Communications and Corporate Affairs

Charlene is an inspirational keynote speaker for Corporate Communications, Public Relations and Corporate Affairs professionals.

Charlene Wheeless is a seasoned C-suite executive turned sought-after keynote speaker, executive coach, and leadership strategist who helps leaders turn visibility into impact—and adversity into advantage. With more than 30 years in corporate leadership across some of the world’s most complex industries, Charlene brings deep expertise in executive management, crisis communications, business transformation, and organizational leadership.

She has served as a principal communications executive at multiple Fortune 500 companies and global organizations, including Bechtel, Raytheon, and DynCorp, leading teams through restructuring, acquisitions, crisis, and change. Her work has shaped reputations, rebuilt trust in the face of industry controversy, and helped CEOs lead during high-stakes moments where both business results and employee belief were on the line. She is a past chairman of the Page Society and currently serves on its board in addition to board positions in other communications organizations.

Unapologetically authentic and grounded in lived experience, Charlene’s story is one of resilience, reinvention, and radical truth-telling. Her message isn’t about perfection.

It’s about presence, power, and the daily practice of choosing yourself—again and again—so you can lead with clarity, confidence, and conviction.

Communications and Corporate Affairs professionals bring Charlene to their events when they need more than messaging—they need meaning, inspiration and hard-won wisdom from someone who has been in the trenches with them and continues to be a recognized leader in the profession.

Testimonials

"Charlene’s message was a masterclass in authenticity. She challenged our team to rethink how we show up—not just in messaging, but in presence. Her insights on performance vs. truth-telling were game-changing for our leadership narrative."

— Chief Communications Officer, Fortune 100 Company

"Charlene helped our corporate affairs team move from reactive storytelling to intentional impact. Her session was the most talked-about moment of our summit, and her CAP framework is now part of our internal language."

— Director of Corporate Affairs, Global Tech Firm