Charlene Wheeless

Charlene Wheeless is a best-selling author and renowned communications expert with over 30 years of experience in leadership, communications, and operations. 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, Wheeless helps C-suite leaders and companies achieve significant DE&I impacts.

Previously, Wheeless served as the Principal Vice President of Corporate Affairs at Bechtel Corporation, where she was 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. She has also held significant roles at multinational companies like Raytheon, CGI, and DynCorp, handling global communications and issues management, which provided her with a unique perspective on nurturing and developing minority talent in the workplace.

In 2021, Wheeless was chosen as a member of Marshall Goldsmith's 100 Coaches community, which includes top executive coaches and leadership thinkers. Her debut book, "You Are Enough! Reclaiming Your Career and Your Life with Purpose, Passion, and Unapologetic Authenticity," was a bestseller and has won two independent book awards for best non-fiction and inspirational books of 2021. Additionally, Wheeless has won two Telly awards and over 50 communications and leadership excellence awards. She is a certified leadership coach, a member of the National Speakers Association, and holds a BA in Journalism/PR, an MA in Public Communications, and an MBA with an emphasis in Marketing. She has served as the chairman of the HCA Virginia-Reston Hospital and continually dedicates herself to community service.