From Chaos to Catalyst: Angie Flynn-McIver and Gillian Bellinger on The Asheville Business Summit

What happens when theater directors and improv masters turn their attention to business leadership? Something magical, it turns out. Meet Gillian Bellinger and Angie Flynn-McIver, two creative professionals whose unlikely partnership is revolutionizing how we think about leadership in uncertain times.

Despite having remarkably parallel careers—Gillian with twenty years as an improviser and corporate facilitator, Angie as a theater director who co-founded NC Stage Company before transitioning to leadership coaching—they only met three months before this conversation. Connected by mutual friends who recognized their complementary talents, they quickly formed Verge Leadership Lab, bringing arts-based approaches to business challenges.

Their upcoming keynote "From Chaos to Catalyst" at the Asheville Business Summit promises something different from typical business presentations. Rather than talking at attendees, they're creating an interactive experience focused on practical tools for navigating disruption. The session will feature Alex Matisse, CEO of the internationally acclaimed East Fork Pottery, who will demonstrate how creative principles have tangibly benefited his organization.

What makes their approach so powerful? As Gillian explains, improvisers constantly process incoming information and pivot immediately based on changing conditions—precisely the skill modern executives need. Angie notes that theater professionals inherently understand uncertainty, as the arts operate in a perpetual state of adaptation. This "baked-in" comfort with ambiguity enables creative professionals to approach business challenges with innovative mindsets that conventional business training often lacks.

Their insights into resilience, rejection, and continuous learning apply universally to entrepreneurs in any field. Whether you're managing a pottery company, running a theater, or building a tech startup, the skills that enable artists to thrive—adaptability, creative problem-solving, and authentic communication—are increasingly essential in our volatile business environment.

Don't miss this opportunity to gain actionable strategies from two masters of creative leadership. Register for the Asheville Business Summit at wncsummit.com and transform how you navigate uncertainty in your business and life.

Guest Bios

Gillian Bellinger

As a corporate trainer and owner of Misfit Improv, Gillian crafts experiential programs that help business leaders and creatives alike flex their “adaptability muscle.” Her facilitation résumé spans 20 years across a variety of industries. Clients include: PwC, Lockheed Martin, Kaiser Permanente, Nissan, and Fidelity. Audiences value her knack for turning discomfort into discovery: yes-and becomes strategic insight. Gillian looks to empower people to choose change on purpose. bellingercoaching.weebly.com

Angie Flynn-McIver

Angie Flynn-McIver founded Ignite CSP on a radical premise: intentional communication is a fundamental pillar of leadership. Dubbed a “detective of human behavior,” Angie blends performance savvy from her theatre ro

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All the best!

Bill