ASCEND
2nd Annual Career Navigation Summit
September 24–25, 2026
Virtual
ASCEND.
Your next level starts here.
Two days. Keynotes, panels, lightning talks, and an exclusive Day 2 experience — built for early-career, rising, and career-changing STEM professionals ready to lead, learn, and rise with intention.
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Day 1
September 24, 2026 · 12 PM – 6:30 PM ET
Free & Open to Everyone
12:00 PM
AdaMarie & Advanced Clinical Welcome & Kickoff
AdaMarie Team
The 2nd Annual AdaMarie Career Navigation Summit is officially underway. Hear from the AdaMarie and Advanced Clinical leadership team as they welcome the community, share the vision behind this year's theme — Ascend — and get you ready for a day of programming built to move your career forward.
12:15 – 1:00 PM
Opening Keynote
Aisha Bowe — Aerospace Engineer · Entrepreneur · Founder, STEMBoard
Former NASA rocket scientist. Citizen astronaut. Founder. Aisha Bowe opens Day 1 with a keynote on what becomes possible when you dare to ascend. Full session details coming soon.
1:10 – 2:00 PM
What HR Actually Wants: The STEM Hiring Conversation You Never Got to Have
Kim Marsh · Joane Booth · Victoria Hill · Moderated by AdaMarie Team
You have the skills and the experience — but do you know what actually happens on the other side of the hiring process? HR and talent leaders pull back the curtain on what they are really looking for in STEM candidates, from the résumé review to the final decision.
2:00 – 2:15 PM
Break
Take a breath. Grab a snack. Day 1 is just getting started.
2:15 – 2:45 PM
Concurrent Workshops — Choose One
[Session Title TBD]
Dr. Carmen Banks · Senior Scientist, Root Applied Sciences & CEO, MelanInScience
Session details coming soon.
Career Building vs. Ladder Climbing: A Different Framework for Growth
Marie Libres · Owner & Product Designer, Daughters Studio
Not every career move is a promotion — and not every promotion is progress. A reframe for building a career that is sustainable, intentional, and aligned with who you are.
2:45 – 3:15 PM
Concurrent Workshops — Choose One
Steady: The Underrepresented Leadership Skill in 2026
Victoria Farris · Founder & CEO, Farris Consulting
In a season of uncertainty, the ability to stay grounded is not just a personal practice — it is a professional edge. Victoria on what steadiness looks like in practice.
Navigating Power in the Workplace
Aneesa Valentine
Power shapes every workplace. Aneesa Valentine on how to read it, navigate it, and move through it with confidence and intention.
3:15 – 3:45 PM
Concurrent Workshops — Choose One
Beyond the Bench: Navigating Career Opportunities in Science Nonprofits
Brooke Grindlinger · Chief Scientific Officer, New York Academy of Sciences
What does a STEM career look like outside of industry and academia? Brooke on pathways in the nonprofit and philanthropic space.
From IC to Leader: What Nobody Tells You About the Technical to Leadership Transition
Boomie Odumade · Founder & Fractional VPE/CTO, TechBees
The jump from individual contributor to leader is one of the least supported transitions in STEM. Boomie breaks down what nobody tells you before you make it.
3:45 – 4:00 PM
Break
Almost there. Recharge before the second half of Day 1.
4:00 – 4:45 PM
Virtual Speed Networking
Your next mentor or collaborator might be in this room. Fast, focused, and genuinely fun conversations with fellow STEM professionals — no elevator pitch required.
4:45 – 5:45 PM
Working With AI: What It Means for Your STEM Career
Njairé McKoy · Archana Vaidheeswaran · Moderated by Avni Mohan
AI is reshaping every field in STEM. This panel gets into what that actually means for the professionals navigating it in real time — practically, honestly, and without the hype.
5:45 – 6:15 PM
Closing Keynote
Day 1 closes with intention. Our closing keynote speaker sends you into the evening inspired, clear, and ready to ascend. Speaker announcement coming soon.
6:15 – 6:30 PM
Final Close & Setup for Day 2
AdaMarie Team
Day 1 is a wrap. The AdaMarie team closes out the day and sets the stage for what is waiting tomorrow in Day 2.
Stay tuned
More sessions and speakers are being added.
Follow AdaMarie on LinkedIn for announcements as they drop.
Follow us on LinkedIn →
Day 2
September 25, 2026 · 11 AM – 3 PM ET
Paid Ticket Holders Only
11:00 – 11:10 AM
AdaMarie & Advanced Clinical Welcome
AdaMarie Team
Welcome back. The AdaMarie team opens Day 2 — a smaller room, a closer conversation, and a day built for going deeper.
11:10 – 11:55 AM
Intimate Keynote with Q&A
A keynote built for connection. Fewer seats, more access, and real conversation with one of the most compelling voices in STEM. Speaker announcement coming soon.
12:00 – 1:00 PM
The Hot Seat: Real Advice for Real STEM Career Challenges
Susan Childs · Victoria Farris · Denise Bronner · Kristy McCann · Moderated by AdaMarie Team
Bring your real career challenge. Our experts respond live, unscripted, and directly. No polish. No scripts. Just honest, actionable feedback from people who have been where you are.
1:00 – 1:30 PM
Your Legacy Starts Now: Building Wealth, Influence, and Impact as a Woman in STEM
Renesha Davis, CPA · Managing Partner, The Money Council
Legacy is not a retirement conversation. Renesha Davis on building wealth, influence, and lasting impact as a woman in STEM — starting right now.
1:30 – 2:00 PM
Pathways for Women in AI: Navigating Careers in Safety and Research
Archana Vaidheeswaran
The field of AI safety and research is expanding rapidly. Archana on how women can find, build, and own their place at the frontier of AI.
2:00 – 2:30 PM
[Session TBD]
Session details coming soon.
2:30 – 3:00 PM
Final Keynote & AdaMarie Closing
AdaMarie Team
The summit closes the way it began — with intention. A final keynote, a community send-off, and everything you need to carry this momentum forward.