Who holds the standard.
Alma Saturnino-Alvarez
Alma founded Ascend Collective Global to put specialist firms under one standard. She is a cybersecurity leader who has spent her career building and defending security programs — and a recognized expert in leadership transformation and talent development.
She sets the collective’s direction and holds every division to the same bar: do the work, tell the truth, and build people as you go. Her focus is as much on the practitioners as the practice — growing leaders who can carry the standard into every region.
Bahja Eshmawi
Bahja connects Ascend’s divisions to the partners, alliances, and markets that move them forward. Her background spans the activation of multiple businesses — standing up operations, opening channels, and turning relationships into working partnerships.
She owns how the collective grows: which alliances to build, which to deepen, and how each division shows up with partners across regions.
Decades of combined experience, in every region.
Each division is staffed by senior practitioners who have done the work before — and who represent Ascend across Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and the United States.
Ascend Cyber AI Team
A cyber risk assessment platform and advisory that turns invisible risk into a clear, prioritized roadmap. Start with a free 15-minute self-assessment — a plain-English score and the top five priorities any leader can act on — then scale into hands-on testing, compliance, and vCISO support as you need it. Clarity, not jargon.
Ascend Orchestrate Team
Our events team is made of technology event experts who practice inside the industry they serve. They bring global experts together and design a platform that fits tech events at any scale — from intimate roundtables to large-scale summits.
Ascend Collective Consulting Team
Independent strategic advisory that helps leaders build capability for growth. Across leadership development, talent, convening, and thought leadership, we help organizations set direction, transform how they operate, and shape the conversations that move their industries forward.
Ascend Collective Design Team
Architect-led 3D visualization for residential architects, remodelers, and design-build teams. Backed by decades of practice across Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and the United States, our renders reflect how a project will actually be built — modeling from the drawings, not the mood.