Robyn Grable, Founder and CEO of Talents ASCEND, is passionately dedicated to transforming the employment landscape for veterans and military spouses. As a Navy veteran and former military spouse herself, Grable’s personal experiences have significantly shaped the ethos and objectives of Talents ASCEND.
Grable explains that Talents ASCEND serves all branches and eras of the veteran and military community, including their spouses. This comprehensive approach stems from an understanding of the unique challenges faced by these individuals. “Employers often struggle to comprehend and value the diverse skills that veterans bring to the table,” Grable says. This misunderstanding leads to veterans being disproportionately filtered out of the hiring process, culminating in issues like underemployment, which is 16% higher among veterans compared to their civilian counterparts.
The inception of Talents ASCEND was motivated by the need to address these gaps. Grable’s own post-military career journey, marked by frequent changes and a quest to find a purposeful role, echoes the experiences of many in the military community. She emphasizes, “Our goal is to break down barriers that our military community faces in reaching the interview stage, ensuring their skills and talents are adequately recognized.”
Talents ASCEND operates on the fundamental belief that everyone deserves employment that values their individuality and skills, offering them a pathway to success. Grable articulates this vision, highlighting the organization’s commitment to eliminating biases and misconceptions about the military community, and promoting their integration and success in the civilian workforce. The organization’s core values – including building lasting relationships, integrity, service orientation, mission-driven approach, inclusion, thinking big, and leading with purpose – reflect its dedication to both the communities it serves and the broader goal of changing the narrative towards a skills-based hiring model. “Our mission,” Grable states, “is to change how small businesses connect with underserved talent so our communities can thrive.”
Talents ASCEND’s vision for 2024 includes an array of initiatives like weekly webinars on skills-based hiring, networking events for candidates and employers, and a shared model for franchise owners. These endeavors aim to provide small businesses with efficient and effective ways to identify the right talent based on skills, not just qualifications on paper.
Grable extends an invitation to other organizations to collaborate and share resources, emphasizing Talents ASCEND’s role not just in employment but also in providing various resources for small businesses and candidates.
The organization’s ethos resonates with the powerful words of Malala Yousafzai, “I raise up my voice—not so I can shout but so that those without a voice can be heard… We cannot succeed when half of us are held back,” and Ruth Bader Ginsburg, “Fight for the things that you care about, but do it in a way that will lead others to join you.”
In conclusion, Grable reiterates Talents ASCEND’s identity as a small business committed to helping other small businesses and underserved talents succeed. This symbiotic relationship is at the heart of their mission, fostering a community where everyone’s potential is recognized and harnessed for collective growth and success.
