“Embracing Inclusive Leadership” with Charlene Wheeless | Ep. 106
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About this Episode:
In this episode of the Transformative Leader Podcast, I’m happy to bring you a conversation with speaker, author, and communication expert, Charlene Wheeless, about how leaders can tap into their capacity for self-awareness and authentic communication to create more inclusive workplace cultures. Charlene is a renowned communications expert, author and speaker with more than three decades of experience in corporate communications, and the CEO of Charlene Wheeless LLC, which helps senior leaders improve organizational performance through strategic, thoughtful, communications to its stakeholders—internal and external.
After serving 15 years in C-suite positions, Charlene’s life took an unexpected turn when she was diagnosed with breast cancer. Today, she combines her extensive knowledge of leadership and communications with her skill managing adversity to help others learn to retain authenticity, in life and in business and find strength in vulnerability. With her newly founded company, Charlene works with companies and brands to improve their communications competency and programs. Experience areas include issues management, crisis communications, reputation management, employee communications/engagement, mergers & acquisition communications, brand and data analytics as as enabler to communications intelligence.
This episode was a little more free flowing than usual, but it was a great conversation with a great guest, and on a very timely subject at that! It was great getting Charlene’s insight on diversity, inclusion and how they relate to current events, and I look forward to having her back on the show in the future, so, be sure not to miss this one!
Some topics discussed in this episode include:
How Charlene’s experience as a black, female executive, and a cancer survivor, have shaped her approach to leadership, inclusion, and communication.
Why being an inclusive leader means getting comfortable with being uncomfortable.
The essential role that leaders play in setting the tone of the entire culture, and why they cannot shy away from this responsibility in uncertain times.
Communication tips for discussing sensitive topics in a productive way.
And much, much more…
Charlene Wheeless is a black woman, mother, renowned communications expert, author, and speaker with more than three decades of experience in corporate communications. After serving 15 years in C-suite positions, Charlene revamped a 120-year old company and has developed compelling communication strategies. Charlene was named by PR Week magazine one of the 50 most influential PR professionals in the industry for three consecutive years. She was also named to the PR Hall of Femme, the PR Global Power Book, and the 2017 National Journal “25 Influential Black Women in Business.” Earlier, 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. Charlene graduated from New Mexico State University with a bachelor of arts degree in journalism and public relations. She earned a master’s degree in public communications at American University in Washington, D.C., and a master’s degree in business administration at Keller Graduate School of Management.
Guest Links:
To learn more about Charlene and her work, you can connect with her on LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook, and by emailing charlene@gcwheeless.com.
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