From Kidnapping Survivor to Badass Leader | STRIPES & Dr. Crystal Simon
Download MP3Where 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/
Produced by: The AGN Group, Host: Angela Gill Nelms, Producer: Katie Hart
Tagline: Be Brave. Be Badass.
Websites: www.theagngroup.com and 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. www.TheAGNGroup.com.
Social Media Channels:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/badassleaderspodcast/
Twitter: https://x.com/BALeadersPod
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@baleaderspod
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@badassleaderspodcast.com
@AngelaGillNelms
trauma leadership, women in medtech, women leaders, resilience training, , grit and grace, trauma recovery leadership, overcoming imposter syndrome, medtech leadership, A-Team leadership model, executive coaching, conflict resolution tools, leadership mindset, healing trauma, layoff recovery, navigating career transitions
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/
Produced by: The AGN Group, Host: Angela Gill Nelms, Producer: Katie Hart
Tagline: Be Brave. Be Badass.
Websites: www.theagngroup.com and 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. www.TheAGNGroup.com.
Social Media Channels:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/badassleaderspodcast/
Twitter: https://x.com/BALeadersPod
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@baleaderspod
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@badassleaderspodcast.com
@AngelaGillNelms
trauma leadership, women in medtech, women leaders, resilience training, , grit and grace, trauma recovery leadership, overcoming imposter syndrome, medtech leadership, A-Team leadership model, executive coaching, conflict resolution tools, leadership mindset, healing trauma, layoff recovery, navigating career transitions
Creators and Guests
Host
Angela Gill Nelms
Angela Gill Nelms is a founder, board leader, podcaster, and award-winning entrepreneur with a career spanning SaaS, medical devices, biotech, and clinical research. She builds high-impact teams and organizations rooted in culture, resilience, and strategic execution—helping innovators move ideas from lab to market and leaders grow with intention. She hosts three podcasts that reflect her mission to elevate leadership and accelerate biomedical innovation: Badass Leaders Podcast, Holy Shift! Biomedical Breakthroughs Shaping Tomorrow, and Recovery Advocate Network: Coffee & Conversation. Across each show, Angela creates space for honest conversations that drive impact, reduce stigma, and shape the future of leadership and health. A Georgia Tech Academy of Distinguished Alumni honoree and INC 500 award recipient, Angela serves on multiple boards across innovation and mental health ecosystems. Outside of work, she’s beekeeping, blacksmithing, turning wood, or training—6× IRONMAN and lifelong advocate for humans being human.
Producer
Katie Hart
Katie Hart is the Senior Client Relations Manager and Executive Podcast Producer at The AGN Group, where she leads podcast production, brand strategy, and client experience from concept to launch. Equal parts creative and operational powerhouse, she guides clients through branding, recording, and distribution while ensuring every detail runs seamlessly. Known as a customer experience magician, Katie is passionate about making every client and guest feel seen, supported, and celebrated—delivering a five-star experience that amplifies bold stories and builds meaningful impact.
