LEAVE YOUR MARK: Freshly Brewed Career Advice with Aliza Licht

Stacey Stevenson From High School Dropout to CEO, How to Land a Job You Have No Experience In, and Why You Cancel Yourself When You’re Silent on Issues That Matter


Listen Later

Stacey Stevenson dropped out of a rural high school in the South when they were pulled out of the closet. They worked at fast food restaurants to save enough money to move to Dallas to "do something with their life" because they were intent on making it in the corporate world. Stacey achieved just that with a long history of senior defense, technology, and finance roles. But in 2021, they turned their business acumen, lived experience, and passion to work for LGBTQ+ families and those who wish to form them.

As the first Black Chief Executive Officer at Family Equality, Stacey is a trailblazing leader, selected as one of Out Magazine's Out100 list — a compilation of the year's most impactful and influential LGBTQ+ people — in the fall of 2022.

Stacey has already ushered Family Equality through a tremendous chapter of growth. From expanding the organization's work to protect LGBTQ+ youth and families in schools to deepening the focus on lowering barriers to parenthood in our community, they have prioritized not only advancing lived and legal equality for LGBTQ+ families but also advancing racial and social justice for BIPOC communities, those living in rural areas, and those living at or below the poverty line. And they are just getting started. 

A powerful speaker and motivator, Stacey regularly shares their experiences growing up LGBTQ+ in the rural South, being pulled out of the closet, and navigating life as a Black queer parent.

Stacey's advocacy has helped propel Family Equality further into the national spotlight with multiple appearances on The Sunday Show with Jonathan Capehart, a bipartisan panel discussion hosted at the U.S. Capitol, collaborations with movement partners, countless speaking engagements, and media appearances including an op-ed in USA TODAY. In the op-ed, Stacey shared their family's story of moving from their home state of Texas in search of a more welcoming community. Stacey, wife Cheralyn, and 8-year-old twin boys, Duke and London, enjoy the life they are building in Washington, D.C.

In this episode, Stacey shares their journey, which is, at times, heartbreaking but equally inspiring. We discuss their work and mission at Family Equality, the importance of being an ally, and why people cancel themselves when they don't speak up for their beliefs. We dive into work-life balance, mindful Mondays, ruthless prioritization, how they leveraged transferable skills to crush an interview for a job they had no experience in, and so much more.

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

LEAVE YOUR MARK: Freshly Brewed Career Advice with Aliza LichtBy Aliza Licht

  • 4.9
  • 4.9
  • 4.9
  • 4.9
  • 4.9

4.9

572 ratings


More shows like LEAVE YOUR MARK: Freshly Brewed Career Advice with Aliza Licht

View all
Next Question with Katie Couric by iHeartPodcasts

Next Question with Katie Couric

4,804 Listeners

The Goal Digger Podcast | Top Business and Marketing Podcast for Creatives, Entrepreneurs, and Women in Business by Jenna Kutcher

The Goal Digger Podcast | Top Business and Marketing Podcast for Creatives, Entrepreneurs, and Women in Business

12,048 Listeners

The Cathy Heller Podcast with Cathy Heller by Cathy Heller | QCODE

The Cathy Heller Podcast with Cathy Heller

7,642 Listeners

The Business of Fashion Podcast by The Business of Fashion

The Business of Fashion Podcast

577 Listeners

9 to 5ish with theSkimm by theSkimm

9 to 5ish with theSkimm

1,876 Listeners

Second Life by Second Life

Second Life

2,860 Listeners

The goop Podcast by Goop, Inc. and Audacy

The goop Podcast

6,738 Listeners

Superwomen with Rebecca Minkoff by Rebecca Minkoff

Superwomen with Rebecca Minkoff

508 Listeners

Career Contessa by Career Contessa

Career Contessa

461 Listeners

Habits and Hustle by Jen Cohen and Habit Nest

Habits and Hustle

824 Listeners

Let's Get Dressed by Liv Perez

Let's Get Dressed

278 Listeners

The Jasmine Star Show by Jasmine Star

The Jasmine Star Show

2,578 Listeners

Lipstick on the Rim by Sony Music Entertainment

Lipstick on the Rim

998 Listeners

The World's First Podcast with Erin & Sara Foster by Dear Media | Wishbone Production

The World's First Podcast with Erin & Sara Foster

2,721 Listeners

Social Currency with Sammi Cohen by Social Currency

Social Currency with Sammi Cohen

65 Listeners