Robyn Grable
Founder and The ASCEND Collective CEO
Founded by Robyn Grable, US Navy Veteran, Military Spouse and Talent Acquisition Professional. Following nine years of service, Robyn was told her civilian career would have to start at the bottom because her skills from the military wouldn’t translate. The experience left her with the drive and determination to ensure the same thing did not continue to happen for veterans, military spouses, people with diverse-abilities and justice involved candidates. She created Veterans ASCEND in 2018 which expanded to Talents ASCEND in 2022. At that time, The ASCEND Collective was formed and Veterans ASCEND became part of the 501c(3). In addition to Veterans ASCEND, there is MilSpouse ASCEND, Ability ASCEND, Mission2 ASCEND and Founders ASCEND.
Mission
Our mission is to elevate talent, empower futures, transforming skills into purpose and potential into progress. Building communities by removing barriers to opportunity and advancing skills-first pathways.
We do this by translating experience into demonstrated capability, preparing talent through career readiness and applied learning, and partnering with employers ready to hire based on performance, not pedigree.
Vision
Our vision is a workforce where opportunity is matched with capability and businesses hire, onboard, performance manage and engage skills-first.
We envision a future where veterans, military spouses, founders, and underserved talent are evaluated by what they can do, organizations hire with clarity and confidence, and skills-first models replace outdated systems that overlook human potential.
Where Collaboration Meets Impact
Your brand can power economic mobility for veterans and military spouses. Whether your goal is to drive social impact, strengthen brand equity, or build deeper community connections, we’ll help you fulfill your purpose through partnerships that make a lasting difference.
Making A Difference
Partnering with The ASCEND Collective allows employers to demonstrate leadership where it matters most — people, purpose, and progress. By hiring or sponsoring ASCEND programs, organizations visibly invest in veterans, military spouses, and underserved talent while advancing a skills-first, future-ready workforce model. This partnership strengthens employer brand reputation, reinforces commitments to equity and social impact, and positions companies as innovators who don’t just talk about opportunity — they build it.