The first-generation American shared her journey from navigating dual cultural identities to pursuing a career that combines her passion for science and creativity. Despite initially studying computer science and engineering, Barsa found her true calling in the health and wellness industry, inspired by her own struggles with gut health.
“I think the combination of being an overachiever and wanting to do so much, and the stress on top of the change in diet just really put me in a whirlwind of navigating various IBS issues,” said Barsa. “I didn’t feel like doctors or practitioners gave me clear guidance. And I think that’s what got me so attracted to this idea of not just probiotics, but gut health and really developing innovations that can address the core [issue].”
Barsa highlighted the disproportionate impact of gut and hormonal issues on women’s health and career advancement, noting how these challenges can undermine confidence and performance during key professional moments. She encouraged women, especially younger ones, to be more intentional about celebrating their accomplishments and building a supportive network, rather than downplaying their successes.
“I think a big thing is celebrating our wins. And as women, we’re not very good at doing that. We tend to downplay a lot of our successes, as I mentioned before, like, ‘oh, it’s a team effort.’ And I think being able to, especially for younger women, when you’re early on, take 10-20 minutes at the end of every week, write down what you accomplished for the week, because your manager is not going to remember that,” she said. “For older women, especially as you get more senior, you have more to prove. Unfortunately, you have to just showcase your wins that much more and document them. So being able to make sure we’re doing that. And I think the idea of nurturing our network and really tapping into building that allyship with other women and men to support us and make the introductions.”
