Today we’d like to introduce you to Stacy Vu.
Hi Stacy, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Reinvention has been the theme of my life, especially after turning 50.
After spending 15 years as a full-time mom, I made a major leap and returned to the workforce, landing a role in tech as Chief of Staff at a quantum computing startup. It was both exhilarating and intimidating to step back into a fast-paced world after so much time away, but I was ready. Around the same time, I began a deep personal transformation. I experienced a spiritual awakening, was diagnosed with ADHD later in life, and started healing long-held trauma.
It cracked me open in the best way.
After going through a season of profound personal transformation (hello, loads of therapy, Reiki, and journaling at 2AM), I found myself craving something more tactile, more sacred, and more me. I didn’t want to just make a product. I wanted to create a ritual, something that reminded women they are the authors of their lives.
That’s how Ajna & Co. was born. What started as a creative outlet, handcrafting leather journals at my kitchen table, has grown into a brand rooted in intention, beauty, and soul. Every detail matters, from the carefully sourced stones and vintage pieces we select for our sacred talismans to the words we engrave on our mantra charms. It’s not just about journaling. It’s about honoring your journey.
Today, I get to blend my love of craftsmanship, energy work, and storytelling into something that helps people reconnect with themselves, and that feels like a calling, not just a career.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Smooth? Not even close! But every bump has shaped me.
Reentering the workforce after 15 years as a stay-at-home mom came with a major learning curve. I had to rebuild my confidence, learn to trust my instincts in a fast-paced tech environment, and constantly prove that I still had a seat at the table. On top of that, navigating a late-in-life neurodivergent diagnosis (ADHD) forced me to completely reframe how I relate to the world and to myself.
Starting Ajna & Co. while juggling a demanding job, parenting, and deep emotional healing wasn’t exactly a soft landing either. There were many nights I questioned whether I was crazy for even trying. I had to learn how to run a business from scratch, often Googling things at midnight, feeling equal parts exhilarated and overwhelmed.
One of my biggest struggles has been perfectionism. I used to believe that every detail had to be flawless before I could share anything with the world. But through this journey, I’ve learned to embrace the beauty of “perfectly imperfect.” The raw edges, the handmade feel, the soulful quirks—those are what make each journal (and each chapter of life) meaningful. Letting go of the need to be perfect has been one of the most liberating lessons of all.
And then there’s the spiritual path… it’s beautiful, but it’s not for the faint of heart. Healing meant facing some of the hardest truths about myself, setting boundaries that shifted relationships, and learning how to hold space for both grief and growth.
The road hasn’t been smooth, but it’s been sacred and it led me back to myself.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I create handcrafted leather journals designed to be both functional and deeply meaningful. At Ajna & Co., we offer customizable journal covers made from beautiful Italian leather, adorned with charms, crystals, and personal touches chosen by each customer. Every piece is built with intention, from the leather color and thread to the sacred talisman on the front.
But what I really do is hold space for people’s stories.
My work is about more than just making journals. It’s about creating tools for transformation, objects that feel like home, that remind people they are the authors of their own lives. I infuse every journal with Reiki energy, and each one begins with a conversation, whether in person or over video. That human connection is everything to me.
I specialize in personalization. Clients can choose everything from leather and cord color to charms and engraved mantras. Many of our adornments are one-of-a-kind vintage or gemstone pieces, which makes each journal completely unique. I also host Ajna Gatherings, where people come together to create their journals in a sacred, social setting—think charm bars, intention-setting, and lots of heart.
What sets Ajna & Co. apart is the soul woven into every detail. There’s a tenderness in the way I source materials, the care in how each journal is crafted, and the energy I bring to every interaction. I think people can feel that.
I’m most proud that I created something that reflects who I truly am and that it resonates with others. Watching someone light up as they hold their finished journal, knowing it was made just for them, never gets old.
What would you say have been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
That it’s never too late to begin again, and that reinvention is a sacred act.
Turning 50 cracked me open in the best way. I had to unlearn so many beliefs about who I should be and start trusting who I really am. I’ve learned that healing isn’t linear, creativity doesn’t have a deadline, and perfection is not the goal… presence is.
I used to think I had to get everything right before showing up. Now, I understand that showing up as I am is more than enough. The mess, the beauty, the soul of it all, that’s where the magic lives.
And perhaps the greatest lesson? The things that make us different aren’t flaws. They’re our superpowers. My late-in-life ADHD diagnosis helped me understand myself more deeply and gave me language for the way I move through the world. What once made me feel like a failure is now something I honor and embrace in myself and in others.
This journey has taught me to trust my timing, stay soft in my heart, and keep going even when I don’t have it all figured out.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.ajnaco.com
- Instagram: https://Instagram.com/Ajnacojournals
- LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/stacy-vu-6435bb
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@ajna.co2
Image Credits
Nicole DiDaniele Photography credit for the photo of Stacy Vu in white dress holding green journal.
