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.

This event is complimentary and open to all—the insights shared have been thoughtfully inspired to resonate across roles, industries, and experience levels.

2026 Speakers

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 Session Options
2:15 PM - 3:15 PM ET
Please only register for ONE breakout session

• Session 1 |Innovate and Elevate: Leading with Purpose through AI-Driven Strategies

  • Register Here

  • CPE-Credit Eligible

  • Join us as we unveil groundbreaking insights into purpose-driven leadership in the age of AI. This conversation will delve into the intentional strategies that form the framework of success, highlighting the transformative potential of AI in shaping leadership and fostering growth.

  • In this insightful session, you will gain actionable insights to empower your leadership journey and fuel your career advancement.

    • Discover how AI can personalize your leadership journey with tailored guidance that evolves with your career.

    • Define and pursue success on your terms, tying values to goals and focusing on people, networking, mentorship, and sponsorship.

    • Explore strategies that blend work-life harmony, relationship building, and leadership branding, using AI to augment human capabilities and connections.

• Session 2 | Building Influence through Social Capital: Intentional Strategies for Every Career Path

  • Register Here

  • CPE-Credit Eligible

  • Join us as we discuss the meaning of social capital and how it can serve as a powerful career development tool, while exploring innovative strategies to expand your influence.

  • During this session, you’ll gain insights to strengthen your leadership presence and build purposeful, cross-industry connections.

    • Understand the critical role of social capital in forging meaningful connections that can enhance your professional reputation and credibility.

    • Cultivate relationships through innovative approaches that broaden your influence while enriching your understanding of diverse perspectives and practices.

    • Examine real-world examples of how leveraging social capital can lead to impactful collaborations, mentorship opportunities, and a stronger sense of purpose in your work.

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.