By Derek Dufresne (Partner, Ascent Strategic)
“Culture” is one of those words that gets used a lot in our industry, and it can mean a lot of different things depending on where you are.
At Ascent Strategic, we’ve never been that interested in slogans. What matters to us is how people are actually treated when the pressure is on, because in this business, it always is.
We’re a small firm, and that’s very much by design.
Nearly 14 years ago, it was just the four of us founding business partners. No big team, no layers, no roadmap. Just a belief that if we worked hard, stayed sharp, and treated people the right way, we could build something that lasted. If you told us back then we’d have a team this size, this talented, this dependable, and this invested, we wouldn’t have believed you.
And yet here we are.
What we’re most proud of isn’t just the growth. It’s the fact that people stay. In an industry where burnout is common and turnover is constant, most of our team has been here for years. That doesn’t happen because the work is easy. It happens because people feel respected, trusted, and like they’re part of something worth their time and energy.
That strategic growth hasn’t changed who we are, but it has changed what we are.
We’re not just four political consultants anymore. Because of this team, we’ve become a full-service firm that can handle everything from mailbox to mobile screen, a text message to TV screen, plus a growing public affairs arm, all in-house. We’re not handing work off. We’re owning it.
That kind of capability doesn’t come from a plan on paper. It comes from bringing in smart people, trusting them, and letting them build.
And that only works if the culture is right.
We’re not perfect, and we don’t pretend to be. We get things wrong. We push too hard sometimes. We’re putting out fires one day and playing catch-up the next. We’re constantly learning and trying to get better at how we lead and how we operate. The difference is that the effort is real, and it’s ongoing.
Respect, for us, isn’t about lowering expectations. It’s about matching them.
We expect a lot from our team because our clients expect results. But that also means it’s on us to create an environment where people can actually sustain that level of work. So we build in real downtime throughout the year. Around Christmas and New Year’s, we give the team space to step back and recharge for multiple weeks, even if we’re still loosely on call for emergency client needs. Around the 4th of July, things slow down, and people get a Summer breather in the middle of a demanding calendar. We offer a generous vacation package. Federal holidays are off. Sick days and appointments are handled on an honor system because we hire adults and treat them like it.
We also back it up with real benefits. We offer healthcare, bonuses, and a 401(k) because stability matters. If we’re asking people to invest in building something with us, we need to invest in them too.
We’re also fully remote, which isn’t always easy. It takes more effort to stay connected and build real relationships when you’re not in the same place every day. So we’re intentional about it. Company March Madness pools that sometimes get way too competitive. Virtual games during company meetings that people actually enjoy—and regular time together for in-person strategy sessions throughout the year to reconnect and reset.
It’s not perfect, but it’s real.
And none of this works without the team.
Because of them, we’ve been able to compete and win at a level that punches well above our weight. We’ve taken home 60 Pollie and Reed Awards since 2017, going head-to-head with firms many times our size in our industry.
That doesn’t happen because of a name or a logo. It happens because of people who care about the work, trust each other, and show up ready to deliver.
To our team, thank you. For the long hours, the attention to detail, the ownership you take, and the trust you put in each other and in us. We don’t say it enough, but we’re really proud of what you’ve built with us, and we’re grateful for every single one of you.
And to our clients and partners, this is why our work holds up. Not because we say we have a great culture, but because we’ve built one with people who show up and do the job the right way.
We’re still growing. Still learning. Still trying to get better every day. But one thing won’t change: Respect isn’t a perk here. It’s the foundation. It’s who we are.
