Angela Bedell

The Art of the Pivot and the Power of the Pivot Table: A Conversation with Angela Bedell

With two decades of business ownership under her belt, Angela Bedell is the personification of “the long game.” From owning an aerobics studio in the ’90s to managing boards of directors today, Bedell has navigated the shift from side-hustle culture to high-stakes professional leadership. 

We sat down with Angela to discuss the “myth” of flexibility, the importance of “knowing your math,” and why integrity is the ultimate business strategy. 

You’ve been in business for 20 years. Take us back—where were you in life when you decided to take the leap?

I already had an LLC formed because I’d always done side hustles while working as an employee. The real shift happened when my daughter was starting kindergarten. I was an older mom, and I deeply valued my time with her. This was in the pre-COVID era before it was common to work from home, but I knew I could be productive at home without the “cubicle life” commute. That flexibility became my priority number one. 

Does that flexibility live up to the hype?

There’s a bit of a myth there. When you own a business, you’re at the mercy of your clients. People think they’ll only work when they want to, but in reality, there’s always a boss in life. 

 

How do you handle those inevitable moments of burnout or doubt?

There’s two things I do and it comes down to gratitude and service. Every single day, I force myself to write down three things I’m grateful for. If a client treats me unfairly or a board meeting gets intense—and I work with very successful, high-pressure professionals like attorneys and physicians—it’s easy to leave feeling hurt. When that happens, I try to do something kind for someone else. It reframes the world for you. 

If you could go back and talk to “90s Angela,” what would you say?

First, I’d tell her: Have confidence. Your strengths are real and valuable, even if others don’t understand them yet. 

Second: Sit down and do the math. When I owned my aerobics studio, I worked so hard—teaching at 6:00 AM, working a full-time job, then coming back to teach more classes. I eventually realized that the first 20 members paid the rent, the next 20 paid payroll, and everything after that was mine. I should have focused on those numbers from day one. 

In business, the math is really important. It’s common among women to think the math makes them less authentic or less kind. It doesn’t. Know where the money comes from and where it goes.

What is your “north star” when it comes to leadership?

Integrity. If you take shortcuts, you’ll be found out. More importantly, if you don’t feel good about what you’re doing, you won’t put your heart into it. There is a myth that you have to choose between doing the right thing and making a good business decision. You can do both; you just have to think a little harder. 

You’ve achieved so much—what drives your consistency?

Honestly? It’s knowing what I don’t want. My mom was a pregnant teen; we had nothing. I watched her scratch and claw her way into the middle class. I don’t want to be financially insecure or out of breath on a long day. High performance isn’t always about one “brilliant idea.” It’s the daily decisions—like getting on the treadmill when you don’t want to—that add up.

Angela Bedell is the founder of ABCommunities, a firm that helps associations and digital communities grow membership, elevate events, and improve financial outcomes.

Reprints of Boss Babes Magazine featuring Angela Bedell on the cover are available from our on-demand print vendor.