Ascend Leadership Emerging Leaders Retreat

Every once in a while, you come across a person who has the awareness and moral fortitude to not only stop and question things around them, but to do something about it.

Thom Schroeder is one of those people.

In the current business environment, functional knowledge reigns supreme, with leadership training and management preparation an afterthought. As employees rise through the ranks, they reach a point when leadership becomes an assumption and they are thrust into management roles with neither the proper training nor the understanding of their new role. They are suddenly expected to learn as they go – a decision that can ruin a career and become very costly for a business.

Leadership simply isn’t for everyone. It is a skill that takes both a strong interest and a specific set of characteristics in which to thrive.

I, along with three of Thom’s close friends and family members, ran through the first iteration of his new business, Ascend Leadership. He is looking to help individuals accurately assess if a leadership role is the best next step in their career progression. Here are a few of my takeaways from our three days in the backcountry:

Clear and Concise Takeaways:

Thom did an incredible job distilling a wide array of information down to tangible concepts that you can continue to work on. He understands that a lot of research on the subject exists; instead of trying to incorporate every nuance into the course, he utilizes his research to help you to build a foundation and define your own path from there.

Brutal Honesty:

In order to realistically evaluate if leadership is something you want to pursue, the conversations need to be honest and unfiltered. Thom created an environment and utilized a peaceful backcountry setting to make this happen. I walked away from the retreat feeling engaged and intellectually challenged – and very close to the other members on the trip.

Self-Awareness:

At its core, this course is designed to help you become more self-aware. Sharing my story, defining my personal statement and vision, and concentrating on specific leadership characteristics helped me advance quickly down this path.

The approach Thom is taking is honest, personal, and refreshing. I am proud of him for looking to make the business world a better place and absolutely recommend this program to anyone wondering if leadership is the right path for them!

See you out there on the trails! – Michael