This is an excerpt from a story printed in the Fall/Winter 2025 issue of Harker Magazine. Read the full story in the digital version of the magazine on Harker’s issuu page, and watch for the print version to arrive during the winter break.

Stephanie Tsao ’02 resists easy definition: a lawyer by training, software engineer by practice, artist by passion, entrepreneur at heart and lifelong learner. She navigates across disciplines and cultures to create meaningful impact.

“You can’t do everything at once,” Tsao said with a warm laugh. “But if you really want to do something, find a way to make it happen.” And that’s exactly what she’s done.

Tsao was part of Harker’s first upper school class, a formative experience that let her start clubs and shape traditions. She fondly remembers her history class with Donna Gilbert, who inspired her to major in the subject. Now a parent of two Harker students, Tsao remains connected to the community that carved her path.

“Stephanie was a serious and earnest student with a natural instinct for historical analysis,” recalled Gilbert, chair of the history and social sciences department. “She was inquisitive, thoughtful and grew into a confident thinker with a strong voice who truly enjoyed learning.