Episode Summary:
Charlene Reynolds began her career answering phones as a receptionist, a role many women were steered into. But she knew she was capable of more. Each time someone said she needed a degree or certification to move up, she earned it.
Charlene built her path by raising her hand for difficult projects, leading through uncertainty, and elevating voices others overlooked. Now one of only 25 women in the U.S. running a commercial airport, she shares how she leads with transparency, adapts quickly, and keeps doors open for others to grow.
⏱ Topics Covered
- 3:12 – Early career development: Starting as a receptionist and recognizing her potential
- 4:37 – Growth mindset: Told she didn’t qualify, so she made sure she did
- 7:04 – Project ownership: Volunteering for tough, abandoned projects
- 8:27, 9:17 – Public-private strategy: Launching a $1M sponsorship and city bike share
- 10:29 – Talent recognition: Spotlighting quiet contributors to build success
- 13:24 – Mentorship and succession: Helping others rise through coaching and access
- 15:09 – Organizational transparency: Joining the C-suite and opening her door to all
- 17:34 – Crisis leadership: Leading through the first COVID fatality in Arizona
- 19:03 – Visible leadership: Walking the terminal to stay present and accessible
- 21:09 – Process adaptation: Redesigning rent relief to support retailers
- 23:23 – Stakeholder engagement: Meeting every new employee one-on-one
- 23:39 – Human-centered leadership: Letting people see her as a person, not just a boss
- 25:00 – Continuous learning: Solving for the 20 percent that’s new or different
- 27:06 – Professional resilience: Holding your head high through internal challenges
- 28:33 – Opportunity evaluation: Choosing the right fit after being a finalist elsewhere
- 29:07 – Cross-functional management: Using business acumen and curiosity to lead diverse teams
- 32:27 – Relationship building: Building trust before you need it
- 35:17 – Change leadership: Modeling the behavior first and leading by example
- 37:56 – Collaborative visioning: Asking others for their vision, not just sharing hers
- 38:39 – Inclusive transformation: Bringing people into the process instead of pushing change
- 39:40 – Executive communication: Coming to leadership with solutions, not just problems
- 40:47 – Leadership maturity: Using your voice, staying clear, and never delegating up
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