INTERVIEW
Angela giving her introduction
deconstructs these hurdles. How do they move from a public commitment to a daily reality? I caught up with Angela to explore how SRAM is engineering a culture where belonging is a default, not an afterthought.
Let’s start with your background and your journey to becoming a Senior HR Executive at SRAM. I’ve spent more than 25 years working in Human Resources, and throughout my career, my focus has always been on helping people succeed. I’m passionate about making sure individuals have the tools, support, and opportunities they need to grow and feel empowered in their careers. Along the way, I’ve had the chance to work across several industries— including retail, banking, and manufacturing—which has given me a broad perspective on people, leadership, and organisational culture. One of the things I really appreciate about the cycling industry is that it tends to be welcoming and diverse. There are opportunities for people of all shapes, sizes, and abilities to participate and feel part of the community. However, my commitment to this work was shaped by an experience I had back in college. A close friend I met freshman year, and I spent a lot of time together, and I often spoke with her mom on the phone when she called the dorm. During a holiday break, I went to pick up my friend from her house. When her mom answered the door, I greeted her and introduced myself as the person she had spoken with many times on the phone. She looked at me and said, “I didn’t know you were Black,” and closed the door in my face.
It was a painful moment, but also a defining one. It
reinforced for me that the world isn’t always a level playing field. That experience stayed with me and helped shape
32 | April 2026
Talking about challenges in the workplace
my passion for creating environments where people feel respected, supported, and able to thrive. That perspective continues to guide how I approach my work and leadership at SRAM today.
How would you describe your core mission within the company, and what was the cultural landscape like when you first stepped into the role? At SRAM, we have a basic, core and fundamental belief: “We believe in the Power of Bicycles and expanding the Potential of Cycling. We create products and experiences that inspire cyclists.” And when we say we want to inspire cyclists, we mean all cyclists! Part of my mission is to help ensure that belief shows up not only in the products we create, but also in the environment we build for our people and our communities—by supporting strategies that attract, engage, and retain diverse talent and expand opportunities for women, people of colour, and people with different abilities. When I first stepped into my role, the cultural landscape, both inside companies and across the country, was heavily influenced by the aftermath of COVID and the societal unrest following the deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Ahmaud Arbery. Many people were hurting and asking important questions about equity, belonging, and whether their voices were truly being heard. At SRAM, leadership recognised that staying silent wasn’t the right response. The company made a public commitment and began a journey focused on listening, learning, and taking action. I am proud that work continues today. We’ve made progress, but we also recognise this is ongoing work and an area where we always want to keep improving. It is definitely more of a journey than a destination. For us, diversity and
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