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“Fortune” Magazine Names Ascension #26 on 2024 Best Workplaces for Women List

[Exton, PA, October 25, 2024—]

Fortune magazine has named Ascension to its 2024 Best Workplaces for Women™ List. This is Ascension’s 1st time being named to this prestigious list, and the 3rd time Ascension has received an honorific from FORTUNE this year. 

To determine the Best Workplaces for Women, Great Place To Work analyzed the survey responses of nearly 600,000 women who work for Great Place To Work Certified™ companies that were eligible for the list. To be considered, a company must employ at least 50 women, have at least 20% of non-executive managers who are women.

“We are thrilled to receive this honor,” comments Cassie Schmidt, Senior Manager of People and Culture at Ascension. “Women make up 75% of our employees, and while we work hard to support all of our employees in their work-life balance, we know that women often face unique challenges in integrating parenthood, family caregiving, and their careers. We are honored to support and champion all of our employees, including our women, as they show up powerfully in both professional and personal settings.”

Great Place To Work analyzed the gender balance of each workplace compared with Bureau of Labor Statistics industry data. Companies were also assessed on how representation changes as women rise from front-line positions to the board of directors.

At Ascension, 50% of the executive management team is female, as well as 66% of mid-level management.

“Being recognized by Fortune is truly an honor and reflects the incredible women I have the privilege of working with every day,” explains Ascension President and CEO Jonathan Strate. “Together, we’ve built a supportive workplace where every woman can thrive through her unique gifts. I’m grateful to Fortune for recognizing our commitment to creating this nurturing environment here at Ascension.”

“Fortune congratulates the companies that made the cut for the Best Workplaces for Women,” says Fortune Editor-in-Chief Alyson Shontell. “Based on survey responses of so many women nationwide, these companies clearly demonstrate they have created workplaces where many feel valued, supported, and encouraged to do their best work.”

Support for Parenthood, Caregiving, and Personal Illness Cited as a Key Part of Ascension’s Employee Satisfaction

In 2023, Ascension expended its pro-life family leave policies to include robust support for parental leave, miscarriage, illness, and family caregiving, a move which made the company a leader in the Catholic space for this sort of employee support. 

For Ascension, supporting families and mothers is both a good business practice and also an important way to embody the company’s Catholic pro-life and pro-family values. For many female employees, Ascension’s support for parenting and caregiving is an essential part of how they are able to contribute meaningfully in both personal and professional settings.

“It has been incredible to work for a company that has intentionally facilitated both the development of my career and also my development as a mother,” shares Marisa Beyer, General Manager of the Media team and a mother of 4 young children ages 8 and under. “I am especially grateful that I have been empowered as a manager to support my staff during their own important family moments. We have been able to welcome several new babies on my team this year, and each time it’s a gift to support our team members at a pivotal moment in their personal life.”

75% of Ascension’s employees are women, including 50% of executive management.

Women at Ascension report feeling supported in both joyful and grief-filled moments in their personal lives. Employee JuliaMarie Woolbright faced a tragic prenatal diagnosis for her unborn daughter in 2023, and speaks warmly of how Ascension supported her family through the remainder of her pregnancy and through the funeral of her daughter Anastasia Louise, who survived for one week and passed away peacefully at home.

“When we received our daughter’s terminal diagnosis, we were overwhelmed with unknowns. The fact that I never had to question if Ascension would not only understand my situation, but actively go out of its way to support me and my family was a huge source of comfort during an unimaginable tragedy.“

Ascension has been Great Place to Work certified for 3 years, and earlier this year was named the #8 Fortune Best Small Workplace. To join a company which supports employees in both personal and professional settings, visit the Careers page at www.AscensionPress.com.

Ascension’s Previous Culture Awards Include Fortunes 2024 Best Small Workplaces and Great Place to Work Certification

Ascension was named earlier this summer as #8 on Fortune’s Top 100 Best Small Workplaces, as well as #64 on Fortune’s Top 100 Places to Work for Millennials List. The company has also earned Great Place to Work (GPTW) Certification annually from 2021 to present

As part of its 2023 GPTW certification, the company earned a stunning 99% Trust Index Score based on employee feedback, a GPTW evaluation that “measures the level of trust in [the] organization and the consistency of the employee experience.” GPTW reports that a typical company scores 57% on this Index.

Ascension’s corporate office includes a private Mother’s Room (pictured) as well as a Children’s Play Room

About Ascension

Ascension is a multimedia network and the leader in Catholic faith formation and digital content. Over the past 25 years, Ascension has helped nurture the faith of over 10 million Catholics through award-winning books, the chart-topping Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)® podcast, more than 50 unique faith formation programs, and the Ascension Presents media and YouTube platforms.

About Fortune

Fortune upholds a legacy of award-winning writing and trusted reporting for executives who want to make business better. Independently owned, with a global perspective and digital agility, Fortune tells the stories of a new generation of innovators, builders, and risk-takers. Online and in print, Fortune measures corporate performance through rigorous benchmarks, and holds companies accountable. Fortune creates communities by convening true thought leaders and iconoclasts—those who shape industry, commerce, and society—through powerful and prestigious lists, events, and conferences, such as the iconic Fortune 500, the CEO Initiative and Most Powerful Women. 

Media Contact 

For interviews with Ascension leadership or other media inquiries, please contact Leslie Rowe at (484) 876-1400 or Leslie@PrevishMarketing.com