Kathryn Charleston is located in Chicago and is an energetic, innovative marketing and sales leader with 20+ years of experience driving AI, data, and digital transformation strategies. Her proficiency in CRM, Sales and Marketing along with her passionate approach toward collaboration, team-centered action and service has led to her current role as a Solution Engineering Data & AI Leader for Commercial and Enterprise Accounts. She has worked with top brands including ViacomCBS, Live Nation, AT&T, Southwest, United Airlines, Marriott, IHG, Expedia, Disney, Sony, Visa, Broadway, NFL, NBA, and FedEx. She is a recent Chairman’s Club Winner for Salesforce for top performance and impact to the company.
Ms. Charleston’s ardent approach toward collaboration, team-centered action and service is driven by four leadership principles: the 4 I’s: Inspire, Influence, Innovate and Impact. Other areas of advocacy are mentoring, recruiting, coaching, and speaking engagements in corporate settings as well as at community & national organizations. She started a mentorship program, MAGIC (Mentoring for Accelerating Growth, Impact and Culture). Kathryn had a vital role in developing with Senior Executives a six-week program that paired small minority businesses with key leaders at Salesforce. She has provided and supported organizations: that promote STEM education to diverse students; women groups; professional networks; non-for-profits; and major sport teams. She has been recognized for her significant influence in the technical profession and the groundbreaking path she has paved for other women in the tech industry and was chosen as a recipient of Women Impact Tech’s 2025 Women of Impact Award. She also is an active member of the Rising Foundation for Black Women on Boards, a community of high-performing, high-potential Black women on the rise to the C-Suite.
Kathryn has a Bachelor of Science in Business from University of Illinois, earned numerous professional awards and certifications in Marketing, AI, and Technology.
Kathryn’s ethos is, “At the end of the day it’s not about what you have or even what you’ve accomplished… it’s about who you’ve lifted up, who you’ve made better. It’s about what you’ve given back.” – Denzel Washington
