Welcome Edie!

Thank you for taking the time to visit this page. I’m delighted you’re here and it’s a pleasure to have the opportunity to tell you more about me and share how I can contribute to your upcoming conference and future events.

About Me

With a passion for business, leadership, coaching, and women’s empowerment, I have dedicated my career to inspiring and empowering individuals and organizations to achieve their highest potential. After a 30-plus-year career in Corporate America, I changed directions and began to share what I’ve learned to help others grow and hopefully have a much easier path to leadership than I did.

Through my keynote speeches and workshops, I empower women leaders to break through barriers and lead with confidence and authenticity. Through my SOAR empowerment model, women gain practical tools to navigate corporate and business landscapes, assert their authority, and foster inclusive growth. This transformation leads to a new generation of empowered female leaders who drive innovation and create more equitable workplaces.

BRIEF BIO

Charlene Wheeless is an internationally acclaimed speaker and beacon of empowerment, dedicated to helping ambitious leaders and go-getter women embrace their authenticity and unlock their true potential. With a career spanning over 30 years in leadership, communications, and crisis management, and as the author of the inspiring memoir “You Are Enough!” and the TEDx talk “Choice, Not Chance,” Charlene’s unique blend of experience, resilience, and dynamic presence sets her apart in the speaking world.

Charlene’s experience spans working with global corporations like DynCorp, Raytheon, AMS/CGI, and Bechtel. Her insights have been featured in Forbes, Business Insider, and on ABC and Fox News. A member of Marshall Goldsmith's 100 Coaches and holding certifications from Georgetown University and the International Coach Federation, she is recognized as a leader in her field. Charlene's impact is further evidenced by her accolades, including being named a “Woman Worth Watching” and one of the “25 Influential Black Women in Business.” Her best-selling book, "You Are Enough!," encapsulates her journey and serves as a testament to her role as a transformative figure in leadership and organizational and personal growth. Further, her background as an NFL cheerleader laid the foundation for her commanding stage presence, captivating audiences worldwide.

download formal bio

Trusted by Notable Firms and Media…

Why Charlene?

Authenticity and Resilience
Personal Journey: Charlene’s personal story of overcoming significant challenges, including an abusive childhood, battling cancer, and climbing the corporate ladder, resonates deeply with audiences. Her authenticity and resilience inspire leaders to confront their own challenges head-on.
Genuine Transformation: She emphasizes the power of intentional choices over chance, advocating for self-empowerment and authentic leadership.
Proven Leadership Expertise:
Corporate Leadership: With over three decades of experience in senior leadership roles at global industry leaders like IBM, Google, and Raytheon, Charlene brings a wealth of practical knowledge and insights.
Crisis Management: Her expertise in crisis and reputation management, having guided companies through mergers, acquisitions, and rebranding efforts, provides a unique perspective on navigating turbulent times.
Innovative Empowerment Framework:
SOAR Model: Charlene’s SOAR empowerment model (Self-Empowerment, Opportunity over Obstacles, Authenticity and Agency, Reframe and Reclaim) offers a structured, actionable approach to personal and professional growth.
Practical Application: The model is designed to help leaders transform obstacles into opportunities, fostering resilience, creativity, and innovation.
Dynamic and Inspirational Speaker:
Engaging Storytelling: Charlene’s engaging storytelling and dynamic presence captivate audiences, making complex concepts relatable and actionable.
Transformative Keynotes: Her keynotes, such as “Success Happens by Choice, Not Chance” and “Choice, Not Chance,” provide practical steps for breaking down fear, overcoming biases, and making bold life choices.
Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion:
DEI Leadership: As the immediate past chair of the Diversity Action Alliance and a senior advisor for equity and justice, Charlene is at the forefront of driving meaningful change in diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Empowering Women Leaders: She is particularly passionate about empowering women in mid-to-senior level roles, helping them navigate corporate landscapes with confidence and authenticity.
Inspiring Literary Contribution:
You Are Enough!: Charlene’s book combines personal memoir and motivational guide, providing readers with a clear roadmap for thriving in career and life. It illustrates life lessons through personal recollections and addresses the unique challenges faced by Black women, emphasizing that everyone, regardless of race, ethnicity, or gender, can overcome obstacles and achieve their potential.
Courage and Honesty: The book showcases Charlene’s wit, raw honesty, blazing courage, and solution-driven sensibility, reminding readers that they are enough and can achieve their goals through intentional choices and relentless determination.
Sharing Lessons Learned:
Actionable Insights: Charlene shares practical, actionable lessons learned from her extensive career and personal journey, providing audiences with valuable tools and strategies they can implement immediately.

Charlene embodies everything we strive for in today’s increasingly complex communications world: a boldly authentic character with a fearless drive for success. The conference was about more than just making connections; it was also a chance to inspire personal development. Charlene’s session touched the hearts of so many who saw themselves in her stories. Moved by her intrepid spirit, many were inspired to stand and share stories of their own journeys to be their authentic selves. It was magical and uplifting to watch. — Maria Poveromo, CCO, Cisco

What a treat it was to have Charlene here with us this week. I am so appreciative that she took so much time to get to know our team ahead of the conversation, which was rich and engaging. Her work is just another proof point of pure Charlene power and goodness. Charlene is an INVESTMENT in our future.
—Core duBrowa, CCO (former) Google
In looking for ways to inspire and empower the outstanding female leaders on my team, I immediately thought of Charlene Wheeless. In my experience with Charlene, I've found her to be bold, intelligent, completely incapable of pedaling fluff. That's exactly what I wanted for my team and she delivered! They were blown away by her experience and insights. My team's feedback was about her keen ability to cut through the clutter and just get to the truth that mattered to them. I've clearly seen their confidence in themselves, their ideas and their value to our organization increase at a different level since their time with Charlene
--Brett Jewkes I Executive Vice President / Chief Brand and Communications Officer
AMB Sports + Entertainment / Blank Family of Businesses
--Maria Poveromo, SVP & CCO, Cisco