About Shiela Bernardo

Shiela Bernardo is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Ascend Garden. She started growing food at home in 2020 using sustainable modules such as hydroponics and aeroponics. Pleased with the crop yield, she happily feeds her family fresh, home-grown ingredients.  Setting up at farmers markets throughout north Texas is a way to expand  community connection.

Shiela has completed a professional certificate from The Bank of America Institute for Women's Entrepreneurship at Cornell University in January-2024.  She graduated with special academic honors for Global Leadership Executive Master of Business Administration (MBA) with concentration track in Business Analytics and Finance from The University of Texas at Dallas in August-2024.  

Shiela’s corporate background is Vice President in Servicing Operations Strategy and Analytics for a multinational investment bank and financial services company. She is technically skilled in programming and automation to implement end-state delivery strategies that utilize various data sources synthesized as interactive dashboard visualizations. 

Shiela was an award finalist for the Texas Business Hall of Fame in two categories: (1) 2024 Future Texas Business Legend Scholar Award and (2) 2024 Future Executive Leader of Distinction.

Shiela earned her undergraduate degree in Business Administration major in Marketing Management from De La Salle University-Dasmarinas (DLSU-D) Philippines. She was actively involved in extracurricular activities as editor-in-chief of the collegiate business  student publication as well as the lord chancellor / president of the DLSU-D debating society. 

She is interested in missional living through integration of farming activities, incorporating data analytics with gardening and farming operations while harnessing mission avenues from recursive crop output.