“When I came to La'Kesha with half-baked career plans, she gave my goals rigor and focus. She followed up regularly, gave helpful suggestions, and showed she valued my success as much as I did.”
Former MBA coaching client, Goizueta Business School
About AscendusTalent
A consultancy built around one belief: talent grows with intention.
AscendusTalent exists to connect exceptional talent with meaningful career opportunities through strategic partnerships, inclusive programming, and dynamic coaching. We are driven by long-term success for students, employers, and early-career professionals.
Our founder
La'Kesha W. Johnson
MBA, MS, PHR · Founder & Principal Consultant
La'Kesha is the visionary behind AscendusTalent. With over a decade of experience working with early-career talent, La'Kesha brings a unique blend of corporate insight, higher education experience, and program development expertise.
She has worked within Talent Acquisition across Fortune 100 companies, and her work in higher education includes two Top 25 universities. Her passion lies in building talent pipelines and driving meaningful results for students, organizations, and early-career professionals.
After launching her career in Human Resources with a focus on talent development, she earned an MBA that sharpened her ability to align talent solutions with broader organizational priorities. She later earned a Master of Science in Instructional Design & Technology. Her work is grounded in learning theory, collaborative engagement, and curriculum development.
Education
- B.S., Actuarial Science, Florida A&M University
- MBA, University of Wisconsin–Madison
- M.S., Instructional Design & Technology, Georgia State University
A LOOK BEHIND THE MISSION
Our Story.
Coming Soon.
VIDEO PREMIERE COMING SOON
Every opportunity begins with a story.
Get to know the vision, purpose, and people behind AscendusTalent Consultancy. Our story is coming soon.
In their words
What colleagues and clients say.
“I appreciate La'Kesha as a creative thought partner, a strategic thinker and an innovative problem solver. She comes to the table with great questions, a collaborative mindset and a drive toward solutions.”
Partner, Merck–Year Up partnership
“She has a natural ability to connect with people, fostering strong relationships and creating a collaborative work environment.”
Apprenticeship program collaborator
“One of La'Kesha's standout qualities is her unique talent for coaching others effectively.”
Former colleague at Merck
Start a conversation
Let's create stronger pathways to opportunity.
Whether you're developing talent, creating partnerships, or preparing for your next professional chapter, the conversation starts here.