Research tells us it’s not a lack of talent or qualifications that are holding women back. We support credible, driven women working in male-dominated environments, ascend their career trajectories. By bridging the gap between women’s intentions and general perceptions, champion gender equality for greater results.
Melissa Lewis, Founder/CEO -The Ascension Group
THE ASCENSION GROUP
The Ascension Group works with top talent in companies across the APEC region, assisting more women step into leadership roles. Our aim is to help mid-to-senior level female managers working in male-dominated industries, navigate and transcend the many challenges of the corporate world.
With a focus on Executive Presence, The Ascension Group promises greater influence and success.
We provide the data and insights to:
- Build on your natural strengths (we don’t fix, we elevate)
- Uncover blind spots
- Bridge the gap between your intentions and perceptions of others.
- Provide services and tools to elevate your professional Image
While women leaders are widely acknowledged for superior organisational performance, they face myriad challenges attaining their goals. Research has highlighted the unconscious bias prevalent in the workplace (where women face unfair perceptions of their leadership potential) and women’s own mindset (a lack of confidence and inability to articulate their value).
Our approach…only 1:1
The Ascension Group has designed two comprehensive, tailored pathways to help women lift their presence.
The internal process deeply explores leadership traits and behaviours for professional growth through 360 diagnostic tools. We investigate inconsistencies of alignment- whether our own perceptions and those of others match our intentions and professional goals.
The external service provides highly popular image and wardrobe solution packages. Women feel confident in fashion staples that support their many hats of work and play. Feeling stylish and comfortable allows for work-centric focus, what many of our clients thrive upon.
MELISSA LEWIS, FOUNDER/CEo – THE ASCENSION GROUP
Melissa Lewis, founder of THE ASCENSION GROUP,
is Australia’s leading expert on ‘the power of a woman’s presence’.
Melissa’s fascination with the power of Womannkind began as a child when she spent many hours at her grandfather’s couture boutique. She would sit intrigued as he styled high-end clientele in tailored suits or glorious evening gowns. As she took in his needlecraft, attention to detail and easy conversation, she was absorbing the basics of creative style and successful business.
Melissa grew up to traverse the male-dominated realms of commercial property and shopping centre management, her instincts for style and poise buoying her through every trial and success.
However, as her career burgeoned into personal branding, she quickly realised that Presence is multi-factorial, often elusive yet mandatory for success in business and in life. She saw how self-definition and presentation gave women the confidence to shine from the inside out.
Today, Melissa and her team of specialists at The Ascension Group change lives by enabling talented women to step into leadership roles. They mentor hundreds of high performing women towards invincibility; building a Presence that is authentic, powerful and polished.
Having the lived-experience of building a career, then diverting and building yet another, Melissa is empathetic about the pressure incumbent upon women. She also understands the challenges of being a simultaneous mum, wife, cook, cleaner and businesswomen.
Her key is being organised and ‘always wear shoes you can run in’! In her spare time, she loves training for half marathons and being the life of the party (decorously of course).
In recent years, she has worked alongside leaders from organisations such as KPMG, EY, Bendigo Bank, Telstra, CBUS Superannuation, Hall & Wilcox, Shine Wing Australia and Coles.
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CLIENT TESTIMONIALS
Working with Melissa has given me new perspective and allowed me to break patterns that were not self-serving. She is a great listener and genuinely cares but more importantly, she kept me firm in the hot seat; made me accountable for my actions and kept me focused at being the best version of myself. Melissa’s advice is always measured and considered but with a special blend of toughness at the right moment, which worked really well for me. If you are a woman, wanting to take your career to the next level, and would like an ally to support you through it, I would highly recommend Melissa.
Neela McGilton
Strategist, Leader, Connector, Non-Executive Director
Thank you Melissa for helping me stand out! My mum was an Accountant, my father was an Accountant and in a previous life, I was also an Accountant. Being trained in the art of frugality often meant I neglected my wardrobe from a personal style perspective. Melissa helped me to understand that style is just one facet of the overall personal brand we portray and that cost and style are not necessarily mutually exclusive when working with an expert like Melissa.
