Hidden Gems: Meet Charlene Parks of Dr. Charlene Parks Consulting

Today we’d like to introduce you to Charlene Parks.

Hi Charlene, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
My love affair with technology started with a Tandy computer my mother bought me from RadioShack when I was growing up. I’d spend hours coding thousands of lines just to make a colorful ball bounce across the screen. That first introduction sparked something in me – I loved how technology made things easier, and the way it aligned with how my brain works. I’m a natural problem-solver, always looking for creative solutions, and with technology constantly evolving, there’s always something new to innovate.

I started college pursuing Electrical Engineering with a minor in Computer Information Systems, but I quickly realized that coding and IT were my true passions. My first real job was as a technical support analyst supporting point-of-sale systems, and that’s where I learned one of my most valuable lessons: while I love technology, I love order even more. There’s a process and structure to getting things done efficiently, and I discovered that you can maximize efficiency when you have a good process in place – and you should always be refining that process as you learn.

That insight naturally drew me toward project management. I spent over twenty years working in IT for companies like E*TRADE Financial, Ford Motor Company, NCR, Foot Locker, and Blue Cross Blue Shield, managing enterprise-level programs and digital transformations. But I was always seeking something more. I even went to law school for technology law, thinking that might be my path, but while there I realized it wasn’t what I wanted to do with my life. So I pivoted again, earning my MBA with a specialization in Project Management. I started a PhD program when my first daughter was five, but when I learned I was pregnant with my second, I paused.

Looking back, I’m glad I did because I’m now graduating in May 2025 with a dual doctorate degrees in Business and Cybersecurity. My research examines why 70% of major technology transitions fail in retail companies – and it comes down to two things: poor planning for how people adapt to change, and inadequate protection of business data. This research translates directly into what I teach small business owners: how to implement new systems without disrupting your operations, and how to protect your business from cyber threats without breaking the bank. It’s about making smart technology decisions that grow your business instead of creating expensive headaches.

I discovered along the way that I absolutely love business – everything about it. Not just the technology side, but the entire ecosystem of how businesses work, grow, and thrive. That curiosity led me to become a serial entrepreneur, intentionally building businesses across different industries to understand what works universally. I founded Ameka Consulting Group, a woman and minority-owned IT consulting and staffing firm. I was co-owner of a daycare and a carpet cleaning company. Each venture was a laboratory for testing what makes businesses succeed or fail. I wanted to understand the fundamentals that apply whether you’re running a tech consultancy or a service-based business – because at the core, the principles are the same: systems, pricing, operations, and scalability.

Those experiences taught me something invaluable – every industry has its unique challenges, but successful businesses all share common foundations. And more importantly, I learned that what lights me up most isn’t just building my own businesses – it’s helping others build theirs.

That realization transformed everything.

Now, I’m focused on multiple ventures that all connect back to that core mission: empowering others to succeed. I run the Teen Success Blueprint Camp, where I serve as Program Director and Lead Coach, mentoring young girls ages 12-17 in leadership and problem-solving skills. I continue my work with the PMI Michigan Chapter to stay connected to the project management community.

But my biggest passion is my business coaching practice through drcharleneparks.com. As a Business Growth Strategist, I work with woman-owned businesses, helping them launch smarter and scale faster through strategy, systems, and technology. One of my founder education series is upskilling women to earn their Project Management Professional (PMP) certification, combining my corporate expertise with practical coaching. I’ve learned that I can create exponentially more impact by teaching others to build sustainable businesses than I could working within any single corporation. That’s what truly fulfills me.

The thread that connects everything I do is problem-solving, process optimization, and empowering others – especially women – to leverage strategy and structure to create the life and business they want. My diverse business experience across industries wasn’t random; it was research. The daycare taught me about operations and customer experience. The carpet cleaning business taught me about pricing and service delivery. Ameka taught me about scaling, risk management, and when to pivot. Every venture – whether it succeeded or closed – gave me another piece of the puzzle that I now use to help entrepreneurs avoid costly mistakes and build smarter from day one.

I’m not just teaching theory – I’m sharing battle-tested lessons from building businesses across multiple industries, backed by rigorous academic research and twenty years of corporate transformation experience. That combination of real-world scars and strategic frameworks is what makes the difference for the people I work with today.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Not even close to smooth – but I wouldn’t change it because every struggle taught me something invaluable that I now pass on to the women I mentor and coach.

The hardest moment came in 2001 when my father passed away. I was young, grieving, and suddenly acutely aware of how fragile life is. I was in law school at the time, pursuing intellectual property law because I wanted to protect people’s ideas and innovations – especially for creators who looked like me and often lacked access to that kind of protection. But after losing my dad, I had to regroup. Leaving the law track felt like failure for a long time. I questioned whether I’d lost my direction entirely. Looking back now, I see it was a redirection, not a detour – it eventually led me into business and technology, where I still protect value, just in a different way: through strategy, systems, and transformation.

