Her Story
About Staci
I spent my career as an elementary principal before transitioning into wellness and advocacy just one year ago. This career change came after I received quite a few concussions from dysregulated students and had to find other ways to heal myself. Through that healing journey, I discovered this new path. Today, I advocate on behalf of holistic wellness and spiritual practitioners - I coach them, work with them, and bring the work that they do to the forefront of the community. I hold a Master's of Education Leadership, which I earned in 2013. My education background has proven to be very transferable. As a principal, I was able to coach others and advocate for those that were not as fortunate as others, and that experience has really helped shape what I'm able to do now. My most notable professional achievement is advocating on behalf of others. One of the biggest challenges in my field right now is ignorance and lack of people understanding what holistic wellness and spiritual healing or health is. I'm really trying hard to just educate people on what's available and what this means. Holistic healing has been around forever, but it has had such a negative connotation for so long, or a mystical representation, or even associations with witchcraft in some aspects. Reiki is now recognized by Mayo Clinic, so slowly it's being integrated and received by the public. I'm focused on educating people on what it is and what it isn't.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Staci
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to the people around me, to having a strong support system, and the ability to push forward knowing that I have people around me that support me. I don't believe you have to do it alone - we rise together, we're stronger together. Having that network of support has been essential to everything I've been able to accomplish.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I've ever received is to find that work-life balance. Actually, I'd say find that career-life balance, because work is just work. You are replaceable at work, but not at home. That perspective has been crucial in helping me prioritize what really matters and maintain balance between my professional responsibilities and my personal life, especially with three teenage daughters.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
My advice to young women entering this industry is that you don't have to do it alone. We rise together, we're stronger together. Lean on others to work together, to learn together, to grow together. I think that's really important. Building those connections and supporting each other is essential in this field, and collaboration will make you stronger than trying to go it alone.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The biggest challenge in my field right now is ignorance and lack of people understanding what holistic wellness and spiritual healing or health actually is. I'm really trying hard to just educate people on what's available and what this means. Holistic healing has been around since Christ, forever really, but it has had such a negative connotation for so long, or a mystical representation, or associations with witchcraft in some aspects. The opportunity is that things are slowly changing - Reiki is now recognized by Mayo Clinic, so it's slowly being integrated and received by the public. I'm focused on educating people on what it is and what it isn't, and helping to shift those misconceptions.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values most important to me are learning, which is my highest value - I love to learn and to grow. Trust, faith, and connection to something bigger than me are also central to who I am. And integrity is essential in everything I do. These values guide both my professional work in wellness and advocacy and my personal life with my family.
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