Stephanie (Wolf) Vislay ’02 - Finding Purpose Beyond the Straight Path

For Stephanie (Wolf) Vislay ’02, the path to success hasn’t been a straight line—and that’s exactly the point.

After graduating from Roger Bacon, Stephanie began her career as a technical designer, spending nearly a decade building expertise and rising through the ranks. By the age of 28, she had become a global manager—an achievement many would consider the pinnacle of early career success. But despite her accomplishments, something was missing.

“I was working 60 to 80 hours a week, and somewhere along the way, being ‘successful’ stopped meaning anything,” she shared. “It turns out being good at something isn’t the same as loving it.”

That realization led Stephanie to pivot. She transitioned into a new industry as a Vice President of Operations for a small business, and eventually took a leap of faith—starting her own company in her late 30s. That leap marked the beginning of an exciting new chapter.

Stephanie founded Alex Parker Publishing, an award-winning company that continues to grow and is already booked with projects through 2029. Building on that momentum, she published her first novel after 8 years of work, the first book of an epic fantasy series that earned national recognition as a finalist for the American Writing Awards for Best Debut Fiction..

Reflecting on her time at Roger Bacon, Stephanie credits the school with instilling a strong work ethic—something that has carried her through each stage of her journey. While some memories may be lighthearted, like the charity fashion show, four years of Latin with Mrs. Borsche (and the zoo field trips that came with it), or a teacher’s memorable “No masticating in class” sign, the underlying lessons of discipline and perseverance have remained.

Her advice to current Spartans is both honest and encouraging:

“Your life does not have to be a straight line. It can zig, zag, and loop back. You are allowed to change your mind. You are allowed to outgrow things. Wherever you are, give it your best—effort is never wasted.”

In addition to her professional achievements, Stephanie continues to challenge herself personally. After being diagnosed with cPTSD, she set ambitious goals to push beyond her comfort zone. One of those included completing a grueling 12.5-hour hike up El Capitan in Yosemite—on a sprained ankle.

“I did ask my friends more than once to just roll me down the hill,” she joked. “But I made it.”

She is now preparing for another major hike in 2026 and has begun training in mixed martial arts.

Stephanie lives with her husband, Nic, and their two children, Aven and Emie. Their home is also shared with two golden retrievers, Levi and Riva, and a hamster named Bob—though she admits there is ongoing “peer pressure” to expand into a full-fledged Vislay pet sanctuary.

Through career changes, personal challenges, and creative pursuits, Stephanie’s story is a powerful reminder that success isn’t about following a perfect plan—it’s about having the courage to evolve, take risks, and keep moving forward.