Today’s leadership is constantly evolving and Charlene Wheeless has proven herself to be a multifaceted powerhouse in business, inspiring transformation across industries. Charlene stands as a powerful voice for intentional living and authentic leadership. Her message is clear and compelling: “It’s choice, not chance, that changes everything.” This isn’t just a catchphrase – it’s a philosophy forged through personal triumph over extraordinary challenges and three decades of breaking barriers in corporate America.

The Journey from Invisible to Invincible

Born into challenging circumstances in Oakland, California, Wheeless’s transformation began at age ten while watching the Oakland Raiderettes perform. Starstruck by their confidence and ability to “be seen,” that moment sparked a crucial question: “What if I were meant to be special, too?” This early lesson in choosing visibility over invisibility would shape her entire approach to life and leadership.

Charlene has become a sought-after keynote speaker and leadership coach in the business world. She stands out not just for her accomplishments but also for her unwavering commitment to overcoming adversity. From an early age, Charlene was driven, entering college at just 17, earning two master’s degrees, and thriving as a Black woman in corporate America, where the challenges she faced only made her more formidable. She has held prominent leadership positions, including Principal Vice President at a $40B multinational company, where she guided teams to break through barriers and achieve peak performance. Her journey is one of personal and professional triumph that continues to inspire executives and professionals across the globe.   Her story is one of a trailblazer, a woman who has consistently broken barriers.

The Art of Empowering Organizations

Charlene’s career has been defined by her extensive experience working with some of the most prominent names in the corporate world, including IBM, where she developed a keen understanding of the intricacies of workplace systems. Having spoken at major events for Google and Cisco Systems and coached employees from these industry giants, she has gained unique insights into the trade-offs between working for large corporations and smaller enterprises.

Charlene reflects on the security and solid foundation that working in Communications at large organizations provides, especially early in one’s career. “You’re exposed to things at a much higher level earlier in your career,” she notes. While the space for independence might be limited, witnessing large-scale operations offers invaluable experience. Her tenure at companies like DynCorp, Raytheon, and Bechtel underscored the critical importance of intentional leadership in large corporations. “The larger the corporation, the stronger the leadership needs to be for employees to stay engaged and excel,” she emphasizes.

This realization has fueled the second phase of Charlene’s career, which is dedicated to fostering empowerment, motivation, inspiration, and self-leadership. Recognizing that companies can only thrive with influential leaders, she has shifted her focus from communications to helping organizations strengthen and adapt to the leadership competencies needed to succeed in business today. Charlene achieves this through her company, Charlene Wheeless LLC, which specializes in Executive Coaching and Leadership Development.

As part of this mission, Charlene is also a founding partner at CommsCollectiv, a fractional leadership company providing senior communications leaders on a temporary basis. CommsCollectiv offers companies the expertise of experienced communications leaders for short-term engagements, unlike recruitment or placement firms. This approach allows businesses to access the leadership talent they need without long-term commitments, enabling them to navigate challenges and achieve success with agility.  According to Charlene, CommsCollective has a talent roster of more than 200 professionals.

Soaring to Success—A Blueprint for Transformation

One key area Charlene identifies for company improvement is their ability to truly empower their employees to perform at their highest potential and drive business growth. She champions the message, “It’s Choice, Not Chance that changes your life,” along with her signature, in every keynote and leadership development program she delivers.

Too often, individuals allow life to happen to them rather than taking control and intentionally shaping the lives they want. She has developed the S.O.A.R. Empowerment Model, a framework designed to inspire and teach individuals to step into their power and lead themselves with purpose.

S—Self-Empowerment and Self-Leadership: At Charlene Wheeless LLC, Charlene emphasizes the importance of recognizing that true power comes from within. By silencing the inner critic and embracing self-belief, individuals can stop waiting for permission or rescue. “The cavalry is already here, and it’s you,” she asserts. Self-empowerment is about quieting doubts and stepping forward with confidence.

O—Opportunity over Obstacles: At Charlene Wheeless LLC, Charlene teaches that growth is found in the gap between where you are and where you want to be. She encourages individuals to shift their perspectives, transform challenges into stepping stones, and seek opportunities, even amid adversity. Rather than waiting for ideal circumstances, she advocates for creating those opportunities. “Focus on what you can control and let the rest go,” she advises, promoting a proactive personal and professional growth approach.

