„We dream of a world where every woman is supported by a strong and caring community, ignited to live with joy. A world where she can stand in her truth, honor her needs, care for herself with kindness, and trust in her strength to grow and heal.“
MY STORY
I consider myself a lifelong learner shaped by many cultures, circumstances, and identities. I was born in the Philippines, raised in Germany, and am now rooted in California. My path has taken me from neuroscience labs to community-based work, researching diseases, mentoring immigrant and refugee youth and young women, and building spaces for reflection, growth, and belonging.
My community work began with a deep commitment to women and girls. Through advocacy against gender-based violence and the creation of leadership, wellness, and prevention programs, I witnessed something that stayed with me: healing does not happen in isolation, it happens in community. Seeing what becomes possible when women are supported, rather than left carry everything alone, shaped both my work and my direction. ​
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For much of my life, rest felt unsafe, and joy felt out of reach. Like many women, I learned to be strong before I learned to be whole. Over time, I came to understand how deeply stress and trauma shape our nervous systems, identities, and capacity to move forward. Motherhood brought another layer of awareness, and a deep commitment to break cycles and become the most self-loving and emotionally grounded version of myself for her.
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With Joy was born from that knowing. It reflects my vision of a life that feels balanced, authentic, and free, and my commitment to building support systems that help women navigate transitions without self-blame. With Joy is becoming the space many women seek: a place to feel inspired, experience joy, practice letting go of what no longer serves them, and grow into the future self they know is there beneath all the layers.​
Zeenna A. Stapper, PhD
Founder & Certified Mental Health Coach (Headspace Training Institute)
Science-informed, capacity-conscious coaching and community for women with immigrant backgrounds
Zeenna is the founder of With Joy, a coaching and community platform supporting women with immigration background through life and career transitions, burnout, and identity shifts, grounded in mental health science and lived experience. She holds a Ph.D. in Biosciences from the University of Heidelberg, with doctoral research conducted at the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), and completed postdoctoral research at Stanford University School of Medicine. Zeenna brings over a decade of research experience alongside more than six years of leadership in health, wellness, and nonprofit programs serving immigrant and refugee communities. Zeenna is a Certified Mental Health Coach (CMHC) through the Headspace Training Institute and is pursuing board certification as a National Board Certified Health & Wellness Coach (NBC-HWC). Her work is science-informed, trauma-aware, and strength-based coaching to support sustainable growth without burnout. Through With Joy, Zeenna creates spaces where women feel supported, grounded, and equipped to navigate change in reclaiming their joy.