Being a Black woman in IT and project management has meant leading in spaces where I was often the only one who looked like me. I’ve had my expertise questioned before I even opened my mouth, been mistaken for an assistant, interrupted mid-presentation, and received feedback that my leadership style was “too direct” or “too polished” – critiques that were rarely given to my male peers. I learned early that competence wasn’t enough – I had to be exceptional, consistent, and unshakably composed. Those experiences were isolating, but they sharpened my purpose: to mentor other women of color entering tech so they don’t have to walk that path alone.

Balancing motherhood with corporate leadership and entrepreneurship has been both beautiful and brutal. I paused my PhD when I was pregnant with my second daughter, believing I could always pick it back up. But motherhood changes everything. Between launching ERP programs at Foot Locker and Ford, managing client demands, and late-night reports, there were nights I cried in my car between meetings or felt guilty for missing another school event. Still, I wanted my daughters to see me building, leading, and pushing through. Those years were exhausting, but they taught me that being a mother isn’t about perfection – it’s about showing your children what perseverance really looks like.

Then there’s Ameka Consulting Group – my first major entrepreneurial leap. For several years, it thrived as a Managed Service Provider serving government agencies and private-sector clients. But when COVID hit, contracts froze, projects paused, and I found myself stretched impossibly thin. I eventually worked three jobs just to keep things afloat, but the financial strain and emotional exhaustion became unsustainable. Closing Ameka wasn’t just a business decision; it was a heartbreak. I carried nearly half a million dollars in debt – business loans, helping others, IRS obligations. The stress was relentless, but it made me sharper. I learned how money truly moves in business – not just how to earn it, but how to protect it, multiply it, and teach others to do the same. Those lessons now shape everything I teach entrepreneurs: I coach from scars, not theory.

I also battled imposter syndrome for years. Early in my career, I’d over-prepare for every meeting, terrified of being “found out.” Later, even while leading $40M–$80M programs, the fear would creep in: “Can I really sustain this? Do I belong at this level?” But I broke free from that cycle through mindset reprogramming and learning to trust my intuition. That transformation is why mindset work is now central to how I coach women. I teach intentional soul alignment – not just doing things to check boxes or chase external validation. Yes, we all need money, but I’ve learned that doing what truly lights you up will attract the money. When you operate from alignment rather than fear or obligation, everything shifts. I help women recognize that their purpose and their prosperity aren’t separate paths – they’re the same journey. I’ve walked that path myself, and now I guide others through it.

My life’s pattern has always been one of reinvention: when one path closed, I carved another. I’ve learned that transformation doesn’t come from comfort – it comes from chaos, clarity, and courage. And through it all, my purpose has stayed the same: to lead, to protect, and to empower others to realize the full value of who they are and what they create.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
At DrCharleneParks.com, I help women-owned businesses transform chaos into clarity through scalable systems. What truly sets my work apart is how I merge structure and strategy with soul and intuition.
For over 15 years, I led multi-million-dollar transformation programs for Fortune 500 companies. I mastered frameworks, systems, and execution — but what I learned most was that strategy without alignment leads to burnout. So, when I built my own businesses and crossed the $1M mark (mostly through trial and error), I realized something powerful: success requires both systems that make sense and energy that feels right.
That became the foundation for my coaching and consulting practice — teaching women how to build businesses that flow, not just function.

What I’m Known For: The 5-Pillar System™
My clients come to me for clarity, but they stay for transformation. I don’t just hand you business plans — I help you step into your CEO energy.
My signature 5-Pillar System™ is the same framework I used to manage $40M–$80M corporate programs, adapted for entrepreneurs who want to scale with purpose and peace.

The Five Pillars:

Clarity & Positioning – Defining your offer, voice, and vision so your business aligns with who you truly are
Offerings & Revenue Model – Turning your expertise into profitable, purposeful services
Systems & Operations – Building automation and structure that create freedom, not pressure
Leadership & Mindset Mastery – Elevating your thinking to lead with confidence, calm, and conviction
Growth & Scaling Strategy – Expanding sustainably — without sacrificing your values or wellbeing

This isn’t theory. It’s a tested blueprint that combines the precision of corporate strategy with the intuition of soulful entrepreneurship.

My Offerings:
Strategic Focus Areas:
Strategy & Market Positioning: Clarity that cuts through confusion
Systems & Operational Scale: The structure to support freedom
Executive Leadership & Scale: The mindset to lead from alignment, not exhaustion

Consulting Packages:
Business Foundation Intensive – 90-minute clarity breakthrough to get unstuck fast
Launch Blueprint – 3–5 day sprint to validate, structure, and launch your business with a solid foundation
Transformation Intensive – Full-day deep dive with a 90-day implementation roadmap

Founder Education Programs:
Strategic Launch Blueprint (16 weeks) – End-to-end business launch framework
Growth Accelerator Intensive (12 weeks) – Scale with systems, not chaos
Scaling Your Business with AI – Infusing automation and intelligence into daily operations

Plus, my Founder Academy offers on-demand courses in business strategy, marketing, pricing, and PMP certification — because every woman deserves accessible tools to rise.

