From Barriers to Belonging: Angela Harrell’s Mission for Inclusion

Buddy Teaster sits down with Angela Harrell, a leader who has spent her career at the intersection of business and impact, championing diversity, inclusion, and corporate responsibility at some of the world’s most influential organizations. 

As the Senior Vice President and Chief Diversity & Corporate Responsibility Officer at Voya Financial, Angela Harrell has built programs that drive meaningful change while ensuring business success. 

But her leadership extends far beyond the corporate world—Angela is also the board chair of Souls4Souls, where she helps create opportunities for people in need around the world. She shares how her personal experiences shaped her purpose, the challenges of leading in a rapidly changing world, and why inclusion is not just a corporate strategy—it’s a personal mission.

The Tailspin:

For Angela, the path to becoming a leader in inclusion and social impact wasn’t always straightforward. Growing up in Chattanooga, Tennessee, as part of a military family, she developed a deep awareness of belonging and identity early on. 

This understanding later fueled her passion for diversity, equity, and inclusion—but it also came with moments of frustration and hard-earned lessons. “Growing up in a place where I was very much part of a small minority helped me really understand the importance of people feeling like they belong and feel like they belong and feel like they're included and feel like they matter,” Angela explains.

Despite her natural drive and belief in people, Angela encountered moments in her career where her trust in others was tested. There were times when she put faith in the wrong people or when her contributions weren’t recognized the way she expected. 

“I think that all of us have disappointments, whether it is the manager who you think has your best interest at heart, and you find that perhaps they've gone in to present some work that you were very engaged in and you weren't in the room.” 

These moments could have led her to withdraw or become cynical, but instead, they fueled her determination to create spaces where everyone’s contributions are valued. Angela used them as motivation to shape environments where inclusion and equity are more than just corporate buzzwords—they're embedded in the culture.

The Work:

Angela’s approach to leadership is deeply rooted in action. Her ability to translate purpose into tangible impact has made her a force in both corporate and nonprofit spaces. 

At Voya Financial, she has championed inclusion not just as an internal initiative, but as a guiding principle for how the company operates. “People are at the heart of everything,” she  states. “It's about whether or not the individuals who call your company their own feel a sense of ownership and pride and inclusion so that they make decisions for the company with the company's best interest in mind as opposed to their own."

Her work extends far beyond boardrooms. Angela’s involvement with Soles4Souls began with a simple observation—boxes of donated shoes filling her office space. “How Soles4Souls came into my life was there were boxes everywhere.” 

What started as a routine corporate partnership soon became a deeply personal mission.

After experiencing a volunteer trip to Costa Rica, where she saw firsthand how something as simple as a pair of shoes could change a life, she became even more committed to service. “We get the ability…to be very up close to those whose lives we are helping to change. And we all left inspired and motivated to do more.” 

Her passion for fostering community and impact has made her not just a corporate leader, but a bridge between business and social good. She believes that leadership isn’t just about driving business results—it’s about ensuring those results serve a greater purpose.

The Tailwind:

Angela’s commitment to inclusion isn’t just professional—it’s personal. She carries a deep sense of responsibility to use her position to uplift others, ensuring that every person—regardless of background—has a seat at the table. “Inclusion,” she says, “is not about politics. It's about people. And it's about people being at the center of the way that you think about how you show up at school, at work, in your community.”

Even as diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts face resistance in today’s climate, Angela remains unwavering in her belief that true leadership means advocating for others. “Everyone should have a chance at a better opportunity and a better future. And it's actually the responsibility of every individual to look beyond themselves, beyond their family, and to determine what it is they can do.”

Beyond her work at Voya, Angela’s role as board chair of Souls4Souls has only deepened her commitment to service. She speaks passionately about how nonprofit work has enriched her own leadership journey and encourages others to get involved, not just for the impact they can create, but for the lessons they can learn. “If I were speaking to someone 20 years ago, speaking to myself, I'd say find a board where you can serve and make an impact and where your talents and skills will be valued. You'll actually develop more as an individual and as a professional while you are also serving.”

As she looks ahead, Angela is focused on continuing to uplift others—both within corporate leadership and in the communities she serves. When asked what she wants to remember about this moment in 20 years, her answer is simple yet profound: “I'm so loved and I feel that, and I love so hard, and I want to make sure that the people in my life know that.”

Angela Harrell’s journey from tailspin to tailwind is a testament to the power of resilience, purpose, and using one’s platform to uplift others. By embracing both challenges and opportunities with an open heart, she has built a career centered on inclusion, impact, and authentic leadership. 

Her story reminds us that true success isn’t just about personal achievements—it’s about ensuring that those around us have the opportunity to thrive as well.

To hear more about Angela’s inspiring journey, her work in corporate responsibility, and her thoughts on purpose-driven leadership, tune in to the full episode of re:Purpose with Buddy Teaster.

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