A.S.C.E.N.D. Pathway Program™
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 Program™ is built around six core pillars that guide the learning journey and reflect our approach to inclusive, adaptive consulting:
Aspire: Cultivate purposeful leadership grounded in integrity and vision.
Self-awareness: Reflect on your identity, purpose, and professional presence.
Courage: Lead with confidence, speak up, and engage across differences.
Equity: Embed inclusion and justice into all professional actions and decisions.
Navigate: Effectively manage complexity, uncertainty, and change.
Development: Commit to ongoing learning and professional growth.
Two Developmental Tracks
1. Consulting Internship Program
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Cycle: Quarterly (January, April, July, and October)
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Duration: 3 months
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Hours: 8–10/week
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Compensation: Unpaid, may be completed for academic credit
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Designed for students who are new to consulting and want to build foundational consulting knowledge, skills, and experience.
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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
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Cycle: 6-month terms (January–June and July–December)
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Duration: 6 months
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Hours: 8–15/week
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Compensation: Paid ($35/hour)
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Designed for early-career professionals with at least 1 year in consulting, research, facilitation, or project management experience who are prepared to contribute to client work with limited supervision.
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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:
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Psychology (clinical, counseling, industrial-organizational)
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Social Work (macro or systems-level focus)
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Education (including EdD and higher ed leadership)
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Public Health Business & Management (MBA, nonprofit leadership, org development)
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Organizational Behavior & Consulting
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Human Services & Community-Based Practice
What Participants Can Expect
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Project-based learning with real-world relevance
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Dedicated mentorship and performance feedback
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Exposure to internal systems, client dynamics, and business operations
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Opportunities to be considered for future part-time or full-time project roles with RC Warner Consulting
