About Charla
If you are reading these words, the message is already for you.
Charla Brown Mcklevey does not speak to students from a distance—she meets them where they are. Before becoming a commercial real estate attorney and entrepreneur, she was the student who felt out of place, misunderstood, and unsure of where she fit. What changed everything was a simple but powerful realization: when you become comfortable with who you are, other people begin to see you differently too.
Today, Charla builds businesses, advises clients, and leads with clarity—but her message to students is not about titles or success. It is about what it takes to keep going when life feels uncertain.
Her talks challenge students to rethink how they see themselves and others. She reminds them that the people who keep trying—especially when things are hard—are the ones who win. Not because life is easy, but because they refuse to give up. Through honest stories and direct conversation, she helps students build confidence, ask better questions, and begin to imagine a future that is bigger than what they currently see.
Charla connects with students who are still figuring it out—because she was one of them. She did not always have confidence. She learned it. She did not always have a clear path. She built one. Guided by her faith and grounded in her roles as a wife and mother, she brings a balanced, real-world perspective that resonates with both students and the adults who support them.
Her message is simple, but it stays with students long after she leaves: you are allowed to grow, you are capable of more than you think, and as long as you keep trying, your story is still being written.
I seek to inspire youth and professionals to pursue growth, persistence, and purpose on every path – those that we choose and those that are chosen for us!
I’ve faced many obstacles — overcoming poor self-esteem, surviving sexual trauma, navigating teenage motherhood, dropping out of college, surviving domestic violence, enduring divorce, saving my home from foreclosure, the challenge of law school and failing forward in entrepreneurship. Through each setback, I found strength and purpose. Today, I am licensed attorney with celebrated accomplishments. My journey is proof that if we are purposeful, growth can come from our toughest challenges.
Sincerely,
Charla
Services
Keynotes, workshops, panel moderation, host, peer counseling education and coaching sessions designed to help students and young professionals overcome hardship and maintain momentum in the face of changing environments.
Programs blend storytelling with practical growth steps, offering actionable strategies to build resilience, adapt to change, and pursue ambitious dreams.
Recent Appearences:
March 26, 2026 * Atlanta * Leadership Institute For Women of Color Attorneys – General Session & Workshop: Who Knows Your Name? Strategic Networking and Authentic Brand Building and Professional Development * Panel Moderator
April 6, 2026 * Jacksonville, FL * Jacksonville University College of Law – Black Law Student Association Solo Practitioner Event * Speaker
April 25, 2026 * Jacksonville, FL * Brand Builders Network Black Rose Awards * Co-Host
April 29, 2026 * Jacksonville, FL – Charles Webb Wesconnett Regional Public Library, 6887 103rd Street, Jacksonville, FL 32210 * CREW Network & CREW Jax * From Observer to Investor: Start Personally Investing in Commercial Real Estate * Host
Upcoming engagements:
May 23, 2026 * Bradford County, FL * Instigate Love, Inc. – Mentors in Medicine (invitation only event) * Host
See your event listed here. Contact us!
Charla Mcklevey. Top Youth Motivational & Inspirational Speaker. 