Leaders today are navigating constant change, rising expectations, and complex decisions that rarely come with clear answers. The 2026 Women of Ascend Conference, Forward with Purpose, is designed to support professionals at every career stage with practical leadership tools and insights to elevate their careers. This program focuses on real leadership moments. The kind that requires sound judgment, ethical clarity, and the ability to move forward even when conditions are uncertain. Through plenary conversations and interactive breakout sessions, participants will explore how leading with purpose strengthens decision-making, builds resilience, and increases long-term impact at work, in business, and in the community. In celebration of International Women’s Month and Ascend’s 20-year milestone, we honor the dedicated members and sponsors who embody our values and propel our mission forward.

Welcome & Opening Plenary
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM ET | Register Here

• Welcome Remarks

• Ascend’s Got Talent (AGT) Performances

• Mindfulness Intention Setting Exercise

• Women of Ascend L&D Program and Impact Showcase

•  Aligning Your Career with Purpose Across Career Stages

  • Aligning your career with your purpose is an evolving process that changes as your priorities and skills shift through different stages of life. In this enlightening session, we will feature leaders across career stages who will share experience-based insights on evolving life stages and their impact on career trajectory, where unique goals and psychological shifts define each stage:

    • Early Career: Exploration and Foundation

    • Mid-Career: Re‑Evaluation and Integration

    • Late Career: Impact and Legacy

Breakout Sessions:
2:15 PM - 3:15 PM ET | Details Coming Soon

Closing Plenary: Forward with Purpose - Cultivating Purpose-Driven Workplace & Business Culture
3:30 PM - 4:30 PM ET | Register Here

Cultivating a purpose-driven workplace involves aligning organizational goals with a higher, meaningful mission, fostering deeper employee engagement, retention, and resilience. This closing plenary will feature dynamic conversations on how leaders can build this culture by defining clear, actionable values, integrating purpose into daily operations, empowering employees to see their impact, and modeling authentic leadership. Plus, we will showcase Ascend’s Got Talent (AGT) performances to conclude the conference! 

Event Time Zone: Eastern

Please read the Ascend Terms of Registration and Participation carefully.