Overview
The move from individual contributor to people manager is one of the most significant and challenging shifts in any career. Many first-line managers find themselves navigating new expectations: letting go of doing the work themselves, delegating effectively, and driving performance through others while maintaining trust and morale. Stepping into leadership, whether for the first time or after years of technical expertise, often requires a new balance of mindset and skill.
ASCEND is Korn Ferry Academy’s six-month, part-time leadership development journey designed to support that transition. The programme equips participants with the essential tools to manage people, performance, and priorities effectively. Through structured learning, self-assessment, and personalised coaching, participants learn how to set direction, give feedback, manage difficult conversations, and build engagement within their teams.
Grounded in Korn Ferry’s global research and tailored to Singapore’s workforce context, ASCEND provides a hands-on, evidence-based pathway for becoming a capable and confident people manager. Participants leave ready to handle the day-to-day realities of leadership and to build teams that perform, collaborate, and grow together.
The ASCEND Journey
ASCEND helps first-line managers build the confidence and capability to lead others effectively. Over six months, participants gain self-awareness, develop essential management skills, and apply what they learn through guided coaching and reflection.
DISCOVER: Personal Leadership Foundations
The programme begins with the Korn Ferry Leadership Solution, a psychometric assessment built on the KF4D Framework, which helps participants understand their leadership potential, strengths, and development areas. Each participant receives a detailed feedback report that highlights key insights into their behaviours, motivations, and growth opportunities, forming a personalised roadmap for development.
A group debrief session then supports participants in interpreting results and identifying focus areas as they progress through the modules. This foundation of self-awareness shapes how you approach leading others throughout the programme.
BUILD: Core Managerial Competencies
The five in-person modules enhance the skills, mindsets, and behaviours that define effective people management, from self-awareness and commercial thinking to performance, collaboration, and communication. The modules are designed using Korn Ferry’s CECE Learning Design Framework, which combines Content, Examples, Context, and Engagement to make learning applicable.
Module 1
Effective leadership starts with understanding yourself. In this two-day course, participants explore how their beliefs, habits, and behaviours influence their leadership effectiveness and adaptability. Through guided reflection and practice, you will learn to make intentional choices that strengthen your ability to lead with authenticity.
Cohort 1 Date(s): 5 & 6 Nov 2026
Cohort 2 Date(s): 23 & 24 Nov 2026
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Module 2
People managers need to understand how their decisions affect business outcomes. Over two days, participants learn to interpret financial and operational information, identify value drivers, and balance people needs with organisational goals. You will be able to connect daily decisions to the bigger picture and contribute more confidently to business discussions.
Cohort 1 Date(s): 25 & 26 Mar 2026
Cohort 2 Date(s): 25 & 26 Aug 2026
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Module 3
Managers succeed by enabling others to perform at their best. Using Korn Ferry’s TEAMM framework — Trust, Expectations, Accountability, Motivation, and Measurement — participants learn how to delegate, build ownership, and sustain team momentum. During this two-day course, you’ll gain hands-on tools to create alignment, maintain motivation, and deliver results through collaboration.
Cohort 1 Date(s): 28 & 29 Apr 2026
Cohort 2 Date(s): 17 & 18 Sep 2026
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Module 4
Managing performance across generations requires fairness, clarity, and adaptability. In this one-day course, participants learn how to set expectations, provide feedback, and manage diverse and hybrid teams effectively. You’ll be equipped to bring out the best in every team member and maintain high engagement across all age groups.
Cohort 1 Date(s): 27 May 2026
Cohort 2 Date(s): 30 Oct 2026
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Module 5
Leaders build credibility through how they communicate and show up. Over a day, participants develop strategies to express ideas with confidence, bolster their presence, and influence across levels. You’ll learn to project authenticity and authority, earning trust and respect in every interaction.
Cohort 1 Date(s): 16 Jun 2026
Cohort 2 Date(s): 26 Nov 2026
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APPLY: Coaching for Real-World Impact
To support meaningful application of learning, coaching is woven throughout the ASCEND programme, helping participants connect classroom insights to their day-to-day leadership challenges.
Across three individual virtual coaching sessions spaced throughout the six months, participants receive personalised guidance to apply new concepts, navigate team dynamics, and build confidence in handling people situations. Each session offers space to reflect, test strategies, and adjust approaches based on targeted feedback.
