We had the good fortune of connecting with Angel Henry and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Angel, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
“Okay, Angel- so what are you going to do to help them?” was the question from Dr. Avis Jones DeWeever my coach. She was lovingly guiding me into the realization that simply revealing the challenges of inequity of Corporate America was enough. It was the summer of 2021, and I was planning to launch my book, Dents in the Ceiling: Tools Women and Allies Need to Breakthrough and Dr. Avis was already asking me…”what’s next?” Well, I honestly didn’t have a clue and didn’t even consider it until that point!

After much deliberation and prayer, I realized that my spiritual gift of teaching can be used to help organizations foster and cultivate inclusion. I get the opportunity to share my lessons learned, research, and practical guidance to a community of people who want to do better about ensuring everyone that they work with feels a part of a common cause. The majority of individuals that I meet and work with are seeking to disrupt non-inclusive, even oppressive and discriminatory spaces but simply are overwhelmed with where to start and that is where AngelsSpeaking comes into play. I have leveraged my network of allies, diversity experts, coaches, and leadership trainers to offer support to anyone seeking to foster a workplace atmosphere that supports productivity, innovation, and creativity.

It’s my vision that every person from an under-represented population feels included at work!

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
I apply an Agile Mindset to everything! Agile for DEI? Yup- that’s my thang! I have been fortunate to enjoy a 20+ career in technology. During that time, I had a supervisor quite literally tap me on my shoulder to inform me that she signed me up to be trained as a “Scrum Master.” My immediate response was…”No, I don’t think that’s a good idea.” Well, I was wrong! Learning the Agile Framework was a pivot point in not only my career but my personal mindset as well!

Foundational principles such as creating a backlog of work, prioritizing that work, time-boxing the execution of work, and taking a moment to reflect on the work that was just completed can be applied to everyday life. In fact, that is what sparked my AngelsSpeaking YouTube channel that outlined how anyone can apply the principles that have traditionally been applied to IT work to losing weight, healthy eating, virtual home-schooling, etc. The shift from every day changes specifically to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) came after “Dents in the Ceiling” was released at the same time as when organizations were seeking to make culture change struggled.

Now, I am passionate about applying Agile concepts to the DEI space. Applying Agile principles enables organizations to realize change immediately, iterate on proposed improvements, and obtain feedback quickly. Altering an organization’s culture is not quick or easy by any stretch of the imagination BUT I truly believe that we do NOT have to wait years or even months to see effective change. AngelsSpeaking fuses lessons from its trainers and coaches, expertise in the Agile Mindset Framework, and proven Change Management strategies to see results- FAST!

All of this has come together rather quickly but no, it was not easy! The step-by-step process and dos and don’ts of building a brand can essentially be “googled.” Finding the time among nights and weekends plus family time and self-care to implement the brand creation is one level of challenge but the biggest barrier for me has been the mindset! Applying Agile to creating my brand took quite a great deal of time for me to unlearn bad habits and conquer some self-limiting beliefs. For example, I told myself for years that “I’m just not good at selling…” that was a fixed mindset. I had to retrain my brain to say no….”selling is a skill to be learned and practiced and not an innate ability that one has from birth.”

Breaking false ideologies has been the key to unlocking my innovative mind, allowed me to build a phenomenal group of allies doing this work, and receive wonderful feedback from the difference this makes in people’s lives.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I also tell my folks to come to Indy during the summer! My favorite event to take guests to is the Indiana Black Expo Summer Celebration from the Soul Food trucks, to the clothing and art vendors, it is an amazing cultural celebration downtown!

Everyone has always enjoyed the free concert on the lawn. We have attended the concerts for over 2 decades and have seen Stephanie Mills, New Edition, the SOS Band, and more!

We also organize large group outings to Conner Prairie for their outdoor Summer Orchestra. Everyone brings a bottle of wine, their favorite food, snacks, and dessert and hold a gourmet picnic on the lawn while listening to the Indianapolis Symphony play scores from our favorite movies- Star Wars Night is our absolute favorite- who wouldn’t love music under the stars while connecting with your best friends and family?

If friends miss the summer concerts and great music, no worries- come in the fall to Indianapolis for The Circle City Classic, in which 2 amazing Historical Black College or University (HBCU) football teams match up in an epic Battle of the Bands at half-time! As a member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. for over 20 years, I join in with the tail-gating events, take pictures, catch up with old friends who drive in from the surrounding states to watch the game, buy college memorabilia, and make memories!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My first Shoutout is to my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I am a Christian who is being molded and shaped every day; still completely “Under Construction” with good days and really tough ones- but no words and nothing I can do will ever repay Him for the gift of life and blessings that I have received. It is my sincere belief that God gave me the idea to start researching Black women’s experiences in Corporate America and certainly, He is the one that gave me the courage and confidence to write about it and proceed with the publishing process. Being an advocate for others whose voices are often unheard and images too often unseen is the core of who I am from being a Child Advocate for over a decade to now serving with some amazing men and women on the Board of Family Promise- all the selfless people from my grandparents who helped raise me and my uncle Larry, to childhood friends such as MaryAnn, Sonya, Tesha, Sorors from Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc.- Monica, Marica, Penny, Frankie, Leslie, and Kier, to those I’ve worked with-Pierre, Tonya, Linda, Kellie & Kelly, Mary, Cheramie, LaDonna, and my EMERGE Sistahs: Romona, Cynthia, Shondria, Wilhelmenia, Renee, Subrena, Keilei, and Decatur, to my loving Henry family who adopted me as another daughter and sister and to my husband, Dshawn and kids-Moriah, and DJ – you are have all been gifts from God and a special thanks to my #GirlTribe who continue to support me!!

Website: www.angel-henry.com

Instagram: _aspeaking

Linkedin: www.linkedIn.com/in/theagileenthusiast

Twitter: @_Aspeaking

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Aspeaking

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdeoY8hzEVylcCectmE28Kg

Image Credits
Faith Blackwell Penny (Christou) Robertson my hubby- Dshawn Henry

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