If you haven’t worked with Melissa I suggest you find an excuse to.
David Lewis
Business Consultant, Mentor and Trusted Advisor
“I’ve worked with Melissa for the last 18 months as I made the transition from senior manager to Executive. We spent time defining what the elusive ‘Executive Presence’ meant for me and which is so important for senior women to understand. Through a combination of redefining personal presentation and defining and staying true to my brand she made having a leadership presence so easy and effortless. It continues to feed my confidence at work as I grow as a leader. Thanks Melissa – you are a genius.”
Lara Douglas
Head of risk conduct ANZ
“I absolutely believe in leveraging your strengths and Melissa is outstanding as an executive presence coach. I engaged Melissa recently for a style ‘refresh’ as I undertake the transition to my next role. She takes the time to get to know you, your personality, your style and your aspirations. Her preparation is amazing and made the whole experience effortless for me. Looking and feeling great creates enormous confidence and Melissa’s support has been invaluable to me. It’s also loads of fun and an investment that will have a lasting impact. Thank you Melissa – you are one of a kind!”
Cindy Batchelor
Senior Executive
“The time I spent as a client of Melissa’s I found my self- confidence grow. She gave me the confidence to believe in myself that I can achieve my goals and I am to be valued. My manager recommended I work with Melissa and I found this time & experience to be invaluable. I continue to grow and draw on what I learnt from Melissa. I feel stronger and now know I deserve my position in the organisation and the results are showing.”
Sandy Deagan
Collins Street Branch Manager
“I appreciated the candid and helpful insights Melissa provided through the use of the presence assessment tool and the coaching sessions. I can already see the results that I am achieving by implementing the strategies Melissa has given me. Combined with the process of elevating my executive style, I have an inner and outer confidence that is aligned and complements who I am.”
Tania Orr
Director, KMPG
“Mel brings an amazing energy and focus to the essential task of helping senior professional women present themselves in the best possible way. For those of us that are time poor, and sick of poor styling decisions made on the spur of the moment, Mel’s calm and methodical approach helps all of us recapture our own personal style. Mel saves me time, money and helps me make better decisions, all in a way that makes it really easy to take my medicine. I cannot recommend her more highly!”
Anne
Senior Investment Banker & Non-Executive Director
“Having worked in large corporates for most of my career, I started my own legal practice last year to specialise in working with retailers. Melissa she worked with me to determine my personal brand and to ensure that my goals and visions for my legal practice were aligned with the image that was being conveyed through my presentation. I found Melissa’s service to be incredibly efficient and accurate. I have come away from this process feeling both personally and professionally inspired.”
Rosalyn Gladwin
Principal at Gladwin Legal
“Melissa Lewis has taken my executive presence to the next level, through a structured and evidence-based approach. The results are staggering. I’ve recently been appointed to my first Board, selected for a global program for elite business development professionals and am now working with amazing international clients. We also worked together on my executive style – the shopping is just a lovely side benefit and so much fun.”
Ceinwen McNeil
Managing Director at First Follower
QUALITIES OF THE ASCENSION GROUP
1
BESPOKE APPROACH
Our approach is not a one size fits all. We tailor each female leader’s executive presence strategy so they can achieve success in their own unique way.
2
SCIENCE BASED DATA
Using 360 or proprietary diagnostic tools, we give women meaningful and accurate data specific to them to uncover the gaps between intention and perception.
3
CLARITY AND CONFIDENCE
We provide organisations and individuals with a clear, consistent structure to elevate female leadership.
4
POINT OF DIFFERENCE
We specialise in executive presence, the missing link to leadership success in today’s workplace. No stone is left uncovered as we combine an internal process with the external to elevate credibility from the inside out.