Charlene Wheeless

Charlene Wheeless is a multi-faceted powerhouse in the business world. With over 30 years of experience in leadership, communications, and operations, she has established herself as a sought-after keynote speaker, author, and leadership coach/advisor. At Charlene Wheeless LLC, she empowers executives and teams to inspire breakthrough performance and transform workplace culture. As a senior advisor for equity and justice at APCO Worldwide, she helps C-suite leaders and companies turn DE&I intentions into impact.

Before starting her firm, Wheeless served as the principal VP of Corporate Affairs at Bechtel Corporation, responsible for internal and external communications, reputation management, and sustainability. She provided executive counsel to business unit leaders and the C-suite, including the chairman, and was a board member of several organizations within the company.

Wheeless's experience at multinational companies like Raytheon, CGI, and DynCorp, where she handled global communications and issues management, has provided her with a unique perspective on nurturing and developing minority talent in the workplace. She is a prominent voice on equity and justice, appearing in Forbes, Business Insider, and Chief Executive magazine, among others. She is the immediate past chairman of the Page Society, the world's leading professional association for senior PR and communications executives.

In 2021, Wheeless was chosen as a member of Marshall Goldsmith's 100 Coaches community, a collection of top executive coaches and leadership thinkers. Also that year, her debut book, "You Are Enough! Reclaiming Your Career and Life with Purpose, Passion and Unapologetic Authenticity," was a bestseller and won two independent book awards for best non-fiction and inspirational books of 2021.

Wheeless is a certified leadership coach and a member of the National Speakers Association. She holds a BA in Journalism/PR, an MA in Public Communications, and an MBA with an emphasis in Marketing. She is dedicated to her community, serving on the boards of several organizations and previously serving as the chairman of the HCA Virginia-Reston Hospital.