From Kidnapping Survivor to Badass Leader

STRIPES & Dr. Crystal Simons

Where Grit Meets Grace: Trauma, Leadership & Reinvention | Live at STRIPES with Dr. Crystal Simon What happens when two women in the medtech industry sit down to discuss trauma, leadership, reinvention, and the harsh reality of career transitions? In this live STRIPES conversation, Dr. Crystal Simon interviews Angela Gill Nelms about the stories behind her grit, the grace that helped her heal, and the mindset required to lead through the hardest seasons.

Angela opens up about surviving a kidnapping, rebuilding her life, overcoming imposter syndrome, leading companies, navigating layoffs, personal branding, conflict resolution, and how to build an A-Team that accelerates your growth. Together, they unpack the emotional, professional, and deeply human sides of leadership in medtech, entrepreneurship, and beyond.

Whether you’re navigating trauma, experiencing a career shift, building resilience, or stepping into a bigger leadership role—this episode will give you tools, courage, and perspective. This is where grit meets grace.

Watch this if you want to learn: – How trauma shapes leadership—and how to heal while leading – How women can lead without mimicking male leadership styles – The A-Team model: boardroom, locker room, foxhole – How to navigate layoffs with clarity, grace, and strategy – How to speak up in difficult rooms without overthinking – How personal branding drives opportunity and alignment – Why mindset and emotional regulation matter more than perfection – The power of curiosity, “tell me more,” and the 5-second rule – How to de-escalate conflict and build trust across cultures – What “be brave, be badass” looks like in real life If you’re a woman in medtech, a leader in transition, or someone healing from hard things while trying to make big things happen—this episode is for you.

KEY THEMES: – Trauma-informed leadership – Women in medtech – Grit vs grace – Imposter syndrome – Layoffs as catalysts – Conflict resolution & emotional intelligence – Leadership authenticity – Personal branding – Resilience & mindset – The A-Team (boardroom, foxhole, locker room) – Handling hard conversations – Overcoming perfectionism – Cross-cultural leadership – Career reinvention – Boundaries & burnout prevention

KEY QUESTIONS ANSWERED: How does trauma shape leadership—and how do you heal while leading? What does “where grit meets grace” look like in real life? How should women navigate imposter syndrome in executive roles? How do you build your boardroom, foxhole, and locker room? What’s the right way to handle layoffs, emotionally + strategically? Why do we overthink speaking up—and how do we stop? How do you build a personal brand that attracts opportunity? What’s the difference between regulating and resolving trauma? How do you show up in rooms where you’re the only woman? How do leaders model vulnerability without losing authority? How do you disarm conflict quickly using curiosity?

Learn More About STRIPES & Crystal Simons:

• STRIPES (event organizer, women in medtech group): https://www.stripes.network/ 
• STRIPES LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/stripesnetworking/ 
• Crystal Simons: https://www.linkedin.com/in/crystalsimonphd/ 

Mentioned in this Episode: 

• Boundaries — Dr. Henry Cloud & Dr. John Townsend
• The 5 Second Rule / 5-4-3-2-1 method — Mel Robbins
• The Culture Map — Erin Meyer
• Badass Leaders Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@bebravebebadass?sub_confirmation=1 
• “A-Team” philosophy (Boardroom, Foxhole, Locker Room): https://www.angelagillnelms.com/building-your-a-team/ 
• Cathleen Quigley (transgender leader, Georgia Tech alum, Broadcom engineer, Emmy winner): https://youtu.be/A1FVVQ1hmi4?si=PzqizRuuwTajuwGk 
• Gia Ganesh (People & Culture leader, podcast guest, Florence alum): https://youtu.be/vh69c_f4Sv8?si=vf92g1YVKjC6KpDf 
• Biolocity (Angela’s current role, Georgia Tech & Emory program): https://biolocity.gatech.edu/
• Chief (networking group for female executives): https://chief.com/

About Angela:
Angela Gill Nelms is a trailblazer in the creation of exceptional companies and teams. She serves as the Director of Biolocity and is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of both The AGN Group and the Recovery Advocate Network. Previously, she held the position of Chief Operations Officer at Aetos Imaging, RenovoRx, and Florence Healthcare. With a Bachelor’s degree in Biomedical Engineering from Georgia Tech, Angela has a proven track record of successfully navigating the FDA, leading diverse teams, prioritizing the needs of customers and patients, and building exceptional companies.

Angela shares her lessons learned around the country in keynote speeches, coaching, and team-building workshops. Learn more about Angela at www.AngelaGillNelms.com.

About The AGN Group:
At The AGN Group, we believe every individual, team, and company can unlock their inner badass, one brave step at a time. We offer keynote and panel speaking, leadership and team-building workshops, fractional and management consulting, brand and storytelling services. Email us at hello@TheAGNGroup.com to connect. Learn more at www.TheAGNGroup.com.

Social Media Channels:

• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@bebravebebadass/podcasts
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• Audible: https://www.audible.com/podcast/Badass-Leaders-Podcast-Brave-Hearts-Brave-Conversations-Badass-Leaders/B0DS2CQL9V?source_code=ASSGB149080119000H&share_location=pdp
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• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/badass-leaders-podcast2

Want to be a Podcast Guest?

If you are interested in being a guest on the podcast, email brave@angelagillnelms.com.

Learn more about the podcast at www.BadassLeadersPodcast.com.

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