Meet Robyn Grable | US Navy veteran and Founder of Talents ASCEND

We had the good fortune of connecting with Robyn Grable and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Robyn, is your business focused on helping the community? If so, how?

Our company’s primary goal is to help underserved talent get to an interview. We do this by eliminating antiquated recruiting processes. We replace the traditional resume/application process with a web-based, skills matching model. Sourcing talent today is broken. Resumes are exclusionary. Job descriptions are outdated or simply a list of tasks to be performed, not skills needed to perform the job. These antiquated processes, misuse of applicant tracking systems, ineffective job boards and job fairs cost employers hundreds of thousands each year in a perpetual cycle of sourcing, onboarding and turnover. Additionally, with these barriers, military veterans, military spouses, people with disabilities and justice-involved candidates are filtered out or underemployed leading to frustration, depression and financial despair.

We lead with purpose to advocate for underserved talent and to help businesses grow. We built an AI skills-matching platform that removes barriers and bias, improves talent acquisition efficiency and quality of hire. We bring diversity, equity and inclusion into the forefront with our software that does not use a resume but instead makes direct connections between employers who need talent and underserved talent who have the skills but are filtered out or overlooked through traditional hiring methods.

Our business is all about job fulfillment and economic growth for underserved talent from the military, disability and justice-involved communities. We eliminate barriers and bias for these talented candidates to get to great careers. We help companies grow by connecting them with diverse talent with the skills they need to avoid costly turnover and low productivity.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Being a women-owned business, we have faced many obstacles. We bootstrapped the business with personal funds, friends and family investing in us and pure hard work. In the first six months a large bank committed to funding the development of the application. At the last minute, they pulled out and we were left to scramble. A local CDFI told us they couldn’t invest in us. Their reason: we were building a software program that was not proven even though the founder’s background in the military and human resources gave full credibility to the project and we already had customers waiting in line to sign up.

We persevered and finally received an SBA loan but not before the agency we got it through had us sign over my life insurance policy and a second mortgage on my house. Again, through hard work, the company grew through partnerships and networking. We have not and still do not do any sort of paid marketing. We found mentors and board members to guide us. We keep pushing and moving forward because our mission is so important. Over five years later, it has not been easy. There are very low lows and exhilarating highs. Valleys and peaks everyday but everyday we make a difference in someone’s life. We celebrate a person’s skills with every match and support the hard work of recruiters, human resources, talent acquisition professionals and small business owners.

We are here for a reason. We have developed the only skills-based model that is truly without bias or barriers to get deserving talent to an interview. To align the skills of military veterans, military spouses, those who identify with a disability and those who have been justice-involved. To advocate for diversity and inclusive hiring practices. To end underemployment and discrimination. To change the way small businesses find and connect with great talent. To change how underserved talent is connected to meaningful careers. Our differentiator is the ability to connect a company’s need to hire for skills with the talent who has the skills, no matter where or how they’ve earned them. We do this in a way no other service can offer quickly and efficiently, coupled with a passion for inclusivity.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
There are so many wonderful places in South Carolina! We love living here as the mountains are a couple of hours away to the beaches another couple of hours away. So many great restaurants, nature places and local shops. I would encourage any one who visits South Carolina to seek out veteran owned businesses, eat in locally owned restaurants and get outdoors!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
So many to thank and be grateful for on this journey. For all who told me I couldn’t. For all who tried to hold me back. For all who carved the path before me and for all who will continue to smooth the path after me. For my mother who chose to give me life. For my daughter who gave me a reason to love my life. For my husband who stands beside me, holds my hand and understands me. For my son-in-law who with my daughter gave me five more reasons to love my life. For the U.S. Navy for giving me purpose, a sense of belonging and a reason to fight. For my brilliant team who walks with me through the mud, through the tears and through the triumphs. For all of our mentors, supporters, partners and friends. For all the underserved talent who deserve someone to shout from the rooftops about them, I am shouting at the top of my lungs and I won’t stop.

Website: https://talentsascend.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/talentsascend

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/talentsascend

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TalentsASCEND

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@talentsascend

Image Credits
Bonfire Visuals