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

Subscribe to Wear Your Cape to Work Podcast on:

YouTube: / @projectinsightpmsw

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5WMdTji...

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...

RSS: https://feeds.buzzsprout.com/2419669.rss

Sponsored by: Project Insight Project & Portfolio Management Software. Helping growing companies automate, execute, and measure project work across teams, systems, and portfolios. www.projectinsight.com

🎧 Listen https://lnkd.in/gG6f7Fq5

#ProjectManagement #AirportOperations #InfrastructureProjects #AviationLeadership #PublicSectorPM #ChangeManagement #OperationsLeadership #WorkplaceVisibility #FacilityManagement #StrategicExecution #PMOLeadership #WomenInLeadership