Her Story
About Stacy
I went back to school at age 46 and earned a Bachelor of Liberal Arts in Psychology from Harvard in 2023, graduating cum laude, followed by a Master's in Psychology in 2025. I created the Aftershock app as a PTS intervention for acute trauma in civilian survivors, winning the Dean's Prize for my capstone. As a survivor of complex childhood trauma, PTSD, and a mass shooting, I developed this tool because there was nothing available for civilians like me after my experience.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Stacy
01What do you attribute your success to?
Grit, resilience, stick-to-itiveness, and most of all my faith in God. Everything has happened for a reason, turning pain into purposeful innovation, with deep gratitude for the path walked.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
Stay curious. Never stop learning, always seek the truth, different opinions and perspectives, interrogate assumptions, and never settle for your own assumptions.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Stay curious. Forge your own path; rules are guidelines meant to be broken at times. Gain as much knowledge as you can and use it to move forward purposefully and break barriers, especially with AI and technology changing the landscape.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
Challenges include pitching to VCs with their aggressive shark tank mentality which goes against my ethos, generational aspects as a Gen X navigating tech, and stigma around PTSD not being just combat-related. Opportunities through Harvard's network, meeting amazing people worldwide, and using social media and online platforms to open doors.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Integrity, honesty, ethics. Say what you mean, mean what you say, and don't say it mean. Maintain respect, conduct with utmost integrity, speak plainly and honestly with compassion, treat others with respect, be patient and open-minded.
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