AlixPartners joins with Ascend, 100+ corporations and partner organizations to stop bias and stigma associated with COVID-19

Diversity champions collaborate to address social & economic impacts on vulnerable communities

NEW YORK (July 10, 2020)— AlixPartners, the global consulting firm, today announced that it has joined 10 organizational partners and more than 90 companies in the #AscendTogether Action Agenda to promote workplace inclusion and address the adverse impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Ascend is the largest, non-profit Pan-Asian membership organization for business professionals and executives in North America.

Ascend has launched a consortium with the Management Leadership for Tomorrow (MLT), National Association of Black Accountants (NABA), Association of Latino Professionals For America (ALPFA), Catalyst, The Conference Board, National Congress of American Indians (NCAI), National Organization on Disability (NOD), Out & Equal, Tanenbaum and 90+ supporting companies to address the adverse impacts of the COVID-19 outbreak.

With recent events affecting the black community, Ascend also stands in solidarity against racism and violence. Ascend is committed to working together to address inequities and make positive change in the workplace and beyond.

As part of this effort to promote equality, Ascend will leverage their 5-Point Action Agenda, helping to explore how individuals, employers and leaders can accelerate change in our workplaces and beyond. AlixPartners’ Core Values are consistent with Ascend’s 5-Point Plan, which include:

• Promote Inclusion: Advocate for a diverse and inclusive workplace and society.
• Raise Awareness: Highlight the unique impacts of COVID-19 on vulnerable groups.
• Denounce Bias: Encourage individuals to report virus-linked discriminatory acts against Pan-Asians and other targeted groups and communities in the workplace and in public.
• Support Communities: Contribute time, knowledge and/or other resources to aid frontline workers, COVID-19 victims and families.
• Give Donations: Provide funds and/or other resources to support vulnerable populations of people and impacted businesses.

“Inclusion and diversity are fundamental to AlixPartners’ core values. Our support of Ascend and its Action Agenda underscores our commitment to having an inclusive and diverse work environment where we can all thrive,” said Don Schneider, Chief People Officer at AlixPartners. “We are proud to be collaborating with the other organizations to address the negative impacts of COVID-19 and counteract racism and social injustice.”

AlixPartners has created the opportunity for employees from across the firm’s international footprint to participate in Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) to help foster an inclusive and diverse workplace that aligns with AlixPartners’ mission and core values. AlixPartners’ Asian Leadership Insights & Growth Network (ALIGN) ERG empowers individuals who share a connection to the Asian community to realize their potential, develop leadership skills, and expand their professional and personal networks. ALIGN also aims to address biases and stereotypes by developing an inclusive, multicultural team environment, strengthening multicultural relationships, and raising Asian cultural awareness. ALIGN has been working with Ascend for several years to help develop the leaders of tomorrow despite the Bamboo Ceiling.

“We as a society are overdue in effectively teaming to stem bias against all races and cultures. The racial issues discussed in the media today are not specific to one race or culture and I am reminded of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s quote that injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere,” said Yogesh Bahl, Managing Director at AlixPartners and MD Sponsor of ALIGN.

"We applaud the 100+ companies and organizations collaborating with us to drive actions that safeguard protections for diverse groups and underrepresented employee segments," said Anna Mok, President, Ascend. "This commitment reinforces the importance of our 5-Point Action Agenda. We call on additional companies and organizations to join this consortium and help us accelerate progress together. We are all in this together; now more than ever, we need to ascend to the challenges before us.”

In 2016, AlixPartners launched ERGs, which enable shared interest groups to work together to foster a diverse, inclusive workplace that aligns with our mission and core values. With more than 50% of individuals in the firm participating in at least one ERG, these groups have evolved to become more and more integrated into business as usual activities in the firm. Our eight ERGs are open to all across the firm: Asian Leadership Insights & Growth (ALIGN), Black Professionals Network, Hispanics or Latinos of AlixPartners (HOLA), Military and Uniformed Services Team, NextGen, PrideMatters (our LGBTQ ERG), Working Parents and Women’s Empowerment Matters (WE Matters).

About Ascend and Ascend Foundation

Ascend (@AscendLeader) is the largest, non-profit Pan-Asian membership organization for business professionals and executives in North America. Established in 2005, Ascend, a career lifecycle organization, reaches 60,000+ senior executives, professionals, and MBA/undergraduate students involved in its 50+ chapters in the United States and Canada. The Ascend Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit Pan-Asian organization primarily engaged in research with a mission to advocate, enable Pan-Asian business leaders to reach their full potential, and provide scholarships to honor students who demonstrate scholastic excellence, leadership, and commendable community service. Visit www.ascendleadership.org for more information.