The Team

People Who Build Future Builders

Meet the AscendIQ team — mentors, operators, and builders committed to upskilling young people for the modern economy.

Chaitali Patel

Founder & CEO

A passionate entrepreneur and leading expert in the sustainability, finance, and fintech sectors.

Aarav Patel

COO & CFO

An emerging entrepreneur and strategy-focused builder working at the intersection of finance, technology, and venture growth.

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Arav Bhardwaj

CTO

Technical visionary focused on architecting the next generation of scalable learning platforms.

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The Team

The People Behind the Mission

Our team brings real-world experience from finance, tech, operations, and education — working together to build scalable pathways from learning to career.

Serena Aurora

CoS / Head of Schools Solutions

Co-Founder and Chief of Staff leading platform strategy, operational execution, and institutional partnerships.

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Dia Aurora

Head of Finance

Finance and Ops Lead, creating inclusive, high-impact systems.

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Cal Burke

Deputy Chief of Staff

Bringing leadership, entrepreneurship, and service to every project he touches.

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DAH

Dr. Aiyaz Husain

Head of College & University Partnerships

Historian and former public servant forging connections between academia and practitioners.

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Armaan Goraya

SMB Solutions Head

AI-focused computer science student building smarter tools at the intersection of tech and strategy.

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Aman Patel

SMB Solutions Lead

Building better systems and experiences, turning ideas into reliable processes.

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Aisha Myneni

CX / Customer Experience Head

Building at the intersection of operations and tech, turning data into actionable decisions.

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Siena Baglio

CS / Client Success Lead

Turning ideas into real, community-driven initiatives focused on growth and support.

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Rachel Burke

Brand Lead

Creative and detail-oriented marketer with a passion for strategic communication and the arts.

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Want to join the team or become a mentor?

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