At Ascend, we strive to provide opportunities for employees to stretch their skills and advance their careers by moving among business segments, brands and teams — driving personal and team growth while creating a culture where people love what they do, take ownership and are empowered to pursue new career opportunities within the company so we “hire our own talent.”

Elizabeth Ward’s journey at Ascend started with a digital marketing internship at BoardVitals from February 2021 to September 2021, after which she joined the BoardVitals team full-time. She served as a digital marketing coordinator with BoardVitals until October 2022 when she made her move and joined the team at ATI Nursing Education as a marketing automation specialist.

Ascend Communications (AC): How did your previous roles at BoardVitals help prepare you to make your move to ATI?

Elizabeth Ward (EW): As a former digital marketing coordinator at BoardVitals, my responsibilities varied, but cross-collaboration and team hustle were crucial — from content writing to creative requests, campaign planning, post-launch analysis, direct mail, email and social media marketing and more. I also frequently learned new platforms and processes, which enabled me to think methodically and tangentially about the marketing process.

AC: Looking back on your BoardVitals experience, is there anything that stands out?

EW: Between the team-wide hustle and unanimous understanding of a “New York minute,” BoardVitals is a truly unique and amazing company. I can’t think of one specific instance that outweighs another in terms of projects, mainly because every project came with takeaways on what to do next. I liked that about the team — their best practices and collaborative mindset really helped shape my day-to-day approach.

AC: What was the process like making your move? 

EW: Although I joined Ascend during the pandemic, there were several opportunities to meet and collaborate in person. I would frequent the NYC WeWork with some former NursingCE colleagues and when one of them took an external job opportunity, he encouraged me to pursue whatever position would be created in his place.

A few months later, I heard about this new role from a marketing leader in our healthcare segment, and began sitting in on a few meetings and dabbling in shared service work. Because I volunteered for these shared service projects, I had access to some of ATI’s tools and platforms, which was crucial [for me] in getting a better sense of their systems and processes.

One of my most memorable events from this period was being able to take my former colleague’s place at INBOUND, the annual HubSpot conference that took place in Boston this year. I took the road trip with another [former] colleague and interviewed at a rest stop while en route to the conference.

Making my move to ATI was easier because I already knew the platform, teams and industry. After a COVID-canceled graduation and working remotely for a year-and-a-half, the in-person time with my colleagues meant the world to me. Every manager I’ve had has expressed interest in my career goals, which has been crucial throughout this transition.

AC: Can you share more about your role at ATI?

EW: As a marketing automation specialist, a large part of my role involves planning, implementing and measuring almost every aspect of the marketing process. In addition to managing activities in HubSpot, I work closely with team members to plan and develop a holistic marketing strategy that caters to every segment of the customer journey. My daily goal is to optimize tools for improved demand generation, retention and overall marketing outcomes.

AC: How would you describe the culture at Ascend?

EW: Joining a company like Ascend has been excellent. I love that resources and work are shared across healthcare brands. As a firm believer in change, I appreciate being a part of this cross-collaborative culture. It encourages innovation, new and sought-after skills and opportunities to improve processes that align with the reality of constantly evolving demands.

AC: Do you have any words of encouragement to others at Ascend who are considering “making their move?” 

EW: Finding the right fit within a company or team can seem daunting. No matter what team someone is transitioning to or coming from, [our] company culture is really a reflection of every person and every brand. Ascend recognizes growth and provides success pathways for all employees, which shows that the organization is genuinely committed to employee development.

***

When team members move to new roles across Ascend, they grow their skills and stretch their capabilities within a company they already know, maintain their benefits and connections with colleagues, and teams gain an employee already invested in the work, mission and culture — one that can ramp up quickly and bring legacy knowledge to their new role. To learn more about career opportunities at Ascend, visit our Careers page.