Image showing a picture of Vasanthan Ramakrishnan at Mount Rushmore
When Vasanthan Ramakrishnan began his own immigration journey four years ago, he encountered something many immigrants face but rarely talk about, indifference. “I went from lawyer to lawyer, trying to explain my story, my work, my goals. But I was dismissed, told I wasn’t extraordinary enough,” he recalls. “It wasn’t just disheartening, it was deeply destabilizing.”
That experience didn’t just leave a mark. It lit a fire.
Fast forward to today, Vasanthan is the founder of Ascend HSI Advisory Partners, a fast-growing, mission-first immigration consulting firm with over 60 team members. In just the last two years, Ascend has supported more than 300 clients from over 10 countries, with Vasanthan personally mentoring many of them. He also serves as the founder of Feminist Pen Foundation, where he has guided over 1,000 people in four countries through human rights storytelling and advocacy. His journey is a living example of turning rejection into impact.
“What I needed back then wasn’t just a lawyer. I needed an advocate. A mentor. Someone who saw the bigger picture,” Vasanthan says. “So I became that person, for myself first, and now for hundreds of others.”
Building a Practice from Scratch
In early 2023, Ascend was a four-person team with only ten clients and zero brand equity. Immigration is not a field for trial and error, every form, every deadline, every misstep can affect a person’s life trajectory. Still, Vasanthan took the leap, applying the same intensity and compassion to every case as he did for his own.
What made Ascend different? “We treated each case like it was our own,” he says. “Back then, we were spending nearly five times the industry average on each profile. But that’s what built trust, and trust built referrals.”
That trust became the foundation of an organic referral engine. Ascend has grown consistently at 50% quarter-over-quarter, all without outbound sales or paid marketing. Today, it operates with zero customer acquisition cost, a rarity in professional services.
But growth came with challenges. “I had no blueprint,” says Vasanthan. “We were testing while delivering, high-stakes experimentation. There was no safety net, only conviction.”
Empowering Others Through Mentorship
As Ascend scaled, Vasanthan made a radical decision: he didn’t hire outside managers. Instead, he built from within, training fresh graduates and first-job professionals into leaders. “I believe leadership can be taught. What can’t be taught is integrity and compassion,” he explains.
This model wasn’t just about building an organization, it was about creating an ecosystem. “Some of our team members joined right out of college. We have watched them grow into incredible professionals. That’s been one of the most rewarding parts of the journey.”
The trust-based, mentorship-heavy culture is something Vasanthan views as non-negotiable. “In a space like immigration, the stakes are too high. People need to know that you care. That’s our difference.”
Lessons from the Book: Success DNA
In his bestselling book, “Success DNA: Mastering Persistence in Leadership and Life”, Vasanthan distills many of the lessons that shaped his leadership. It’s less a memoir and more a manual for mission-driven founders.
“I wrote it because I needed it four years ago,” he shares. “Persistence isn’t a fluffy value. It’s a hard discipline. And when you pair that with clarity and empathy, it can move mountains.”
One of the most resonant themes in the book is that leadership isn’t always about having the answers, it’s about holding the questions long enough to find your way. “If you’re persistent enough to stay curious, you’ll find better solutions,” he says.
Why This MattersAs global immigration policies tighten and uncertainty grows, the need for ethical, empathetic advisors and attorneys is more urgent than ever. The stakes are rising, not just for individuals, but for companies navigating cross-border hiring and founders managing global teams.
Vasanthan has positioned Ascend to be not just a service provider, but a strategic partner. His team has supported several founders and professionals from Fortune 500 and Fortune 100 firms, adapting immigration strategy to changing law and global needs.
“I see immigration not as a process but as a life chapter,” he explains. “You have to read the story before you edit the script. That’s the job.”
The Future of Advocacy-Driven Consulting
Looking forward, Vasanthan is clear-eyed about the role of technology and humanity in balance. “We’ll adopt automation where it improves productivity,” he says. “But the human element? That’s sacred.”
He views scale as a responsibility, not a reward. “It’s not about how many people you serve, it’s about how deeply you serve them. That’s the only metric I care about.”
With an expanding team, global partnerships in progress, and a growing presence on platforms like Crunchbase, it is clear: to redefine what leadership looks like in the immigration world, and to make sure no one has to face it alone.
Written in partnership with Tom White
