"The most difficult thing is the decision to act, the rest is merely tenacity." 
These words by aviation pioneer Amelia Earhart resonate in Charlene Gladney, the founder and executive director of Operation Xcel.

As we celebrate Women’s History Month 2026, we aren't just looking at history books; we are looking at the history being written right here in Guilford County. Charlene’s story is a masterclass in how a woman’s leadership can bridge the gap between corporate excellence and community empowerment.

The Girl from Woodmere Park: A Blueprint of Resilience
Before earning the Master’s degree and serving 20 years in Corporate America, ten years at Xerox, and the rest at other corporations, Charlene was a child in Woodmere Park, a marginalized community much like the neighborhoods where 80% of Operation Xcel students live today.

Growing up in Woodmere Park, Charlene saw early on that education is a collective effort. Her life was shaped by a resilient family dynamic where the pursuit of higher learning was a shared priority. Charlene watched her mother navigate the daunting task of attending UNC-Chapel Hill to rewrite their family’s future—a journey that required Charlene to live with her father while her mother was away at school. This firsthand experience of sacrifice proved that education was worth any hurdle and that a strong family foundation is the ultimate 'paywall breaker.' Charlene lived the 'family affair' of transformation long before she founded an organization to replicate it.
 

Breaking the Fortune 500 "Paywall"
Charlene's trajectory was fueled by access to elite spaces. She attended the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics (NCSSM), the nation's first tuition-free public residential high school for STEM. The foundation led her to a BS in Electrical Engineering from NC State and a Master's from NC A&T. Over the next two decades, Charlene ascended the ranks of the world's most iconic Fortune 500 corporations. She spent 10 years at Xerox Corporation and held pivotal leadership and technical roles at IBM, General Electric, General Dynamics, Hewlett-Packard, and AT&T. While she navigated these global giants, she never forgot the lessons of Woodmere Park. She understood that for many children, a ZIP code acts as a silent restriction to upward mobility—a barrier she only bypassed because of her own family's collective sacrifice.

In a bold act of tenacity, Charlene chose to walk away from the corporate ladder. She didn’t just leave a career; she returned to her community to build a bridge for children who look like her and live through similar circumstances. By founding Operation Xcel, she ensured that the same high-level STEM foundations she received at NCSSM were accessible to every child, regardless of their family's financial standing.
 

The Science of Success: Why Family Engagement is the Key
To date, Operation Xcel has empowered over 4,500 students. However, Charlene recognized early on that a student’s success is inextricably linked to the home. If the family dynamic does not evolve, the child's progress often plateaus.

This is not just a sentiment; it is a scientific reality. Scholarly research consistently proves that a "Two-Generation" approach—focusing on both the child and the parent—is the most effective way to break cycles of poverty (Chase-Lansdale & Brooks-Gunn, 2014). When parents are engaged, a child’s "perceived cognitive competence" rises, a primary driver of success in difficult STEM subjects (Hill & Tyson, 2009).

By strengthening the home's foundation, Operation Xcel ensures that the progress made in the classroom isn't a temporary spike but a permanent shift in the family’s trajectory.
 

Why Representation Matters for the Next Generation
Why is it vital to have leaders like Charlene at the helm?

• The "See It, Be It" Effect: When a young student sees a leader who once lived in a neighborhood just like theirs, the ceiling of their ambition rises.
• Holistic Leadership: Charlene’s approach isn't just about grades; it’s about nurturing the "whole family."
• Economic Empowerment: By dismantling the paywalls to quality education, she is proving that talent is universal, even if opportunity is not.

Charlene Gladney is more than a founder; she is the perfect role model for a generation of students ready to prove that their potential is limitless, regardless of their zip code. This month, we salute a visionary who decided that the best way to predict the future was to build it for the children—and families—of Guilford County, North Carolina.

References

Chase-Lansdale, P. L., & Brooks-Gunn, J. (2014). Two-generation programs in the twenty-first century. The Future of Children, 24(1), 13–39.

Hill, N. E., & Tyson, D. F. (2009). Parental involvement in middle school: A meta-analytic assessment of the strategies that promote achievement. Developmental 
            Psychology, 45(3), 740–763.

Mapp, K. L., & Kuttner, P. J. (2013). Partners in Education: A Dual Capacity-Building Framework for Family-School Partnerships. SEDL.

Weiss, H. B., Lopez, M. E., & Rosenberg, H. (2010). Beyond Random Acts: Family, School, and Community Engagement as an Integral Part of Education Reform. 
            Harvard Family Research Project.

About Operation Xcel:

Operation Xcel is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing educational resources, after-school programs, and summer enrichment that empower at-risk youth. Our mission is to bridge the educational gap by fostering academic excellence, social responsibility, and cultural pride. Guided by our core values of inclusion and community empowerment, we strive to ensure that every student, regardless of their background, has the support they need to reach their full potential.