Stacy Bernal was the inaugural Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Manager for the Utah Jazz. She graduated Summa Cum Laude from Weber State University with a BA in Communication and earned a certificate for Diversity and Inclusion from Cornell University. She is a TEDx speaker, author, and the founder of Awesome Autistic Ogden, an annual community event celebrating neurodiversity and disability.
Stacy is passionate about empowering individuals and organizations to live their biggest and most authentic lives. An outspoken advocate for equity, inclusion, accessibility, and representation, Stacy is known to challenge the status quo on occasion. She has been featured on HuffPost, Thrive Global, Visit Utah, Scary Mommy, and Autism Parenting Magazine. In 2019, she published her first book, The Things We Don’t Talk About: A Memoir of Hardships, Healing, and Hope.
If your business could have a mascot, what would it be and why?
A cat. They’re sleek, self-efficient, sometimes standoffish, sometimes cuddly. I relate to that. (And for the record, I have three dogs and one cat, and I love them all.)
What strategies do you employ to maintain a healthy work-life balance while running your own business?
I only say yes to opportunities if they align with my purpose and I feel like it’s a space where I can make a difference. I prioritize time with my family and time to spend on both my physical and mental health.
When faced with unexpected detours on your business path, how do you pivot with grace and resilience, showing fellow women entrepreneurs the way forward?
First, give grace to yourself. You’re allowed to be upset and to mourn what you lost or what you had hoped for. None of us will have a perfect path to our end goals, and we need to be agile enough to pivot when the situation calls for that. But take the time you need to grieve when a hardship happens. When you’re ready, get back up and dust yourself off and find your way back to your path. Know that your courage to keep going will inspire others.
How do you measure the success of your business beyond financial metrics, such as customer satisfaction or community engagement?
I know I am successful when I get repeat clients or new opportunities after someone has attended one of my speaking engagements. That’s one of the ways I know I’m making a difference. I also receive feedback from surveys and messages of affirmation, typically through social media.
Can you share a memorable moment where you witnessed significant growth or transformation in your business, illustrating the impact of your services/products?
The first time I was booked to speak in another country was definitely a highlight of my career. I knew that my message resonated on a local and national level, but I worried how it would translate outside of the US. Having that positive experience helped give me more confidence about the value I add and that many aspects of life are universal.
What role do you believe mentorship plays in the success of small businesses, and how have mentors influenced your own entrepreneurial journey?
It’s so important, especially as a woman, to have mentors. When I first started doing speaking engagements, I realized that the industry was pretty overrepresented by men. (There were even terms like “manels” and “pale and stale” to describe this phenomenon.) I became intentional about learning from diverse women in the industry and even joined an international women’s group. Now, I make it a point to empower up-and-coming women, especially when it comes to politics and civic engagement. We need more women in these positions of leadership.
What’s your work all about, and how does it make a difference in the world?
I started my company See Stacy Speak LLC with the intention of making the world a better place by helping people find their “Inner Badass.” In that journey, I realized what truly lit up my own internal flame were the topics of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging. As a biracial Asian American and mother to a neurodiverse, disabled son, it became my mission to help historically underrepresented and marginalized groups.
In August 2022, I heard about the job opportunity of a lifetime that was more than I could have imagined. I applied, fully expecting an immediate rejection. Instead, I went through two rigorous interview sessions and was subsequently offered the position. I had the great privilege of becoming the first-ever Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Manager for the Utah Jazz. On June 14, 2024, I stepped down from my role with the Utah Jazz to focus on my family, my then senate race, and my mental wellness.
Even though I lost my senate race, I will continue to be an advocate for those who have felt unheard, and I will encourage others to do the same.
