Resilience is Wonderful…Confidence is Key with Dr. Angela Pearson
Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn:
In this episode of An Unconventional Life, Dr. Angela Pearson and Dr. Russell Strickland swap war stories about their doctoral journeys. Like working full-time, being part-time military, and raising four kids…while earning a doctoral degree! And that time when Dr. Pearson changed her dissertation topic — twice! And that time when one of Dr. Strickland’s candidacy exam professors posted elaborate rules about how faculty members can win an oral exam…by laying the student out flat on the floor!
The anecdotes keep flying throughout this laugh-to-keep-from-crying episode.
IOD Feature: An Interview With Angela Pearson
HR in the Car - Episode 7: "Two Words: Psychological Safety"
Inspiration comes in many shapes and sizes, and when you get the opportunity to learn how much Dr. Angela Pearson has accomplished in her career, you’re going to be blown away. She shares some poignant stories that tug at your heart and might even light a fire in you to explore her topics even further. Some as they relate to how important DEI is to the community and workplace, and some just from life stories. Jump in the car and listen in on another great episode of HR in the Car.
2024 Joe O'Conner- Veterans to Success Podcast
In this episode of Veterans to Success, host Joe interviews Dr. Angela Pearson, whose journey reflects resilience, determination, and empathy. Angela shares her experiences of growing up in a challenging environment, becoming a single parent, serving in the U.S. Navy, and navigating hardships such as a tumultuous marriage and the loss of her mother. She reflects on her transition from military to civilian life, with a career spanning human resources, safety management, and her current focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion. Emphasizing the power of resilience, support networks, mentorship, and empathy, Angela highlights how setbacks can serve as “First Attempts in Learning,” and how supporting others is key to both personal and professional growth.
2025 Hacking HR's Talent Strategy and Acquisition Summit
I had the honor of joining Hacking HR’s Talent Strategy and Acquisition Summit as a panelist on Connecting DEI to Business and Hiring Outcomes. Our conversation explored how equity and belonging are not only values but strategic business drivers that shape hiring outcomes, strengthen organizational culture, and fuel innovation. Key takeaways, Embedding DEI into hiring practices creates stronger, more resilient teams. Belonging drives retention, engagement, and measurable business impact. Equity ensures that talent systems are fair, inclusive, and future focused.
2025 Hacking HR's The Employee Experience and Business Performance Summit
At Hacking HR's 2025 Employee Experience and Business Performance Summit, I had the opportunity to serve as a featured panelist for Designing Culture Through Consistent Daily Touchpoints. During our discussion, I shared my perspective on how culture is shaped through the everyday experiences employees have with leaders, colleagues, and organizational systems. I emphasized that creating a culture of belonging is not the result of a single initiative, but of intentional, consistent actions that build trust, strengthen engagement, and improve organizational performance over time.
2025 Hacking HR's Talent Mangement and Workforce Strategy Summit
This Hacking HR global summit panel features Dr P alongside leading experts who explore how people analytics elevates workforce planning from a reactive HR function to a strategic business capability. The conversation highlights how data reveals hidden patterns in retention, skills, and organizational structure, while still honoring the human stories behind the numbers. Panelists emphasize that when HR integrates analytics with finance, strategy, and real time employee insights, organizations make smarter decisions, anticipate talent needs, and build environments where people can thrive.
2026 Hacking HR's: HR Tech, AI and Digital Transformation Summit
Session: Change and Enablement Design: Supporting Behavior Change Through Digital Initiatives (starts at 50:09 timestamp)
During the Change and Enablement Design panel, Dr. P shared that sustainable adoption requires intentional design that centers people, trust, and clarity. Panelist emphasized moving beyond one-time training toward continuous enablement that supports real behavior change. The key insight is that transformation succeeds when employees feel ownership, safety, and relevance in their day-to-day work. Ultimately, digital transformation is a culture shift that must be designed for long-term sustainability.
In episode 230 of the ROI of DEI podcast, host Vikram Shetty interviews Dr. Angela D. Pearson, founder and CEO of OD Synergistics Consulting LLC (June 5, 2026)
During the discussion, I shared why organizational culture must be treated as a business strategy rather than a human resources initiative. I emphasized that psychological safety and belonging are measurable drivers of innovation, engagement, retention, and business performance. Drawing on my military leadership experience and expertise in organizational psychology, I discussed how leaders can use people analytics to identify meaningful trends, make informed decisions, and create workplace cultures where both people and organizations thrive.