A—Authenticity and Agency: Authenticity is at the core of Charlene’s philosophy. She believes that by choosing to be real rather than comfortable, you inspire others to do the same, and in time it becomes more accessible for everyone. “Your power lies in your differences,” she explains, highlighting that embracing one’s true self unlocks a deeper sense of agency. By being authentic, people gain personal power and become role models for others to embrace their uniqueness.  Additionally, she believes that people exert extensive energy trying to fit in.  “Imagine the power of just being yourself and putting that energy into being successful and providing value to you and your organization,” she says.  “It’s time for people to stop chasing the wrong things and start choosing the right ones for them.”

R—Reframe and Reclaim: Charlene Wheeless LLC’s model encourages individuals to reframe the limitations holding them back and reclaim ownership of their voice and space. “Silence is the enemy of success,” she states. Individuals can start a movement by reclaiming their voice and their love for themselves.  They can be like the pebble dropped in a pond that starts a ripple, ultimately leading to waves of progress in their lives and organizations.

Through her S.O.A.R. model, Charlene offers a path to empowerment that benefits individuals and has a broader impact on companies. When employees are empowered to take control of their growth and act authentically, they become stronger contributors to the organization’s success.

Universal Message of Intentional Leadership and Self-Empowerment

Charlene’s core message, which she finds most impactful when addressing audiences, is empowerment. Her belief that “it’s choice, not chance, that changes everything” resonates deeply with listeners, regardless of their background or circumstances. This message of empowerment, built on the premise of taking control and making intentional choices, transcends industries, cultures, and personal experiences.

What makes Charlene’s message so powerful is its universal appeal. “These messages resonate with everyone,” she explains. There is no need to tailor her empowerment principles for diverse groups—whether she’s speaking to corporate executives, emerging leaders, or young professionals. The themes of self-leadership, authenticity, and seizing opportunities are concepts that people intuitively understand and connect with.

Charlene’s approach reflects her confidence in individuals’ ability to relate to the idea that they hold the keys to their own success. By emphasizing the importance of choice over chance, she empowers audiences to take control of their lives, careers, and futures, regardless of the challenges they face.

Leading with Courage, Empathy, and Self-Advocacy

The central theme of Charlene’s TEDx talk is refreshingly direct: “It’s choice, not chance, that changes everything.” She urges her audience to recognize the finite nature of time and to take action before chance dictates their path. This message resonates with urgency, pushing individuals to reclaim agency over their lives and careers.

Throughout her talk, Charlene delivers a series of powerful lessons, all drawn from her own life experience and encapsulated in her Amazon best-selling book, You Are Enough:

• Move through the fear: Fear is inevitable, but Charlene stresses the importance of not letting it paralyze you. Taking action despite fear is crucial for personal and professional growth.
• Practice 7 seconds of courage, then act: Charlene advocates for quick, decisive action, urging her audience to leap, even if just for a few moments of bravery. This approach acknowledges the first six seconds of fear while leveraging the critical seventh second for transformative action. It’s a practical tool that has helped countless individuals move from paralysis to power.
• Advocate for yourself: She emphasizes the necessity of advocating for one’s own needs and ambitions, whether in the workplace or in life.
• Lead with empathy, compassion, and humanity. Charlene believes that leadership isn’t just about strategy but also about heart. The best leaders are those who genuinely care for the people they lead.
• Quit whining—if you don’t like your circumstances, change them: She delivers this no-nonsense advice with the conviction that individuals have more power to shape their lives than they often realize.
• Ask for what you want: Charlene highlights that opportunities often come to those who dare to simply ask for them.
• Self-care is not selfish. Using the metaphor of a dead battery, Charlene reminds her audience that they cannot help others unless they first take care of themselves.

Rooted in her journey, these lessons offer a roadmap for those looking to lead empowered, intentional lives. Through her TEDx talk and book, Charlene inspires others to take control of their future and turn choice into transformative action.

Her Candid Memoir

For Charlene, the resilience she built during her career became crucial when she faced the battle of her life at 53: breast cancer. Her faith, which had always been a source of strength, took on even deeper meaning as she navigated her diagnosis, treatment, and recovery. Looking back, she believes that God had been preparing her all along, even though she never anticipated the fight she would have to face. As she writes, “Here we are.”

Her book serves as both a guide and an inspiration, offering hard-earned wisdom on navigating personal crises, professional obstacles, and the intersection of both. Through it all, Charlene’s faith remains at the core, underscoring every page with the belief that even in the toughest of times, there is a divine purpose.

Charlene’s message is both deeply personal and broadly impactful. She writes candidly about the inequities that women of color face in the workplace, where terms like “meritocracy,” “diversity,” and “inclusion” often ring hollow. Reflecting on words from Reverend Jesse Jackson— “Without transparency, there can be no equality”—she explores how the lack of genuine inclusion and accountability can hinder actual progress. This sentiment, shared with Charlene years ago, remains a guiding principle in her book and career.

