How to Make Big Bold Moves: From Sierra Leone to the Air Force

What happens when a global PR strategist decides to fix F-16 fighter jets for a living? In this episode of The World's Mayor Experience, Joshua T. Berglan sits down with Angela Betancourt, a living contradiction to the status quo.

Angela is the founder of the Betancourt Group and serves as an Aerospace Propulsion Technician in the Air Force Reserve—a journey she began at age 38. From navigating the aftermath of the Ebola crisis in Sierra Leone to turning wrenches on the flight line, Angela breaks down why "age is a shadow prison" and how to execute "Big Bold Moves."

In this episode, we cover:

• The psychology of fixing corporate narratives vs. fixing jet engines.
• Why "Dream Jobs" are a myth and "Dream Journeys" are the reality.
• The ethics of PR: Greenwashing, Truth, and Microplastics.
• Overcoming the fear of pivoting your career in your late 30s and 40s.

Connect with Angela Betancourt:

• Website: betancourtgroup.com
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/angelabetancourt1/

Connect with Joshua T. Berglan:

• Website: joshuatberglan.com
• The Archives: https://www.joshuatberglan.com/the-mayors-archieve-Joshua-t-berglan

• 00:00 - Intro: Joshua T. Berglan on Media Sovereignty & Labels.
• 00:03 - Meet Angela: CEO, Mom, and F-16 Mechanic.
• 00:07 - The Comparison: Fixing PR Narratives vs. Fixing Jet Engines.
• 00:10 - Enlisting at 38: Being older than your Drill Sergeant.
• 00:19 - Sierra Leone: Life after the Ebola Crisis & The Energy Revolution.
• 00:31 - Rebuilding Trust: When the restaurant catches fire (literally).
• 00:41 - PR Ethics: Refusing to work for Oil Companies.
• 00:53 - What is the "Social Economy"?
• 01:07 - The Golden Rule of Communication: Truth & The People Impacted.
• 01:21 - Motivational Speech: Why it's never too late to pivot (The Sylvia Earle example).
• 01:33 - The Concept of the "Dream Journey."