Introducing Conscious Ascent

This is an introduction to Conscious Ascent: a consulting firm dedicated to helping startup founders and leadership teams who want to unlock their team’s full potential by providing coaching and facilitation to increase authenticity, feedback, and accountability cultures using a proven framework. At its core, Conscious Ascent exists to help teams level up by fostering group trust, connection, and accountability.

It’s funny when I look back at my life and realize that I have been unconsciously preparing for this move for the past 10 years. I joined my first group forum in Washington, DC in my early 20s and was instantly hooked by the power and wisdom that comes from authentically connecting with people in a safe container. 

In my second startup, Sparkfund, I fell into a Chief of Staff position that we fondly called the “glue.” This role was my first taste of informal facilitation as I worked with the leadership team to ensure that we were all rowing strategically in the same direction. 

In my last role at AirDNA, formal facilitation quite literally fell into my lap as I was trained in the SpiralMethod facilitation practice which we used to develop stronger trust and understanding among the executive team. Noting the benefits from this type of work, I worked with the CEO to roll out a formal learning and development program for all people managers within the organization using SpiralMethod forums as a cornerstone to integrate learnings and create cross-functional connection across the organization. 

In my research I’ve found that building a culture of trust is what makes a meaningful difference. Employees in high-trust organizations are more productive, have more energy at work, collaborate better with their colleagues, and stay with their employers longer than people working at low-trust companies. They also suffer less chronic stress and are happier with their lives, and these factors fuel stronger performance. - Paul Zak, Neuroscientist and Author of “Trust Factor: The Science of Creating High-Performing Companies”

This practice allowed me to witness the power of group facilitation for both individual and team development and have decided to bring it to the world I know the best: startups. 

Startups are my bread and butter. I know the madness that goes on from seed to series A, series B, exit and beyond. In my experience, building a foundation of trust enables startup teams to supercharge every initiative and focus on the work without unnecessary noise and distractions.

I landed on the name “Conscious Ascent” to roll up a few different concepts that are core to my operation. The decision to use the word “conscious” comes from the decision to embed the philosophies from the team over at the Conscious Leadership Group in my practice. The word “ascent” demonstrates my commitment to work with leaders who embody a growth mindset and are committed to doing this deep work to level up a bit every day. We all have our various mountains to climb and I aim to support you as you take each next step.

If there is one thing that I know for certain, it’s that nobody does anything alone and that it takes a village. I have been fortunate to have had many wonderful people in my village as I have navigated my professional career and decision to embark on my own doing the work that I am best skilled at and enjoy the most. I would be honored to join your village as you prepare to climb your next mountain.