Ascend New England 2025 Inspiring Across Generations (IAG) Conference
Join the Ascend New England Chapter for our marquee event of the year, the IAG Conference!
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Event Details
Date: Saturday October 25, 2025
Time: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM ET
Venue: Sanofi Cambridge Crossing – 450 Water Street, Cambridge MA 02141
Admission: Professional Member: $75 I Professional Non-Members: $125 | Student Members: $10 | Student Non-Members: $25
Description
Join the Ascend New England Chapter for our marquee event of the year, the IAG Conference, “Leading for Our Future, Together”, focusing on developing the skills you’ll need to lead into the future. Engage with industry leaders and expand your professional network!
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Register today to save your seat!
Agenda
9:00 AM - 10:00 AM:
Registration & Breakfast
10:00 AM - 11:00 AM:
11:00 AM - 12:00 PM:
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Students
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Preparing for the Future: Upskilling with AI to grow and find your dream field
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Professionals
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Entering the Future: Evolving with AI as a tool
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Managers
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Managing the Future: Leveraging AI to lead with empathy and optimize management
12:00 PM - 1:30 PM:
Lunch
1:30 PM - 2:15 PM:
2:25 PM - 3:25 PM:
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Students
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Preparing for the Future: Gaining resilience to market changes and self-branding to stand out
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Professionals
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Entering the Future: Building personal & virtual connections while valuing authenticity
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Managers
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Managing the Future: Leading high performing hybrid teams while balancing mental & emotional well being
3:35 PM - 4:00 PM:
4:00 PM - 6:00 PM:
Networking
AM Keynote Session
Kelvin Wong
HR Business Leader
​Takeda
Kelvin Wong is an Human Resources Leader and strategist with more than two decades of experience across consulting, technology, and life sciences. He has partnered with organizations across multiple industries to lead large-scale workforce transformations, organizational redesigns, and digital change initiatives that bridge business strategy and human capability.
Currently serving as the HR Lead for the U.S. Business Unit Plasma-Derived Therapies Commercial organization at Takeda, Kelvin plays a pivotal role in advancing talent strategy, organizational effectiveness, and digital dexterity across a complex commercial enterprise. Prior to his role at Takeda, he also worked in Consulting and Finance.
Kelvin also speaks frequently on how emerging technologies are reshaping leadership, employee experience, and workforce design. His work is driven by a commitment to creating organizations that are both adaptive and human-centered in an increasingly digital world.
AM Breakout Sessions
#1 Students: Preparing for the Future: Upskilling with AI to grow and find your dream field
Yahang (Annie) Wang
Technology Strategy - Experianced Associate | Deals Strategy Value Creation
PwC Strategy&
Yahang (Annie) Wang is a holistic growth coach, content creator, and storyteller who helps people activate their purpose, heal through self-awareness, and live intentionally. She brings a professional background as a technology strategy consultant from PwC Strategy&, where she helps clients navigate the intersection of technology, business, and strategic potential. As the founder of the holistic wellness collective “In Perspective,” Annie provides accessible education and actionable insights across the eight dimensions of holistic wellness. She is also a first-generation Chinese immigrant and proud Asian American who leverages her diverse experiences to create safe spaces for meaningful dialogue around self-growth, purpose, and the meaning of life. Annie has spoken at various conferences, workshops, and podcasts, delivering transformative experiences that encourage intentionality, self-exploration, and community upliftment. Connect with her journey and insights at awinperspective.com, or find her on LinkedIn (linkedin.com/in/anni3wang/) and Instagram (@anni3wang).
#2 Professionals: Entering the Future: Evolving with AI as a tool
David Lee
Director, Launch Project Management - New Product Launches, Specialty Care NA
​Sanofi
Life Sciences leader spearheading transformational growth across functional areas. A champion and codifier of change and simplification, diagnosing obstacles and opportunities, developing impactful capabilities, nurturing a healthy culture of organizational goal setting, feedback, and performance measurement. Effective and efficient team builder who puts sustainability and scalability at the forefront, leading with authenticity and a belief that success comes from an aligned vision for mutual growth.
