Hubs

The Ascend National Cohort’s individualized focus helps each company solve a unique problem and produce measurable improvements. Each business will connect with a "Hub" institution that will deliver customized programming, coaching, and business student projects. The CEO and two other senior leaders from each business will attend the opening residential sessions in September 2024 and the closing residential session in April 2025 at their Hub. In the period between the residential sessions, businesses will work with coaches, mentors, and business students and participate in remote programming involving faculty from all business schools. The senior leader is responsible for driving results to solve the self-identified problem. Any colleagues designated by the senior leader will attend the remote sessions and work with a business coach and business student. Engaging multiple people in these sessions will drive organizational improvement and leadership team growth.

 
 

Schedule

May-August 2024 – Ascend’s Corporate and Middle-Market partners nominate businesses to participate in the 2024-25 program, and participating businesses apply to join the programs. Firms may also nominate themselves by filling out the application.

  • ● Atlanta (Morehouse Innovation & Entrepreneurship Center at Morehouse College) – September 25-27, 2024

    ● Chicago (Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University) - September 24-26, 2024

    ● Seattle (Foster School of Business at University of Washington) – October 1-3, 2024

  • Noon-3:00 Eastern/9:00-Noon Pacific

    ● Every other Friday via Zoom

    ● Fall & Winter Sessions

  • ● Armonk (IBM, The Louis V. Gerstner, Jr. Center for Learning) - April 2-4, 2025

    ● Chicago (Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University) - April 2-4, 2025

    ● Seattle (Foster School of Business at University of Washington) – April 1-3, 2024

Business Qualifications

Businesses that will benefit the most from the Ascend National Cohort are those MBEs that have revenues in the $2-9 million range and are seeking to grow to $20 million in the next two years. Businesses are typically nominated for this program by one of their clients or customers. Ascend focuses on businesses that target sales in B2B or B2G environments. 

The Ascend National Cohort is built for leadership teams rather than for an individual. The company’s CEO plus up to 2 other people in their business are responsible for solving the problem or reaching the critical opportunity. They will attend the opening and closing residential sessions. While not required, this program builds on the assumption that CEOs have previously completed advanced business education through an MBA or executive education.

  • • A defined leadership team (the CEO and 2 “C-suite” executives) that are responsible for business growth

    • 1st or 2nd Tier contractor/supplier to a corporation or government agency

    • A defined problem or key opportunity that they seek to address through engagement with this national cohort program

  • • Annual revenue of $2 Million +

    • A minimum of three consecutive years of profitable growth

    • Prior engagement in an executive education or business development programs

    • A business owned by a person of color (51% or more ownership stake by people of color)

Fee

There is a $15,000 business registration fee. Corporations and middle-market firms sponsor most businesses and cover this registration fee. Financial assistance is available for businesses without sponsors to reduce the fee. Businesses are responsible for covering the cost of travel and rooms for the opening and closing of in-person sessions. 

Application

Give yourself at least 30 minutes to complete the application. It asks for information about yourself, two other firm leads (each firm may have up to 3 representatives present at sessions), and the firm. We suggest you look through the entire application first, then gather the information you may need to look for, and then fill out the form in one sitting.

The application for the 2024-2025 Cohort is now closed. However, if you´d like to receive the application for the following cohort directly, please fill out the Interest Form. Once you've filled out the form, we'll ensure you receive the application for the next cohort as soon as it's available.