions, please contact convention@ascendleadership.org and/or complete this form to be added to the waitlist.

  • Professional registrations (for both Ascend members or non-members) include:

    Full convention registration includes access to all sessions that are not designated as By Invitation. For those sessions/special programs, if you meet the criteria and are nominated to attend, Ascend will consider your nomination separately through the nomination in take process for respective special programs.

  • Registration will open in the evening of July 16. Stay tuned for more details.

  • For full convention passes:

    We will kick off with an Opening Plenary on Monday, July 17 at 1 pm CT.
    We will conclude with our Gratitude dinner on Wednesday, July 19 after 9 pm CT.

  • Yes - the convention is hybrid. While we encourage attendees to participate in person, we will enable select plenary sessions on all days of the convention to all convention pass holders and active members of Ascend. Dedicated communication will be forthcoming regarding this as the program develops further.

  • Your registration login information is the email address you provided during registration. If you would like to change your registration details or need assistance, please email ncregistrations@ascendleadership.org.

  • Due to overwhelming demand, the Ascend Convention is SOLD OUT. If you would like to be added to the waitlist for an in-person registration, complete this form. The virtual only member pass allows Ascend members (in good standing) to virtually attend the opening (7/17) and closing (7/19) plenaries. Ahead of the convention, members will receive a message on how to access the live streamed plenaries.

  • Sponsor registration codes can be applied to member or non-member convention tickets, or a virtual only convention ticket.

  • These sessions are developed with a very specific audience/membership in mind and designed as small group sessions. In order to be considered for these sessions/special programs, you must be nominated by your company.

Session Surveys

  • You can use the convention app to provide session feedback. Post-convention, evaluation surveys will be sent out to collect comprehensive feedback.

Continuing Professional Education (CPE) Credit

  • The 2023 Ascend Convention on July 17-19 will offer CPE credit eligible sessions. Participants of eligible sessions who seek certificates of completion for CPE credit, must satisfy the following requirements:

    Scan in and scan out of sessions. Time stamp showing 50 minute session attendance per credit is required to qualify for a certificate of completion for CPE credit

    Expect to receive a session specific CPE survey emailed separately within 2 weeks after the convention (for those who meet the 50 min/credit attendance requirement)

    Complete and return the session specific CPE survey by the deadline noted on the survey

    *Please Note: Attendees who do not satisfy the above requirements will be ineligible to receive a certificate(s) of completion for CPE credit(s).

  • For additional information and the latest updates about the CPE eligible sessions, please check the Agenda page here and look for sessions labeled as CPE eligible.

  • Partial credit is NOT available for sessions eligible for more than 1 credit. For example, a session eligible for 2 credits will require that the participant attend for 50 minutes per credit or 100 minutes. If the participant attends for 50 minutes, they will not receive 1 credit.

  • Survey Completion Deadline: Monday, August 21, 2023

    The survey link will be included in the post-Convention CPE survey email. Clicking on the survey link will take you to a log-in page. You MUST log-in to an existing Ascend profile (member or Email subscriber).

    If you do not have an existing Ascend profile, please register for a new account. You can register as a professional member (fee required) or an Email subscriber (free account).

    If you have an Ascend profile but have forgotten the log-in information, please contact us at Membership_Helpdesk@ascendleadership.org.

    Once you are logged in, find the program that you attended from the list and complete a short survey.

  • Upon survey completion, your completed entry will be recorded under the Professional Development section of your Ascend profile. Select the Certifications/Programs tab where you will see a list of the completed sessions. You can print or view your certificate of completion by clicking on the blue dot next to each session that is eligible for a CPE certificate.

  • If you have any questions, please contact: CPE_Helpdesk@ascendleadership.org.

Miscellaneous

  • Yes. The room is located in Lady Bird Lake on the third floor.

Good to Know

  • Yes, the Ascend Convention has its own app. Download the Ascend Global Leaders app from the App Store or the Google Play Store. Once you download the app, it will ask you for a username and password. Your username is your email address and your password is your registration reference number. We advise that you download the app before you get on-site to prevent delays due to the hotel's WiFi network.

    If you have difficulty logging into or using the app, you can contact our app team at ncapp@ascendleadership.org.

  • Consistent with Ascend's policy, there will be no refunds offered for cancellations. Registrations are non-transferable.

  • Dress code for the convention is business casual attire.
    For the Gratitude dinner (7/19), we encourage ethnically inspired/festive attire.

  • If you are unable to find your answer here please reach out to us at ncplanner@ascendleadership.org and a member of our team will get back to you as soon as possible.

Gallery

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