Charlene Wheeless is a renowned communications visionary, author, and speaker with more than three decades of experience in business, corporate affairs, and communications. She leads her namesake communications and business advisory firm, Charlene Wheeless LLC, and she is the senior advisor for equity and justice at APCO Worldwide, a global advisory and advocacy communications consultancy.
As a C-suite leader, Wheeless has lived the experience of being a Black female executive at several global organizations. The accumulation of her skills and experiences has positioned her as a cornerstone in ensuring anti-racist practices, inclusivity, and diversity in corporate environments. Wheeless combines her extensive knowledge of leadership and communications and her skill in managing adversity to help others learn to retain authenticity in business and in life.
Wheeless has presented at global business and industry events about societal issues, empowerment in corporate America, her “a-ha” career moment, the importance of being authentic, diversity beyond inclusion and much more. She has appeared in several broadcasts and publications including Chief Executive, Business Insider, Chief Learning Officer, CCO Podcast, and Thrive Global, among others.
Wheeless has been named by PR Week magazine as one of the 50 most influential PR professionals in the industry for five consecutive years. She was also named to the PR Hall of Femme, the PR Global Power Book and the 2017 Network Journal’s “25 Influential Black Women in Business.” In addition, she was named a Woman Worth Watching” by the nationally known Profiles in Diversity magazine and a “Women Who Mean Business” honoree by the Washington Business Journal.
After being sidelined by a three-year battle with cancer, Charlene wrote her debut book "You are Enough! Reclaiming your Career and Your Life with Purpose, Passion and Unapologetic Authenticity" which was published in May 2021. The book features practical strategies for overcoming adversity from her lecture “Lessons from Being Invisible.” She now focus her efforts on inspiring and motivating individuals to unleash their power, reclaim their career and life with purpose, passion and unapologetic authenticity. In short, she helps people tap into their superpower and THRIVE!
Wheeless graduated from New Mexico State University with a Bachelor of Arts in journalism and public relations. She earned a master’s degree in public communications at American University in Washington, D.C., and an MBA from Keller Graduate School of Management. She resides in Northern Virginia with her husband of 29 years, with whom she shares two adult daughters.
