Community Confessions: Heather Angel on Building Community from Tragedy & the Art of Onboarding

In this episode, I sit down with Heather Angel to talk about how tragedy became her greatest teacher in understanding community. We get into the "build it and they will come" trap, why onboarding can make or break your community, and how to set boundaries without being available 24/7. Heather shares her unique approach to making members feel like they belong from day one, plus her thoughts on AI in community building. A raw, practical conversation about turning pain into purpose.Heather Angel (she/her) is a dynamic community architect and the founder of Online Community Creators (the OCC). Her journey into community was born from tragedy—a pivotal moment that became her greatest teacher in understanding what truly matters.Starting as a photographer, Heather evolved through systems strategy to find her true calling: helping entrepreneurs build thriving online communities. She's known for her unique approach that makes community building both fun and inspiring, backed by technical expertise, creative strategy, and genuine heart.With an eclectic personality she describes as "skulls meets Hello Kitty with a dash of the Cheshire Cat," Heather brings her free-spirited, adventurous nature to everything she does. When she's not building communities, you'll find her soaking up sun on a beach or camping in the mountains.Heather is sharing her complete ⁠onboarding playbook⁠with listeners, including tips, tricks, and checklists. Head to her website to grab your copy!Connect with Heather:Website:⁠ heatherlynnangel.com⁠Community:⁠ the Online Community Creators (OCC)⁠LinkedIn:⁠ linkedin.com/in/heatherlynnangel⁠Instagram:⁠ @heatherlynnangel⁠Sense & ForumCommunity:⁠ senseandforum.com/join⁠LinkedIn:⁠ linkedin.com/in/serena-gasparini⁠Instagram:⁠ @senseandforum⁠