Sasha Mae Aparicio
Sasha (de Beausset) Aparicio is a human-centered strategy and operations leader with over fifteen years of experience spanning healthcare, education, applied research, and behavioral health. Her multidisciplinary background includes roles as a strategy and operations consultant, health communications specialist, instructional designer, university professor, and coach, with a strong foundation in nutrition and anthropology. Sasha is recognized for her expertise in culturally responsive care, trauma-informed approaches, qualitative research, and strategic program design. Her work consistently bridges evidence-based methodologies with practical implementation, enabling organizations and professionals to deliver meaningful, equitable outcomes for diverse populations.
Sasha’s journey into perinatal mental health emerged from her own experience as a parent. Although her professional background was primarily in nutrition, behavioral health, higher education, and health communications, her postpartum experience inspired her to focus on supporting women during the perinatal period. Through professional referrals and connections, she joined FamilyWell Health when the organization was in its early stages. She began as a perinatal behavioral health coach, providing one-on-one support to mothers navigating challenges such as birth trauma, postpartum mood disorders, and transitional life stressors. Her dedication and expertise led to her promotion as Director of the FamilyWell Academy, where she now develops and delivers specialized training in perinatal wellness, behavioral health, and mental health for professionals seeking to support women through pregnancy, postpartum, and early parenting.
Based in Guatemala, where she was born and raised, Sasha also serves as an advisor for Astra Filantropía. In this role, she leads a pioneering fellowship program that trains local professionals in Guatemala using global mental health approaches, the first of its kind in the region. She works closely with the founder to maximize the impact of philanthropic investments in mental health, providing guidance on strategic program development, implementation, and evaluation. Sasha’s career is defined by her ability to combine strategic leadership with empathy and lived experience, empowering both professionals and communities to foster sustainable, positive change in perinatal mental health, behavioral health, and broader systems of care.
• PNL1 - Certificate in Nutrition and Coaching
• Certificate of Specialty Health and Wellness Entrepreneur's Guide to Building a Business
• Tufts University - BA, Anthropology
• Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala - MS, Food and Nutrition
• Anthropology Department Award
• Dean's List 8 Semesters
• Donald A. Cowdery Scholarship for Leadership and Civic Engagement
• President's Award
• Senior Alumni Award
• Romance Language Department Prize in Portuguese
• Tisch Scholar of Citizenship and Public Service
• Synaptic Scholars
• Highest Honors, Thesis
• Advisor for Astra Philanthropy
• Fellowship Program Director for mental health training in Guatemala
• Support for sustainable agriculture initiatives
• Los Patojos
• BUILD
What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success in big part to my upbringing. Having grown up in Guatemala as a white, bilingual person, my parents made me very aware of my privilege from a very early age. They told me, 'Hey, look, a lot of this landed in your lap, and our responsibility is to give you the best opportunities that we possibly can. And at the same time, we want you to know that it is always within your power to give back, to do more, to offer your skills, to offer your time to others.' My mom was a teacher and a great example for me in how she constantly gave back, and my dad, while in the private sector, was very socially-minded in how he ran his business. They always said yes to opportunities to get to know people who were different from me, to travel, to support, to help. Having those opportunities given to me early on, and really having the reality hammered into me about being aware of the life I was living and the diversity of experiences around me, knowing that I really did have the power to support others and to accept support. It's not about only helping, it's about really building a community of support that is mutual. Everybody brings different sorts of assets to the table, and when you are able to recognize and value those assets, what happens is absolutely gorgeous. There are genuine connections that are made with people who may be very different from you. I would say the awareness that was built for me really early on, and being able to see connections where others don't necessarily see them, and to see opportunities for collaborations where others don't necessarily see them.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I would say don't be afraid to lean on your friends. Let people know what it is that you're excited about, where you want to be. Often, I think we're told we kind of have to do it by ourselves, and I think that's just not how we're built as humans. We really are built to be in a village and support each other. Unless we speak up and lean on those that we trust, and say, 'Hey, this is going on, and I would love any support, insight, or just validation, even,' it makes all of the difference. That's one piece of advice. The other one is, you know, our world is a little crazy, and how we often end up in a space that feels really fulfilling may not be the pathway that we had planned or predicted. But that doesn't mean that you can't forge a new pathway that is equally fulfilling.