Lu Jin
Director, Data Science Pricing Analytics
CVS Health
Lu Jin is an analytics leader with over a decade of experience driving pricing strategy and revenue optimization in the pharmaceutical supply chain. He currently serves as Director of Data Science at CVS Health. Previously, Lu spent nine years at Cardinal Health, building and leading a data science team in Revenue Management. He earned his MBA from Vanderbilt University and resides in Newton, MA. Outside of work, Lu is an avid cyclist and enjoys weight training.
#3 Managers: Managing the Future: Leveraging AI to lead with empathy and optimize management
Farah Hussain
Founder & Executive Coach
Coaching with Farah
Farah Hussain coaches executives through fundamental shifts in their businesses, and in themselves, so they can achieve the impact of their dreams. She spent nearly two decades in global marketing roles, including more than a decade at PayPal through an IPO. She directly supported PayPal’s growth across more than 13 countries and four continents. Today, she specializes in building executives' leadership capacity to hit their growth goals as their best selves. Farah has been featured in Forbes, and has spoken at industry-leading conferences such as Money 20/20. She is the author of The Pivotal Leader, a Substack promoting pivotal leadership as truth-seeking. Farah is certified by the International Coaching Federation, Co-Active Training Institute, and Leadership Circle. Her vision is to make the world a better place through oneness and transformation. To discuss your leadership growth needs with Farah, email her at info@coachingwithfarah.com or visit https://coachingwithfarah.com/
Nnenna Ndukwe
AI Principal Advocate
Qodo AI
Nnenna Ndukwe is an AI Advocate and founder of Rivendell Quantum, an emerging technology consulting firm. With nearly a decade spanning across startups, media tech, cybersecurity, and AI, she's an active global AI/ML community architect championing people to build in AI and optimize productivity. She studied Computer Science at Boston University and is a proud member of Women Defining AI and Women Applying AI. Nnenna believes that AI should augment: enabling creativity, accelerating learning, and preserving the intuition and humanity of its users. She's an international speaker and serves communities through consulting, content, and philanthropy.
PM General Session: Breaking Free to Lead the New
Bartholomew Jae
Ascend New England Board of Advisor Member,
Director of Training and Certification
NFPA
Bartholomew Jae (B. Jae) has 30 + years of experience helping companies develop their leaders, talent, and organization. Bartholomew has worked as a leader at Scudder Kemper Investments, Acadient, Inc., PwC, and Accenture Strategy. In his current role with the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), Bartholomew directs the Training and Certification product lines. Bartholomew has Master of Business Administration and Bachelor of Science degrees from Bentley University.
Bartholomew volunteers for Boston Chinatown Neighborhood Center (BCNC), Ascend Global Leaders, ICAway, Notre Dame Mission Volunteers, and the Divine Mercy Parish in Quincy. Bartholomew is married with two middle schoolers and resides in Quincy, MA.
PM Breakout Sessions
#1 Students: Preparing for the Future: Gaining resilience to market changes and self-branding to stand out
Lin Chen
Audit Manager
Deloitte
Lin is an Audit Manager at Deloitte, specializing in life sciences and technology clients in public, private and emerging growth sectors. Driven by a passion for growth, she thrives on helping organizations navigate complex challenges and mentoring aspiring professionals. Outside of work, Lin is a dedicated mom to an energetic almost-three-year-old daughter, and enjoys reading, traveling, and exploring new cuisines. She values curiosity, personal development, and making meaningful connections in her career and life.
#2 Professionals: Entering the Future: Building personal & virtual connections while valuing authenticity
Abhishek Soni
Sr. Director, Head US Dupixent Insights & Analytics
Sanofi
I’ve spent my career in healthcare across start-ups and global companies using data and analytics to turn complexity into clear stories that drive innovation and results. My background spans strategy, marketing, research, and operations, and I’ve been fortunate to publish, patent, and lead teams worldwide. My experiences have taught me to be comfortable being uncomfortable, and I derive the greatest joy in seeing my team accomplish more than they ever thought was possible. Outside of work, I recharge through reading, cycling and racquet sports, especially squash.
Our Program Partners
Jade
Bronze
IAG Presenting Sponsor
Safety of our guests is paramount to Ascend. Attendees are responsible for monitoring their own condition and agree to comply with the safety, hygiene and CDC identified pandemic level communicable illnesses (including COVID-19) guidelines established by relevant health authorities. We request that attendees not attend an event should they test positive or if they experience COVID symptoms prior to the event.