A Second Chance at Purpose

After years of building a successful career in tech—leading marketing innovation at companies like Meta and Oracle—Alexis Gruszczyński made a decision that surprised even her: She walked away.

What followed wasn’t a step back, but a bold return to a long-deferred goal: pursuing a career in clinical psychology.

“I feel like I have a second chance at life and I want to do it right,” Alexis says, who has taken courses in our Post-Baccalaureate Program in Psychology and is a soon-to-be doctoral of psychology student at National University.

I became passionate again and curious. I actually can learn enough to be able to help people who aren’t getting the care that they need.

A Foundation Built on Curiosity, Resilience

Long before her career in tech, Alexis was driven by a deep curiosity about the world and a desire to pursue advanced academic work.

“I knew I wanted to do something like advanced academia,” she recalls, “I just didn’t know how to do that.”

That uncertainty was shaped in part by her upbringing. Raised by Greek immigrant parents, Alexis understood early on the importance of education as a pathway forward.

“We did experience poverty growing up,” she says. “School was a priority for my family because we knew it was the future.”

She went on to earn her undergraduate degree in English from UC Davis, followed by a dual graduate degree: an M.A. in literature and an M.F.A. in creative writing from Chapman University. Immersed in critical theory, Alexis explored complex ideas around human interaction and digital spaces.

“I was really interested in object-oriented ontology: how human beings and our environment interact and shape each other,” Alexis describes.

But even as she thrived academically, the path forward wasn’t entirely clear.

That path shifted when Alexis was recruited into a specialized program at Oracle, where she joined a cross-functional team tasked with bringing fresh perspectives to the organization.

“The goal was for us to learn innovative marketing concepts and to help support all of the different orgs,” she says.

What followed was a rapid ascent through the tech world. She worked on groundbreaking initiatives in automation, analytics and persona-driven marketing.

Her career continued to evolve, moving into data visualization at TIBCO and eventually into leadership roles at Meta, where she focused on building personalized learning systems for small businesses.

“It was really, really fun—until it wasn’t,” she recalls.

Over time, Alexis began to feel a growing disconnect between her work and her desire to make a meaningful, human-centered impact. “I really wasn’t impacting people on a really important level like I wanted to,” she reflects.

Ultimately, she made the decision to leave corporate life behind.

The instructors imparted knowledge that went beyond the textbook. It really was the magic sauce of learning.

Returning to a Long-Deferred Goal

For Alexis, stepping away from tech created space to revisit a passion she had once set aside: clinical psychology.

After an unsuccessful application cycle at other universities and a disappointing experience in an online graduate program, Alexis found herself questioning her next move.

But that changed when she discovered our Post-Baccalaureate Program in Psychology.

“I saw the Live Online courses, credible instructions and options to get assistance with the application process,” she says. “I was like, ‘Why didn’t I look into this program earlier!?’”

The experience immediately stood apart from anything she had encountered before.

“I took the Neuropsychology and Clinical Psychopharmacology courses, and they were the most beautiful classes; I learned so much,” Alexis enthuses. “The instructors imparted knowledge that went beyond the textbook. It really was the magic sauce of learning.”

Equally impactful was the access to mentorship. “The instructors met with me, we talked about my research interests and how to build on it,” Alexis says. “It was just phenomenal.”

More importantly, it reignited Alexis’ belief in her ability to succeed. “I became passionate again and curious. I actually can learn enough to be able to help people who aren’t getting the care that they need.”

That renewed confidence led her to secure admission into a doctoral program in clinical psychology that she’ll begin Fall 2026.

I knew I could count on UC Berkeley to do it right.

Looking Ahead: A Purpose-Driven Career

As Alexis prepares for this next chapter, her focus is clear: making a meaningful impact in mental health care.

“I’m very passionate about older adult mental health, helping prevent cognitive decline and delirium,” she says.

She’s also exploring emerging areas such as metabolic psychiatry, where she sees significant potential for improving treatment outcomes. “I think it’s going to be really game-changing,” she enthuses, “how energy across the lifespan is impacted.”

For those considering a similar path, Alexis emphasizes the importance of intentional, meaningful learning.

“Focus on learning,” she says. “Establishing wisdom and true connections is what really matters—not just for networking, but genuine relationships.”

She also urges students to be thoughtful about where—and how—they learn. And to trust our program.

“It was such a breath of fresh air,” she reflects. “I knew I could count on UC Berkeley to do it right.”