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A step up.

WOMEN OF COLOR NOW HAVE A HELPING HAND IN their climb up the corporate ladder. Through the emergence of the nonprofit program ASCENT: Leading Multicultural Women to the Top, there's a new avenue for the professional development of multicultural women.

The brainchild of Ella L. J. Edmondson

Bell, associate professor of business administration at Dartmouth College, ASCENT was recently launched in conjunction with Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth and the UCLA Anderson School of Management. The outfit also enjoys support from corporations such as JPMorgan Chase, Intel, and PepsiCo.

ASCENT's first session will begin on Jan. 17 at the Tuck School and will focus on developing connections among women of various ethnic, racial, and cultural backgrounds.

Offered regionally to women at all career levels, the program is for six-months. To be considered, candidates must be nominated by their companies. ASCENT also requires a strong commitment from both its female participants and their managers, who will play an integral role in the training process.

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