In this powerful episode of Peeling the Onion, Dr. Arlene Siller, founder and CEO of Ascend Nonprofit & Business Solutions, shares her deeply personal journey of resilience, reinvention, and purpose-driven leadership.
Dr. Siller opens up about how, as a single mother, she made the bold decision to walk away from a high-ranking C-level position in scientific and biomedical research, despite having a 25-year track record and over $40 million raised in research funding. When her health began to suffer, Arlene knew it was time to realign her life with her values and create a future that prioritized both her well-being and her children’s dreams.
That shift gave birth to Ascend NBS, a nationally recognized, Latina-owned firm that provides grant writing, grant research, post-award compliance, and nonprofit training services to women-led, minority-serving, and mission-focused organizations.
In this episode, you’ll hear:
- What it takes to build a mission-driven business from the ground up
- How Arlene leveraged her research and grant funding experience to serve underserved communities
- The importance of mental health and alignment in entrepreneurship
- Why strategic planning and grant readiness are essential for sustainable nonprofit growth
🎧 Listen now on Spotify or iTunes to get inspired by Arlene’s story and discover what it means to lead with intention, strategy, and heart.