Dr. Alexxa Bessey, Senior Scientist at Aptima and recipient of the National Training & Simulation Association’s “Top Under 40” award, was recently interviewed for a spotlight in Authority Magazine, where she discusses a variety of fascinating topics.

In the interview, Alexxa shares her journey from pursuing a degree in clinical psychology to building a career at the intersection of human performance, technology, and military training. What began as a graduate school job supporting research for the US Army ultimately led her to pivot into Industrial-Organizational Psychology and develop technologies that help improve how individuals and teams train in high-stakes environments.

Throughout the conversation, Dr. Bessey discusses the role of AI, simulation, and data-driven technologies in modern training systems, as well as the importance of teamwork, mentorship, and persistence in STEM careers. She also reflects on challenges women still face in male-dominated industries and offers leadership lessons about grabbing opportunities when they arise, surrounding yourself with the right people, and embracing failure as part of growth.

Read the full interview here.