12-week virtual coaching program set to launch Fall 2026
By Lisa L. Baker | Founder, Ascentim | Baltimore, MD
There’s a pressure that comes with leadership that rarely gets named. It’s not the kind that shows up in a performance review or a quarterly earnings call. It’s the kind that shapes how leaders think, what they believe they should do, and over time, how they lead.
Lisa L. Baker knows this pressure well. As a former Fortune 500 executive with more than two decades of experience at organizations including Citigroup, Microsoft, and Synchrony, she spent years at the highest levels of corporate leadership before stepping away to found Ascentim, a leadership development firm built on a simple but powerful idea: that leaders perform best when they operate in alignment with who they actually are.
This fall, Baker is launching the next evolution of that work: a 12-week virtual group coaching cohort for senior leaders designed to help them move from operating under constant pressure to making more intentional, aligned decisions about how they lead and live.
The Leadership Gap No One Is Talking About
The data tells a clear story. According to DDI’s Global Leadership Forecast 2025, 80% of organizations lack confidence in their leadership pipelines, and only 20% of HR leaders report having successors ready for critical roles. The gap isn’t just about talent, it’s about how leaders are operating under pressure, and the decisions they make as a result.
“Many leaders have built successful careers, but they’re operating under constant pressure,” Baker said. “Over time, that pressure shapes how they think, what they believe they should do, and how they lead.”
The fall cohort is designed to address exactly that: helping leaders identify the “shoulds” that have quietly shaped their decisions and leadership style, and move beyond them toward something more intentional.
Inside the Program: The G.R.O.W. Framework
The 12-week experience is built around Baker’s G.R.O.W. framework:
- Gain insight into the patterns and expectations shaping how you lead
- Realize new possibilities beyond the pressure and noise
- Overcome obstacles standing between where you are and where you want to be
- Win at life and leadership, on your own terms
At the heart of the experience is Baker’s concept of the Area of Greatness, the intersection of a leader’s strengths, passions, and purpose. From that place, leaders are equipped to make more intentional decisions and lead in a way that is both effective and personally meaningful.
The cohort format marks a natural extension of Baker’s five years of one-on-one executive coaching work, bringing that depth of experience into a focused group environment designed to deepen insight, reflection, and real-world application.
Who This Is For
The program is designed for a select group of senior leaders operating in high-pressure environments, those responsible for delivering results, navigating complex decisions, and sustaining performance over time, who are ready to lead with greater clarity and intention.
Recognition and Reach
Ascentim’s broader leadership development work has earned national recognition, including the Inc. Best in Business award in both 2022 and 2023 for coaching and career development, and the Globée® Woman-Owned Startup of the Year. The firm works with leaders and organizations across industries to strengthen leadership, alignment, and culture.
About Lisa L. Baker
Lisa L. Baker is the Founder of Ascentim, an award-winning leadership development firm. A former Fortune 500 executive with more than 20 years of experience at Citigroup, Microsoft, and Synchrony, she works with senior leaders and their teams to strengthen how they lead, make decisions, and operate under pressure.
Learn more: ascentim.com
Connect with Lisa L. Baker
Lisa L. Baker shares leadership insights and updates on Ascentim’s programs across several platforms. Readers can follow her work on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram
