Leadership & Influence - Program details

What is "The Ascent"?

A flagship gathering by SLI

The Ascent is the flagship conference of the School of Leadership & Influence (SLI). It serves as a platform through which the school brings together experienced professionals, entrepreneurs, creatives, and emerging leaders to exchange ideas, encourage mentorship, and cultivate a culture of excellence.

More than a conventional conference, ASCENT is designed as a space for dialogue, encounter, and meaningful exchange—where perspectives are broadened, relationships are formed, and participants are encouraged to grow in leadership, influence, and purposeful impact.

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Why Attend?

A curated environment for growth, connection, and perspective

ASCENT is designed for individuals who are serious about growth and committed to excellence.

By attending ASCENT, participants gain access to:

Meaningful conversations with experienced professionals across leadership, business, creativity, and personal development
Mentorship opportunities through intentional interaction with leaders and practitioners
High-quality networking with ambitious peers, founders, creatives, and professionals
Fresh perspective on leadership, identity, enterprise, and building with purpose
A strong community atmosphere that extends beyond the main conference experience

ASCENT is not built around passive attendance. It is designed to create an environment where people meet, engage, exchange, and leave strengthened.

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Who is ASCENT for?

Participants

ASCENT welcomes a diverse but aligned audience united by a desire for growth, excellence, and meaningful influence.

Professionals
Managers, corporate leaders, consultants, and experienced practitioners looking for thoughtful exchange and strong networks.

Entrepreneurs
Founders and aspiring builders seeking perspective, relationships, and opportunities for mentorship.

Creatives
Designers, photographers, artists, fashion professionals, and cultural contributors interested in the intersection of creativity, discipline, and enterprise.

Students & Emerging Leaders
Ambitious young people who want exposure, insight, and access to a community of excellence.

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Program Overview

Structured as high-impact experience blocks

ASCENT is designed as a sequence of focused experience blocks, each with a clear objective—progressing from insight to interaction and connection.

Block 1 — Perspective & Insight

14:00 – 16:15
Objective: Expose participants to high-level thinking, real-world experience, and leadership perspectives.

Through curated talks and discussions, speakers share practical insights on leadership, building systems, navigating complexity, and creating impact across different domains.

Block 2 — Dialogue & Exchange

16:30 – 17:10
Objective: Create space for interaction, questioning, and cross-disciplinary thinking.

Panel discussions bring together diverse voices to explore themes such as identity, creativity, technology, and enterprise—encouraging participants to engage with ideas beyond their immediate field.

Block 3 — Targeted Interactions (Founder Spotlight & Mentorship)

17:10 – 17:30 (Transition & Matching Window)
Objective: Facilitate meaningful, intentional connections between founders and experienced professionals.

Selected entrepreneurs and mentors engage in focused conversations, building the foundation for mentorship, advisory relationships, and potential collaboration.

Block 4 — Cocktail Networking Mixer

17:30 – 19:30
Objective: Transition into open, organic interaction within a relaxed and refined setting.

The ASCENT Mixer brings all participants together for a high-quality networking experience—where conversations continue naturally, relationships deepen, and new connections emerge across generations and disciplines.

Program Note

The program is intentionally designed to balance substantive insight with space for real interaction. ASCENT is as much about the conversations around the sessions as the sessions themselves.

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Founder Spotlight & Mentorship

Founder Spotlight

Ahead of the conference, selected young entrepreneurs will participate in the Founder Spotlight—a curated pitch and evaluation process designed to identify promising founders with clear potential, strong vision, and commitment to growth.

A curated founder pool will then be shared with interested mentors ahead of ASCENT.

Mentor Matching

Confirmed mentors and selected guests will have the opportunity to review founder profiles in advance and indicate the domains or founders they would be most interested in engaging with.

During the networking sessions at ASCENT, these introductions can develop into meaningful conversations, mentorship relationships, advisory support, and future collaboration.

Why it matters

This makes ASCENT more than a one-day event. It becomes a practical platform where guidance, opportunity, and connection can take shape.

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Beyond the Conference

A shared community experience

The ASCENT experience continues beyond the main event.

On the day following the conference, participants will be invited to an optional outdoor gathering in the Fontainebleau forest—offering a relaxed and beautiful setting to continue conversations, strengthen new relationships, and deepen the community formed during ASCENT.

This extension reflects the spirit of the School of Leadership & Influence: not only bringing people together, but creating room for lasting connection.

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Speakers, Mentors & Contributors

An invitation to contribute

ASCENT is strengthened by the quality of the people who shape its conversations.

We welcome the participation of experienced professionals, founders, executives, creatives, and practitioners who are willing to share insight, engage in meaningful discussion, and contribute to the development of emerging leaders.

Potential areas of contribution include:

Speaking sessions
Panel discussions
Mentorship and founder engagement
Strategic partnership and support

CTA: Express Interest as a Mentor

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Join the Priority List

Be among the first to hear about ASCENT 2026

Join the ASCENT Priority List to receive:

Early access to registration
Program and speaker updates
Founder Spotlight application updates
Mentorship and participation opportunities

Whether you plan to attend as a participant, apply for Founder Spotlight, or engage as a mentor, the priority list is the best place to start.

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About SLI

School of Leadership & Influence

The School of Leadership & Influence exists to nurture excellence, encourage responsible leadership, and foster meaningful development across professional, entrepreneurial, and personal domains.

ASCENT is one of the key platforms through which SLI advances this vision.

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