Our Values

We have the following values which we hold dearly and aspire to in everything we do:

Vision

We strive to have vision and big ideas.  Thinking small is a self-fulfilling prophecy.  We create and communicate a bold direction that inspires results.  We think differently and look far ahead and around corners. 

For Good

We plan to be in business for good, and act accordingly.  This means two things: we plan to be in business for the long term, and we view our transactions and dealings with our partners, investors and stakeholders with the long term in mind.  We also aspire to doing things that are good; this is why our fashion and consumer products projects have ethical production at their heart, and as a company we dedicate one day of work a year to give time to charity projects.

Integrity

We demonstrate a commitment to ethics and act with unimpeachable integrity in all our dealings.

Accountability

We accept personal accountability for our own actions and results, and focus on finding solutions and achieving results, rather than making excuses or apportioning blame.  

Openness and Transparency

We earn and build trust.  We are open people and share our views on everything we do both internally and externally (subject to commercial confidentiality).  All our people are briefed on our decision-making processes and our short, medium and long-term strategy for Ascension. 

Clarity of Mind and Expression

We are uncluttered in our approach and strive for clarity in thinking and communication.  We eliminate processes and procedures that slow things down or don’t add value.  We are direct in our dealings with people and issues and avoid hidden agendas and politics.  There is no room for that in our organisation and the work we do.

Courage

We have the courage to lead from the front and shape futures.  We do not fear the 900lb gorilla because we know first hand that clarity of thought and excellence and speed in execution can negate any incumbent’s advantage, no matter how large or deep their pockets.  We live in a knowledge and intellectual capital economy where brilliant minds can disrupt entire industries and literally anything is possible if you have the courage of conviction.  We are not afraid to take calculated and informed, but responsible, risk.  

Decisiveness 

We are decisive and reach our decisions quickly.  When we make a decision to do something we are committed to that decision and get on with executing it.  Speed matters in business. 

Rigour

We apply an intellectual rigour and analysis to our work but this informs our practical application of effort.  If we build a complex model or produce a game theoretical analysis of a particular problem it is not to show how clever we are, it is to illuminate and illustrate what the winning strategic moves to make are.

Innovation

We do things differently and challenge the way they have always been done.  We apply this innovation to what we do and also to what our partners do.  We expect and require innovation and invention from our people and seek ways to demystify and simplify otherwise complex ideas, technologies and models wherever possible.  We thrive on creativity and ingenuity.  

Awareness

We are externally aware, looking for and finding new ideas from everywhere.  Often inspiration comes from looking outside the silos in the creative industries and applying what we know from other sectors. We seek the innovations and ideas that can lead to business transformation.  We anticipate market trends and move quickly to embrace them.

Fast Learning

We know that we don’t know everything but we have a rapacious hunger to fill our knowledge gaps, whether it is to understand the detail workings of the technology behind a new product or service, evaluating new business models, or understanding the workings of an entire industry, we will do it.

Collaboration

Success is a team effort.  We personally commit to the success and well-being of our colleagues and partners.  We work as a team to achieve results and celebrate our successes together as we all play a part in that success.  We maintain and encourage a "can do" attitude, because a great team can achieve anything.  We collaborate within and outside our organisation to give the best. 

Warmth and Fun

We are warm and fun people and greet everyone with a smile, warmth and humour.  We believe that success comes from doing things you are passionate about and enjoy, and an important part of that is enjoying the company of the people we work with as colleagues, partners, investors and stakeholders.  We deploy 100% of our effort on our work and achieving results for our partners and investors and building a collaborative team of warm and friendly people internally and externally. 

Balance

We strive to maintain a healthy life and work balance for our people.   Too much work makes for dull people and achieving balance is critical to the maintenance and achievement of all our core values.