Ascent: Inclusion & Diversity

Ascent strives to motivate and to educate decision-makers on the business case and best practices for inclusive workplaces and events. Learn more about this initiative.

Katie Martell

Marketing consultant Martell was CMO and co-founder of customer intelligence startup Cintell and director of buzz at NetProspex. Now at Boston Content, the city’s largest community of content professionals, she is a frequent speaker and emcee at conferences including TEDx, B2B Summit, and Women in Digital.

October 1, 2018

Nadya Okamoto Fights for Gender Equality with PERIOD Movement

Nadya Okamato is the founder of PERIOD, a nonprofit, youth-oriented organization dedicated to social change for menstrual equity. Her next goal? Making PERIOD a global movement and a key component of the fight for gender equality.

BY Jasmine Zhu October 1, 2018

‘They Don’t Want to Feel Erased’

As U.S. states begin to recognize that the gender spectrum spans beyond male or female, Equality Institute founder Bernadette Smith thinks business events have an opportunity to follow suit — thereby creating an inclusive, respectful environment for all attendees.

BY Casey Gale September 24, 2018

The Role of Diversity and Inclusion in the Meetings Industry

Ideological polarization should be an opportunity, not a deterrent, to raising the profile of diversity and inclusion in the meetings industry.

BY Lorene Yue September 24, 2018

Building relationships and boosting the next generation of business events

Spotlighting professionals making a difference in the business events industry, PCMA launches its Ascent Luminaries video series with Jenny Abreu of Forever Etched Events.

September 24, 2018

Abby Wambach Seeks Level Playing Field for Women

Women can be grateful for what they have — while demanding what they deserve, says retired soccer star and equal-pay advocate Abby Wambach.

BY Barbara Palmer September 4, 2018

Walking the Talk

Speakers at CNBC’s Talent@Work event offered concrete steps to take towards creating a workplace culture that’s open to everyone. Earlier this summer, a panel of speakers from across a wide
BY Jasmine Zhu August 28, 2018

When Women Ask for Raises

Leadership consultant and PCMA Convening Leaders 2019 speaker Molly Breazeale on what holds women back from advocating for the salaries they deserve.

BY Cristi Kempf August 22, 2018

Here’s Why the World’s Largest Gathering on Women’s Health Chose to Meet in Vancouver

The conference that organizers called ‘a fueling station for people working to achieve a more gender-equal world’ found the perfect fit in Vancouver.

BY Sarah Beauchamp August 20, 2018

Everyone Has a Place at the Table

A new website has made a splash by highlighting the diverse but often overlooked pool of talent in the culinary world, from chefs to speakers.

BY Corin Hirsch August 3, 2018

Racy Presentation Photos Force Scientific Society to Write New Code of Conduct

Attendees at a recent conference were not pleased when the accompanying slide deck for an awards acceptance speech included sexist images. Here’s how the organizers took action.

BY David McMillin August 2, 2018

Everyone Has a Place at the Table

A new website has made a splash by highlighting the diverse but often overlooked pool of talent in the culinary world, from chefs to speakers.

BY Corin Hirsch August 1, 2018

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