A.S.C.E.N.D. Pathway Program™

Training the Next Generation of Inclusive, People-Centered Consultants to Drive Global Impact

The A.S.C.E.N.D. Pathway Program is RC Warner Consulting’s professional development and talent pipeline initiative. It equips emerging professionals with the tools, experiences, and frameworks needed to thrive in equity-driven, systems-aware consulting environments.

Whether you're just getting started or deepening your practice, A.S.C.E.N.D. prepares you to contribute meaningfully to real-world consulting work through hands-on learning, mentorship, and project-based experience.

What Does A.S.C.E.N.D. Stand For?

The A.S.C.E.N.D. Pathway is built around six core pillars that guide the learning journey and reflect our approach to inclusive, adaptive consulting:

[A]spire: Cultivate purposeful leadership grounded in integrity and vision.
[S]elf-awareness: Reflect deeply on your identity, purpose, and presence as a consultant.
[C]ourage: Develop the confidence to lead, speak up, and engage across differences.
[E]quity: Embed inclusion and justice into all professional actions and decisions.
[N]avige: Build skills to skillfully manage complexity, ambiguity, and organizational dynamics.
[D]evelopment: Commit to ongoing learning and professional growth.

These pillars are intentionally scaffolded across both tracks, with interns introduced to foundational pillars and fellows advancing into application and leadership.

Two Developmental Tracks

1. Consulting Internship Program

Duration: 3 months
Hours: 8–10/week
Compensation: Unpaid, may be completed for academic credit
Designed for entry-level students who are interested in exploring consulting and want to develop their knowledge and skills
Accepting 3-5 interns per cycle

Interns engage in bi-weekly Learning Labs, reflective writing, and project contributions to build core consulting capabilities. The program concludes with a capstone project and a certificate in A.S.C.E.N.D. Consulting Foundations, which many participants leverage as part of their professional development or university-affiliated experiential learning requirements.

2. Applied Consulting Fellowship

Duration: 6 months
Hours: 10–15/week
Compensation: Paid ($35/hour)
Designed for advanced students seeking to build a career within the consulting field and strengthen their expertise
Ideal for individuals who can contribute at a higher level with limited supervision
Accepting 1-2 fellows per cycle

Fellows lead real-world deliverables, strengthen facilitation and communication skills, and engage in coaching and leadership roundtables. Completion earns a certificate in A.S.C.E.N.D. Applied Consulting Practice.

Who Is This Program For?

The A.S.C.E.N.D. Pathway Program is intentionally interdisciplinary. While we welcome applicants from a wide range of professional and academic backgrounds, you're especially likely to be a strong fit if you’re currently studying or working in areas like:

Psychology (clinical, counseling, industrial-organizational)
Social Work (macro or systems-level focus)
Education (including EdD and higher ed leadership)
Public Health Business & Management (MBA, nonprofit leadership, org development)
Organizational Behavior & Consulting
Human Services & Community-Based Practice

Whether you're pursuing a graduate degree (e.g., MSW, MPH, MBA, PhD) or gaining hands-on experience in the field, A.S.C.E.N.D. is designed to meet you where you are and stretch your applied consulting capacity in real-world environments.

What Participants Can Expect

Project-based learning with real-world relevance
Dedicated mentorship and performance feedback
Exposure to internal systems, client dynamics, and business operations
Opportunities to be considered for future part-time or full-time project roles with RC Warner Consulting