What Sets Me Apart:
I’m not a textbook coach — I’m a transformer.

I’ve led enterprise programs with global impact and built small businesses from scratch. I’m a serial entrepreneur who’s founded businesses across multiple industries — IT consulting, daycare, carpet cleaning, and now business coaching. I understand what it means to rebuild, to start over, to pivot — not from theory, but from lived experience. I’ve had businesses thrive and others close. I’ve carried half a million in debt, learned hard lessons, and rebuilt stronger each time.
That’s why my approach is equal parts practical strategy and energetic realignment. I know that no spreadsheet can fix misalignment, and no affirmation alone can replace a plan. My clients get both: a system that scales and the soul to sustain it.

I’m also completing my dual doctorate in Business and Cybersecurity, studying why 70% of technology transformations fail — and how leadership, culture, and mindset can change that outcome. It’s the same research I bring into every consulting session and curriculum I teach.

What I’m Most Proud Of:
I’m proud that the strategies I create deliver real, measurable results.
One of my clients — a private rental business owner — scaled his operation by 25% in just the first three weeks after applying my systems for pricing, automation, and customer flow. He went from juggling day-to-day tasks to running a streamlined, scalable business with time to focus on growth instead of survival.

But what I’m most proud of goes beyond the numbers. My clients learn to trust themselves — to make confident decisions, delegate effectively, and lead with vision instead of overwhelm.
And I’m proud that my brand doesn’t sugarcoat entrepreneurship. I speak honestly about failure, rebuilding, and resilience — because real success is forged in those moments when you have to rebuild yourself as much as your business.

Who I Serve:
I serve women-owned service-based businesses — consultants, coaches, creatives, and educators — who are ready to turn their expertise into legacy.
You’re ambitious but tired of spinning your wheels. You’re ready to do the inner and outer work — to get clear, get structured, and get aligned. My clients aren’t looking for hype; they’re looking for results that feel right.

My Mission:
My mission is to help women build businesses that are both profitable and peaceful.
I believe clarity creates freedom. Systems create flow. Alignment creates abundance.
When those three things meet, your business becomes an expression of your purpose — not a source of stress.

At DrCharleneParks.com, we build businesses that work for you, not ones that wear you down. Because real success isn’t about doing more — it’s about becoming more of who you already are.

Who else deserves credit in your story?
No one builds anything meaningful alone — and I’m very clear that I didn’t either. Every stage of my journey has been shaped by people who saw something in me, even when I was still learning to see it in myself.
First, I have to credit my family. My mother bought me that first Tandy computer from RadioShack that sparked my love for technology — she planted the seed without even knowing it. My daughters have been my “why” through every pivot and every late night. Watching them see me build, fail, rebuild, and persist has been one of my greatest motivations. And Sean, my husband, has been there through it all — supporting my vision, celebrating the wins, and helping me navigate the challenges. My entire family shows up for me — attending my events, sharing my posts, cheering me on — and that kind of support is irreplaceable.
I also have to honor my mentors and professors, especially Dr. Drew Smith, my dissertation chair at Walsh College, and the other advisors who poured into me during my doctorate and corporate leadership years. They sharpened how I think — not just about business, but about transformation, systems, and the human side of success. Walsh College gave me more than credentials; it gave me a community of thinkers who challenged me to go deeper.
My best friend, Kimberly Barksdale, deserves special recognition. She’s been my sounding board, my voice of reason, and my reminder to stay grounded when entrepreneurship gets overwhelming. Everyone needs that one person who tells you the truth with love — she’s been that for me.
I’ve also been deeply supported by clients who trusted me early — those first entrepreneurs who said “yes” when my frameworks were still forming. Their belief helped shape the foundation of The 5-Pillar System™, and many of them still cheer me on today. In many ways, they co-created what I teach because they let me walk alongside them through real challenges and real transformations.
A huge part of my inspiration also comes from the women I coach and the founders I mentor. Watching them turn ideas into thriving businesses, seeing the light click on when they realize “I can actually do this” — that energy fuels everything I create. They remind me why this work matters.
And behind the scenes, I’ve had friends, family, and a few quiet supporters who never let me forget who I am when the weight of entrepreneurship got heavy. Their encouragement reminded me that my work isn’t just about profit or programs — it’s about purpose.
Lastly, I credit the teams and collaborators who’ve helped bring my vision to life — from designers and virtual assistants to developers and strategists who supported projects like AskCoachCharli.ai. They turned ideas into systems, and systems into impact. I couldn’t scale without them.
Every success I’ve had is a reflection of collective energy — people who believed, contributed, and helped me grow into the leader, teacher, and strategist I am today. I stand on the shoulders of mentors, walk alongside incredible clients, and build with a community that refuses to let me play small. That’s the real foundation of everything I do.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.drcharleneparks.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drcharrcharr/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drcharleneparks
• LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/charleneparks1220