In her book, Charlene doesn’t shy away from discussing the hidden and blatant biases women of color encounter in professional settings. She exposes the emotional and physical toll these inequities take while offering lessons from her career and life that can help others overcome barriers and emerge stronger. These stories are intended to illuminate the obstacles and empower readers to persevere and leaders to behave better.

Unapologetic Authenticity

Charlene is a powerful advocate for embracing unapologetic authenticity, especially for ambitious women and men navigating their professional and personal lives. Her mantra is simple yet profound: Be yourself. She encourages people to bring their best selves to everything they do, believing that success doesn’t come from conforming but from embracing one’s uniqueness. “Don’t think you have to be like everyone else to succeed—your superpower is being your authentic self,” she says.

Charlene’s message is clear: If everyone simply falls in line, nothing changes. Real progress—whether in business or life—requires individuals to stand out and challenge the status quo.

Charlene’s approach is bold. If people don’t like the authentic version of you, her advice is straightforward: Find new people. This unapologetic stance on self-empowerment is designed to inspire individuals to stop seeking external validation and instead focus on creating the life they want, powered by authenticity.

Impact Over Accolades

Charlene has received many accolades throughout her career. However, the true significance of these awards lies not in the accolades themselves but in the recognition from others who thought enough of her to nominate her. “That shows I’ve truly made an impact,” she reflects. While the awards are a testament to her hard work and accomplishments, Charlene finds the deeper value in knowing that her efforts have resonated with others meaningfully.

“Don’t get me wrong—the awards are great to receive, and I hope they show others that they can achieve their dreams, too,” she adds. But for her, the real reward is the acknowledgment from those she has inspired and supported along her journey. And on a more personal level, Charlene admits, “Let’s be honest—it feels amazing to make your kids proud.” That sense of fulfillment, both as a professional and a parent, makes the recognition all the more special.

Transformative Way to Coaching and Positive Psychology

Charlene’s coaching practice is deeply rooted in positive psychology, and she avoids punitive methods. Her focus is on helping clients unlock their full potential and become the best versions of themselves. “It’s not about forcing someone to fit into a homogenous corporate culture,” she says. It’s about helping them achieve peak performance in every area of life.”

Charlene draws on her own experiences in her coaching, but she emphasizes that the process is never about her—it’s entirely about the client. “I hold up a mirror so they can see what I see in them,” she explains. She refers to this as “borrowing belief,” a powerful concept she uses when clients struggle with self-confidence. “When my clients don’t believe in themselves, I tell them to borrow my belief in them until they can believe in themselves.”

This approach has become the foundation of her practice, creating a transformative experience for those seeking not just professional success but holistic growth in all aspects of life.

Purpose Over Scale

Charlene Wheeless, LLC is driven by three core pillars: keynote speaking, coaching and trusted advising, and leadership development. Charlene’s vision for her business is firmly rooted in purpose rather than scale. “Through these pillars, I’m living out my purpose—to have a positive and lasting impact on the world,” she explains.

Unlike many entrepreneurs who focus on rapid growth and large teams, Charlene’s goal is not to build a $200 million company. Instead, she prioritizes a hands-on, personalized approach. “When clients hire me, they get me every time,” she emphasizes. For her, success is measured by the impact and purpose she brings to each client, ensuring that her work creates meaningful change rather than simply chasing growth.

Wisdom on Cultivating Genuine Leadership

Charlene’s advice to individuals aspiring to become effective leaders and communicators is straightforward and impactful. “First, retain me to guide you,” she says, almost jokingly, underscoring the importance of partnering with a seasoned expert. “Second, if not me, get a good coach and leadership development professional as a partner—someone who focuses on behavior change rather than one-off workshops—and do the work. You’ll be richly rewarded in ways you can’t imagine.”

Charlene highlights that by the time individuals reach leadership positions, their technical skills are typically well-developed. The real challenge often lies in cultivating soft skills. “Honor and develop those,” she advises. She emphasizes that leadership is not just about managing processes or companies; it’s about influencing people. “People don’t follow companies or processes—they follow people. A leader without followers is just a person out for a walk.” Her message underscores the importance of genuine personal growth and connecting with others as the true markers of effective leadership.

In her final comments, whether it be a keynote, a workshop, or sometimes a simple conversation, she is always sure to remind people to remember that they are enough and to stop chasing and start choosing because it really is choice, not chance, that will change your life.

To Know more About Charlene’s inspirational work Visit:

https://charlenewheeless.com/

https://charlenewheeless.com/bookshop