Suzannah Masura
I've been teaching yoga for about 3 years now, which started as a passion project while I was traveling with my husband and getting my master's degree at the same time. It was hard to keep an office job during that period, and I always loved yoga, so I became an instructor. I have a master's degree in organizational psychology from Capella University and a bachelor's degree from the University of Oklahoma. I'm really focused on trying to get into organizational development and making workplaces better for everybody, especially from a business standpoint where I feel like the worker is sometimes left behind. Right now, I serve as director at AgriPlanet Foundation, which is a sector based out of Oklahoma that works for economic empowerment in Uganda and various places in Africa. Most of what I do there is help with our online presence, creating content for our LinkedIn page and promoting things to help us get more funding. It's the most fulfilling work because I'm really committed to empowering people and trying to create some impact, helping with agribusiness development and equipping people with the knowledge and skills they need to improve their productivity and protect the environment. I'm also starting a YouTube channel and creating a self-help journal e-book, since I do have that master's degree in psychology and I really want to help people find some happiness and spread positivity. My typical day involves working from behind my desk with my dog, spending a lot of time on the computer writing and editing, doing video editing for my YouTube channel, and coming up with plans for my yoga classes with different focuses each month. This month I'm doing heart-opening stuff, really focusing on connecting to the heart chakra and being more open and kind.
• 500-hour Registered Yoga Teaching Certification
• Project Management Certification
• Master's Degree in Organizational Psychology
• Capella University
• Bachelor's Degree
• University of Oklahoma
• Director at AgriPlanet Foundation
What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to a deep commitment to purpose-driven work. When you care deeply about the communities and causes you serve, it creates a level of persistence and creativity that carries you through challenges. I’ve also been fortunate to collaborate with passionate people who believe in building sustainable solutions together, and that shared vision has been a powerful force behind everything we’ve accomplished.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
To go back to your passions, to stick to your authenticity, and to stay positive.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Be confident in your voice and your ideas. The world needs diverse perspectives, creativity, and leadership from women. Seek out mentors, stay curious, and don’t be afraid to ask questions or take on challenges that feel a little beyond your comfort zone. Growth often happens in those moments.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the biggest challenges in Industrial-Organizational Psychology right now is helping organizations adapt to rapid technological and cultural change while still prioritizing human well-being. Advances in artificial intelligence, data analytics, and people analytics are transforming how organizations hire, evaluate, and develop employees. While these tools offer incredible opportunities to improve decision-making and reduce bias, they also raise important questions about ethics, transparency, and employee trust.
At the same time, workplaces are still navigating the long-term effects of hybrid work, rising burnout, and evolving expectations around mental health and inclusion. I/O psychologists are uniquely positioned to help organizations design healthier, more equitable, and more effective workplaces by combining behavioral science with organizational strategy.
For me, the opportunity lies in ensuring that as workplaces become more data-driven and technologically advanced, they also remain deeply human-centered.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Authenticity is really important to me, along with honesty and just being a good person overall. I think just trying to do good and be good, and creating meaningful change are my biggest values. I always try to make meaningful change - that's kind of always my goal. I feel like staying creative is really, really important too. Whether it's through my work at AgriPlanet Foundation empowering people, or through my yoga teaching where I focus on things like connecting to the heart chakra and being more open and kind, or through my new projects like my YouTube channel and self-help e-book, I really want to spread positivity and help people find happiness.
Expert Insights
Locations
Summit Climbing, Yoga & Fitness
Norman, OK