Stephanie High
She rebuilt herself from burnout. Now she teaches the system.
About
She knows what burnout costs — because she paid it.
Stephanie High is a neuropsychology nerd, founder, and human-centered innovator who has spent 20+ years at the intersection of people, technology, and organizational systems. She started her career at Sony in San Diego, grew into global roles that took her to Tokyo, then crossed the hall to ASICS headquarters, where she led global category marketing for fitness & training. After nearly a decade in Asia, she traded corporate life for something wilder — over a year freelancing through Mexico and Belize before eventually planting roots in Spokane.
Her work is grounded in a deceptively simple idea that resilience isn't something you're born with. It's a system and skills you build.
As someone who has navigated deep burnout firsthand — and rebuilt with intention on the other side — Stephanie brings the kind of credibility to this topic that can't be faked. She blends neuroscience, performance psychology, and trauma-informed practice into sessions that are rigorous, practical, and honest.
She is the founder of Kaizen Catalyst, a trauma-informed performance psychology practice, and co-founder of KaizenCX, a human-centered technology advisory firm. She is currently a PhD candidate and has lived and worked in Japan, Mexico, Belize, and USA.
Speaking topics
What she delivers
Personal Resilience
Running with Too Many Tabs Open: Building Resilience Without Self-Abandonment
Resilience and grit are often confused with pushing harder and doing more. This keynote reframes resilience as the ability to stay consistent without disconnecting from identity, values, and boundaries. Participants learn how to build resilience that is sustainable, grounded, and aligned with who they are.
Emotional Intelligence & Tech Stress
Human Centered Design: Leading in the Age of AI
AI is moving faster than people can adapt. This keynote explores how trauma-informed leadership, emotional regulation, and team dynamics shape stability, trust, and performance during rapid change. Leaders learn how to implement innovation without creating burnout, shutdown, or disengagement.
Credentials & experience
What qualifies her
CREDENTIALS
PhD Candidate in Psychology, specialization in Trauma & Community Resilience
Master's in Performance Psychology
Technology Founder: KaizenCX and KaizenCRM
8 Years as a Small Business Owner
18 Years at Fortune 50 Companies (Sony, ASICS)
Certified Professional in Human Resources (PHR-HRCI)
Highlights
CLA Excellent Women in Laundry Conference — keynote — May 2026
JFKSOPSS 3ʳᵈ Annual Virtual Research Conference— presenter — April 2026
Business Brew — guest speaker — November 2025
Physicians Postgraduate Press — featured contributor — August 2025
Fun Facts
Has called four countries home — Japan, Mexico, Belize, and the USA
Visited 48+ countries and counting
Certified personal trainer, rescue diver, and gymnastics instructor
Proud dog mom to Ghost + Pepper (we like spicy food!)
What people say
The room after she leaves
"Recently I had the opportunity to attend a workshop with Stephanie. The workshop ran for several weeks and focused on embracing the stresses of everyday life by fine-tuning the behaviors associated with your intellectual maturity. We find it easy to put ourselves down, especially during stressful times. Now I have the skills necessary to kick my negative voice out in my head and replace it with a more stable one that is encouraging, much like I strive to treat others. Thank you for helping me gain power over my reactions, Stephanie!"
— Jennifer Jay
"I had a feeling you were the right fit for that room, and it sounds like the women confirmed it. That's exactly what I was hoping for when I made the recommendation, so hearing that it landed the way it did means a lot. I appreciated our time together the week before too. It was clear you came prepared and thoughtful, and I think that showed."
— Monica Wales