Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Sherrie Allsup. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Sherrie, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today We’d love to have you retell us the story behind how you came up with the idea for your business, I think our audience would really enjoy hearing the backstory.

The idea for my business was born from a lifetime of witnessing pain, resilience, and the profound impact trauma has on individuals and communities.
Throughout my own journey and years of advocacy work, I repeatedly saw the devastating effects of sexual assault, trauma, and suicide—not only on survivors and their families, but also on the professionals tasked with responding to these crises. I recognized that law enforcement officers are often the first people called to the scene during someone’s darkest moment, yet many receive limited training on the long-term effects of trauma and how it influences behavior, memory, communication, and recovery.
As I shared my story and educated audiences across the country, I discovered a growing need for practical, trauma-informed training that could bridge the gap between survivors and those who serve them. I realized that by combining lived experience, professional expertise, and evidence-based education, I could help law enforcement better understand the people they encounter every day.
That realization inspired me to create a business dedicated to traveling nationwide and providing specialized training on sexual assault, trauma, and suicide prevention. My mission is to equip officers, investigators, dispatchers, and first responders with the knowledge and tools necessary to respond with greater understanding, compassion, and effectiveness.
Every training I deliver is rooted in one simple belief: when professionals understand trauma, they can change outcomes. By educating those on the front lines, we can improve investigations, increase trust within communities, support survivors more effectively, and ultimately save lives.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

My name is Sherrie, and I am a survivor, advocate, educator, speaker, and founder of Courage Starts With You. My life’s work is dedicated to helping others understand the lasting impact of trauma and empowering individuals, organizations, and communities to respond with compassion, knowledge, and hope.
Through my own experiences and years of advocacy, I have developed a deep passion for educating others about sexual assault, trauma, suicide prevention, resilience, and healing. What began as a personal journey of overcoming adversity evolved into a mission to create meaningful change. Today, I travel across the country providing training and education to law enforcement agencies, first responders, schools, organizations, and community groups.
I believe that education has the power to transform lives. By helping people understand the effects of trauma and the importance of trauma-informed responses, we can better support survivors, strengthen communities, and save lives.
As an international speaker, I have had the privilege of sharing my message with audiences around the world. I have been featured on multiple podcasts, including The Suffering Podcast with Kevin Donaldson and Soft White Underbelly. My work has also been highlighted in Force Magazine, Rich Woman Magazine, Campus Safety Magazine, and other media outlets.
At the heart of everything I do is a simple belief: courage starts with a single step. Whether I am speaking to a room full of law enforcement professionals, supporting survivors, or inspiring others to find their voice, my goal is to help people recognize their strength, embrace their resilience, and understand that healing is possible.

We’d love to hear about how you met your business partner.

One of the most significant turning points in my professional journey was meeting Kevin Donaldson. What began as a connection through our shared passion for helping others quickly grew into a friendship, professional partnership, and a shared mission to educate, inspire, and create change.
Kevin and I both understand the realities of trauma, adversity, and resilience from unique perspectives. As we spent more time talking, we discovered that our goals were remarkably aligned. We shared a commitment to giving a voice to those who have suffered in silence, educating professionals who serve vulnerable populations, and helping people understand that healing and hope are possible.
Through countless conversations, speaking engagements, podcast appearances, and collaborative projects, we recognized that our combined experiences and expertise could have an even greater impact together. Our partnership was built on mutual respect, trust, authenticity, and a shared belief that difficult conversations can save lives.
Today, Kevin and I work together to educate law enforcement, first responders, organizations, and communities on topics including sexual assault, trauma, suicide prevention, resilience, and victim-centered responses. Together, we strive to bridge the gap between lived experience and professional practice, helping others better understand the human side of trauma while equipping them with practical tools to make a difference.
What started as a simple introduction became a powerful partnership—one dedicated to changing lives through education, awareness, and compassion.

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

I did not build my audience through marketing tactics or social media trends. I built it by consistently showing up, sharing my story, and providing meaningful education on topics that impact countless lives.
As someone with both lived experience and subject matter expertise, I offer a perspective that bridges the gap between theory and reality. My personal experiences with trauma, adversity, and healing have given me insights that cannot be learned solely from textbooks or training manuals. At the same time, years of advocacy, research, professional development, and public speaking have allowed me to translate those experiences into practical education that audiences can apply in their work and daily lives.
People connect with authenticity. Whether speaking to law enforcement officers, first responders, survivors, mental health professionals, or community members, I have always been committed to sharing honest conversations about trauma, sexual assault, resilience, and suicide prevention. My audience grew because people recognized that I was speaking not only from knowledge, but from experience.
Over time, that authenticity and expertise established me as a trusted voice in the trauma-informed space. Through speaking engagements, media appearances, podcasts, training events, and community outreach, I have built an engaged audience that values education grounded in both professional understanding and real-life experience.
My platform continues to grow because my mission remains the same: to educate, inspire, and help others better understand the realities of trauma while offering hope, healing, and practical solutions.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.sherrieallsup.com
• Instagram: thesherrieallsup
• Linkedin: Sherrie Allsup