The Ascend BoardView 2026 Edition report continues our look at how boards are tapping into a wealth of Asian talent. 

In a world marked by rapid technological advancements, shifting geopolitical landscapes, economic volatility, climate challenges, and evolving societal norms, the demand for inclusive and visionary leadership in America’s corporate boardrooms has never been greater. 

For over 20 years, Ascend has shaped the future, transforming talent, workplaces, and the communities we live in. With such a milestone, it felt fitting to take a moment to reflect on the impact we’ve had in those two decades. And it’s remarkable. Over 100,000 leaders developed. Over $1.5M in student scholarship funding awarded. Over 250,000 hours volunteered. What we’ve built is truly unique. It’s not just a network. It’s not just leadership programming. It’s not just community service. We’re a welcoming space for individuals and companies to come together to co-create, to ideate, to experience the joy of both receiving and giving back, to become the best version of themselves. Together, we’re creating not only stronger and more inclusive workplaces, we’re creating a stronger, more inclusive world.

To learn more about what we offer and what we’ve accomplished, we invite you to read our 2025 Impact Report.

Ascend has released the final in a 3-part series of reports focused on the state of API mental health and well-being in the workplace and beyond. This report, titled Mental Health for Asian and Pacific Islander Professionals: Cultivating Well-being in the Workplace, explores how organizations and leaders can effectively support the mental health and well-being of their workforce by outlining recommendations that challenge them to go beyond surface-level efforts to implement truly impactful initiatives and policies.

Ascend has released the second in a 3-part series of reports focused on the state of API mental health and well-being in the workplace and beyond. This report, titled Mental Health for Asian and Pacific Islander Professionals: Unpacking the Challenges, takes a deeper look at the unique cultural stressors facing our API community, and offers data-based insights on ways we can promote a culture of wellness both within our organizations and across generations.