You’ll refine your leadership style, strengthen decision-making, and turn everyday experiences into opportunities for growth and performance improvement.
Why Organisations Choose ASCEND
ASCEND prepares first-line managers to take on people-leadership responsibilities with confidence. The programme supports organisations in building a strong foundation of capable managers who can engage teams, manage performance, and contribute to long-term leadership pipelines.
Research-backed and proven
Developed from Korn Ferry’s global leadership insights, the programme builds the capabilities that help new managers step up with confidence and perform effectively in their first people-leadership roles.
Targeted and personalised learning
Each participant receives individual feedback and coaching linked to their strengths, role, and work environment. This ensures learning remains relevant, actionable, and connected to everyday challenges.
Designed for working managers
The six-month, part-time structure allows participants to learn, apply, and reflect without stepping away from their responsibilities. Organisations find this balance supports capability building with minimal operational disruption.
Focused on measurable workplace impact
Organisations report stronger engagement and clearer communication within teams led by ASCEND graduates, along with improved confidence and consistency among new managers.
Facilitated by experienced practitioners
Sessions are led by facilitators with practical management experience who connect leadership concepts to real workplace scenarios. Learning is grounded, engaging, and easy to apply.
Supported by funding
SkillsFuture funding makes ASCEND a cost-effective way to build leadership capability across teams while maintaining programme quality and depth.
Provides a clear pathway for continued growth
ASCEND forms the first step in Korn Ferry Academy’s leadership journey. Graduates can progress to programmes such as ACCELERATE, which builds on these foundations by deepening people-leadership and change-management capabilities.
Programme Fees & Funding
Full Programme Fee:
$10,400* (before funding and GST)
Programme Fee Payable
| Participant Profile |
Self-Sponsored |
Company-Sponsored |
| SME |
NON-SME |
Singapore Citizen
≥ 40 years old |
$1,320.80
(After 70% SSG¹ funding, with additional 20% MCES² subsidy)
|
$1,320.80
(After 70% SSG¹ funding, with additional 20% ETSS³ subsidy)
|
$1,320.80
(After 70% SSG¹ funding, with additional 20% MCES² subsidy)
|
Singapore Citizen
< 40 years old / Permanent Resident |
$3,400.80
(After 70% SSG¹ funding)
|
$1,320.80
(After 70% SSG¹ funding, with additional 20% ETSS³ subsidy)
|
$3,400.80
After 70% SSG¹ funding)
|
| International Participant |
$11,336.00
(No Funding)
|
$11,336.00
(No Funding)
|
$11,336.00
(No Funding)
|
The payable programme fees reflect the amount after approved programme fee grant and subsidies are applied. All fees are in Singapore Dollars (SGD) and inclusive of 9% GST.
SkillsFuture Funding (SSG)
Eligible Singapore Citizens (SCs) and Singapore Permanent Residents (PRs) may receive funding of up to 70% of course fees for SSG-supported courses. Funding levels, eligibility and payable fees are subject to prevailing funding policies at the point of course commencement.
Mid-Career Enhanced Subsidy (MCES)
SCs aged 40 and above may receive up to 90% course fee funding for SSG-supported courses (subject to meeting baseline funding conditions).
More information >
Enhanced Training Support for SMEs (ETSS)
Eligible SMEs that fully sponsor their SC/PR employees for SSG-supported courses may receive up to 90% course fee funding.
More information >
SkillsFuture Enterprise Credit (SFEC)
Eligible employers may utilise their SFEC to offset up to 90% of out-of-pocket costs for supported courses.
More information >
SkillsFuture Credit (for Individuals)
SCs aged 25 and above may use their SkillsFuture Credit (Base Tier and, where eligible, Mid-Career Tier) to offset payable course fees for eligible courses.
More information >
Programme Completion & Certification
To successfully complete the ASCEND programme, participants must meet the following requirements for each of the five course modules:
- Attendance: Achieve a minimum of 75% attendance and complete all assigned asynchronous pre-work.
- Assessment: Attain a passing score on the post-course assessment, to be completed online within two days of the course.
- Evaluation: Submit both module and overall programme evaluations.
Participants who meet these requirements will receive a digital Certificate of Completion from Korn Ferry Academy.
Administrative details on attendance tracking, assessment, and funding eligibility can be found in our Terms & Conditions and in the course confirmation email sent to participants.
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