I'm Kelly. I help high achievers evolve their approach to success by understanding both themselves and the environment shaping their experience.
I help organizations create the conditions where that evolution is actually possible—by redesigning team dynamics, culture, and systems.
Growth needs the right conditions. I help create them—whether that's navigating your current environment or redesigning it entirely
What it’s about
There's a moment every high achiever knows. You've done everything right. Checked all the boxes. Reached the goals. But instead of feeling easier, success feels increasingly heavy.
The strategies that got you here—the drive, the dedication, the constant push—they worked brilliantly. Until they didn't.
That's not failure. That's evolution.
Here's what nobody tells you: Most high achievers outgrow their success strategies before they realize it. That drive that used to fuel you? Now it's exhausting you. That perfectionism that made you excellent? It's now keeping you stuck. That responsibility that made you reliable? It's preventing you from resting.
And here's the part most people miss: It's not just about you. It's about the entire ecosystem you're operating in. Your daily work environment, team dynamics, organizational culture, industry expectations, how everything's evolved over time—all of it shapes whether you can develop into what's next for you.
You can't outwork a misaligned ecosystem. Real growth happens when you understand yourself AND when your environment actually supports your evolution.
I get it. I've lived it. And I've spent years helping leaders, teams, and high achievers figure out what actually works for them—not what works for everyone else.
“Approaching change from the inside out - Kelly helped me realize some significant shifts I needed to make in my decision making and my behaviors.”
— Krista Darnold, Executive Director
My approach
For individuals: We figure out what's really driving you—your patterns, motivations, blind spots. AND we look at what's shaping your experience—your environment, the people around you, what's actually rewarded. We identify where you can influence things, what you need to navigate, and how to create conditions that support your growth.
For organizations: We map the complete ecosystem—daily work environment, team dynamics, organizational forces, cultural narratives, and how everything's evolved. Then we redesign it at every level so people can actually develop and perform sustainably.
No generic advice. No cookie-cutter strategies. Just understanding what actually works for your specific reality and creating the conditions for real growth.
Identify where change is possible
“Generally, as a skeptic, I did not anticipate growth or development through our work. I figured I would pay the money; pretend to show up; maybe meet some people I liked; and move on. I was wrong. Full stop - WRONG.
Through Ascend and Kelly Travis' no nonsense approach and determination, I was able to take an honest look at who I was and what I wanted. The work was hard and harrowing. Through the process though, I was able to identify where change was possible and necessary.
More importantly, I was able to establish metrics for that change. Kelly was amazing at both hand-holding and ass-kicking. Without reservation, I would recommend Ascend regardless of where a person is in her professional or personal life.”
— Aviva Gordon, Gordon Law
Who I work with
Individuals who know there's a better way but can't figure out what's blocking them
Teams ready to transform how they operate and perform together
Organizations that want sustainable excellence and understand success isn't about doing more—it's about doing it differently
Every approach I use develops the energy, awareness, and strategic confidence to grow without self-sacrifice.
Improvement in team dynamics
“To address some communication challenges and improve team synergy, Kelly led a workshop utilizing Enneagram. It was really helpful to understand our team profile, illuminate how our differences can strengthen our team, and give us a different lens to interpret interactions. The improvement in team dynamics was almost immediate. The team continues to use what they learned during this workshop to iron-out misunderstandings in a positive and productive way and strengthen relationships with each other.”
- Kimberly Kindig, Chief Executive Officer, Candlelighters Childhood Cancer Foundation
What makes this different
Instead of giving you another formula to follow, we figure out what actually works for you. No more forcing yourself into someone else's playbook. No more strategies that look good but feel awful.
For individuals, I help you understand yourself deeply AND navigate the reality you're operating in—so you can influence what's possible.
For organizations, I help you redesign the actual environment—your work reality, team dynamics, organizational culture—so the right things become easier and growth becomes natural instead of forced.
Just real understanding that leads to success that fits YOU—or success that fits your people.
Energy, vitality and a healthy mindset
“I started working with Kelly because, as a high achieving woman who knows her health must come first, I needed someone who has an athlete's mindset and who can skillfully coach me to my next level.
As I've shifted my work in a major way over the past few months, I've realized I can do very well professionally and also have energy, vitality and a healthy mindset.
During my work with Kelly, I’ve continued with and strengthened mindset shifts I had made - and have made swift progress having Kelly in my corner to coach me.
Kelly models the ideal mix of professionalism, compassion and discipline to help you get to where you want to go - not to where she thinks you should go (her methods are not prescriptive) but where YOU truly want to go in your career or business while putting your health first so you can enjoy and celebrate your wins that much more and be available for yourself, your family and others who are important in your life.”
— Stefanie Frank, TEDx speaker, Co-Founder, Frankly Good Coffee
“Kelly is remarkable in the way she balances inspirational encouragement, with a practical approach for challenging us, to uncover root causes for what keeps us from accomplishing our goals and communicating effectively. There is a perfect blend of reflective, individual and group work, that leads to discovering and planning to accomplish relevant goals, while creating stronger trust, communication and success practices. ”
Ready?
Let's be real: If you're doing everything "right" but it feels increasingly wrong, you haven't lost your edge. You're ready for a new approach.