Tennille C. Bernard
Vision
We envision a world where women of color, especially Black women, have access to the networks, opportunities, and community they need to excel in their careers and lead with confidence.
Mission
To empower women of color to thrive in their professional and personal lives by fostering authentic connections, providing peer mentorship, and offering resources that support leadership development.
Values
Our values—community, collaboration, vulnerability, excellence, and empowerment—guide everything we do, ensuring that our members feel seen, supported, and inspired.
Who We Are
Ascend: Circles of Excellence is a group of peer advisory council dedicated to empowering and uplifting Black Women into leadership roles.
It serves as a virtual, trusted community where members can be vulnerable and receive the guidance, support, and encouragement needed to overcome the challenges they face in corporate settings and as entrepreneurs. At Ascend, the foundation of our peer advisory councils is creating a safe, confidential space where members can share openly, solve problems collaboratively, and draw on the collective wisdom of their peers.
It’s more than mentorship—it’s a sisterhood of leaders navigating life and work together, united in the pursuit of growth and excellence.
Why people love peer advisory councils like Ascend: Circles of Excellence
"You can reap the benefits of having a team with the experience and solutions that will take you to the top."
Tina Corner Stolz, LX Council Founder
"It has been said the worst decision someone will make is the decision they make on their own. [Peer advisory councils] helps to develop the peer-to-peer relationship that can provide the resources to allow its members to no longer feel as thought decisions have to be made in a vacuum."
JEFF CARLSTEDTCBIZ MHM, LLC
"As a bank president, I witnessed how crucial participating in a peer group is for a business owner. The creativity from sharing strategies and problem-solving is so powerful that I participate both as a strategic alliance and as a member."
John Block, President, National Bank
Member Benefits you don't want to miss!
Joining Ascend: Circles of Excellence offers a transformative experience designed specifically for Black women leaders, CEOs, and founders. Here’s how becoming a member can empower and elevate your personal and professional journey:
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A Trusted Community for Authentic Support: Ascend Circles provide a safe, confidential space where you can be vulnerable and share your challenges without judgment. This trusted community allows you to connect deeply with like-minded women who understand your experiences and are committed to uplifting one another.
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Peer Mentorship and Collaborative Growth: As a member, you’ll gain access to peer mentorship from women who have walked similar paths. Whether you're seeking advice on leadership, entrepreneurship, or work-life integration, your Circle offers collaborative solutions and strategies that help you grow.
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Personal and Professional Empowerment: Ascend Circles are designed to empower you to take bold steps in your career and personal life. With access to leading experts, collective peer wisdom and diverse perspectives, you’ll be equipped to make strategic decisions that align with your goals, values, and aspirations.
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Exclusive Access to Leadership Development: Our Circles provide you with valuable resources, workshops, and curated content to help you continually develop as a leader. From mastering emotional intelligence to navigating corporate environments, Ascend ensures that you’re always evolving and expanding your skills.
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Build Lasting Relationships and a Legacy of Excellence: Beyond the immediate benefits of support and mentorship, Ascend Circles help you build lasting, meaningful relationships. These connections not only offer personal and professional value but also position you to create a legacy of leadership and excellence that extends beyond your individual journey.
Four Key Benefits of becoming a Strategic Partner
As a Strategic Partner, you'll have the unique opportunity to elevate your client relationships and drive business growth. Here’s how:
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Establish and strengthen client relationships: By inviting your clients and prospects to join Ascend’s Circles, you offer them access to a trusted community that nurtures personal and professional growth. This connection strengthens their relationship with you as they thrive with the additional support we provide.
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Identify and support at-risk clients: Your clients may face challenges at work, home, or in their communities. As a partner, you can offer them a solution through Ascend Circles, where they receive the support they need to navigate these struggles—leading to improved customer retention for you.
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Drive profitability through client growth: When your clients participate in Ascend Circles, they are empowered to make better, more strategic decisions. This often leads to business growth, which increases their need for your services as they expand.
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Enhance client satisfaction and loyalty: By fostering strategic conversations within the Circles, your clients gain clarity on their goals, challenges, and vision. This deepens their trust in you, driving customer satisfaction, retention, and referrals.
Let’s explore how a partnership with Ascend: Circles of Excellence can align with your goals and enhance your client relationships.
Join an Ascend Circle in 5 easy steps
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Schedule a call with me, the Ascend Circle Moderator.
During this time, I will seek to undestand your pain points and motivation for joining a peer advisory council, and answer any questions you may have.
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Fill out the application form.
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Take the assessment.
I use the DISC assessment to understand your leadership profile and gain better understanding of your compatibility with other circle members.
04
Pay the fees.
Once you've been approved, you will be invoiced for a one-time, non-refundable initiation fee and your first month's payment. You must pay this before no later than 1 week before your first meeting, unless given written instructions stating otherwise.
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Onboard.
This is where you receive your membership packet, agree to the rules, and begin to build your community.
FAQs
Why create Ascend: Circles of Excellence?
The idea for Ascend: Circles of Excellence came from my deep commitment to supporting women of color, as I have experienced firsthand the unique challenges Black women face in the corporate world. Whether it's the struggle to integrate work and life or the lack of access to supportive networks, I saw an urgent need for a space where Black women could not only find mentorship but also build genuine, lasting connections with peers who understand their journeys. Peer advisory councils have the power to transform lives, as I’ve witnessed through my own experience navigating similar challenges.
By creating this nurturing, confidential space, I’m passionate about helping women become more resilient, confident leaders who are empowered to bring their full selves into every aspect of their lives.
Will you be creating Ascend Circles for other demographics?
The short answer is yes. As this initiative grows, I will explore opportunities to create new Circles that meet different demographics.
I started with Black women circles because this is the community I am most familiar with. I take moderating the Circles seriously, and I want to ensure that any circle that I create I give the proper respect and due dilligence to its members, which will include familiarizing myself with the personal and professional challenges they face.
Where are the Circles located? Do I have to be physically present to attend?
Currently the Circles will meet online via a Google Meet invitation - but at least once a year, we will host a 1 week in-person retreat at a location to be decided by the Circle. This retreat will include several elements of our monthly meetings, plus time to indulge in local attractions and restorative activities.
As a member of a Circle, you are expected to abide by the attendance requirements.
What if I don't pass the assessment?
The assessment does not have a pass/fail metric. Rather, it provides insights into you as a member, which helps me as a moderator determine the best Circle to fit you into.
What happens if I am not matched to a Circle?
Circles are a community that requires a high-degree of trust and compatability between members. This allows each of our members to feel safe as they reveal their authentic selves.
If you were not immediately matched to a Circle, I will hold on to your application for a year, and continue to assess your profile against other incoming members during this time. You will not have to pay any fees until you are assigned to a Circle. You may also choose to opt-in to having your profile circulated among our LX Council network partners, who may be able to match you to a peer advisor council.
What happens if I need to leave my Circle?
My goal is to foster an environment where you would want to stay indefinitely; however, should you consider leaving your Circle, I would recommend that you schedule some time with me to talk so that I may understand your reasons for wanting to leave, and see if we can find accommodations or alternative solutions.
Please note: there is a one (1) month notice period for leaving a Circle, unless you are moving to a different circle.
Any other questions?
