Her Story
About Charmaine
Charmaine Holland, CFO and Chaplain, is a seasoned nonprofit leader, financial consultant, author, and motivational mentor with over 35 years of experience empowering individuals and communities. She is the Executive Director of Empower the Spirit of a Woman, a nonprofit organization dedicated to mentoring incarcerated women and supporting their healing from childhood trauma while preparing them for successful reentry into society. Charmaine combines her expertise in financial management and leadership development with a deep commitment to social impact, helping women regain confidence, purpose, and agency in their lives.
Charmaine’s professional journey began as a teen mother, where she developed resilience, resourcefulness, and a strong sense of empathy. Her early experiences in business and finance, including serving as a CFO and consulting entrepreneurs to achieve six-figure success, laid the foundation for her work in mentorship and leadership. When she witnessed the challenges faced by women in jails and prisons, she dedicated herself to providing trauma-informed guidance, bringing together therapists, authors, and motivational speakers to restore hope and momentum for these women. Beyond mentoring, Charmaine is also an accomplished author and fashion designer, leveraging her creativity to inspire others and demonstrate the power of self-expression.
Charmaine’s work has earned her recognition as a humanitarian and community leader, including awards for her service to the homeless population, mentorship of incarcerated women, and achievements in public speaking. She serves on the boards of CAMP and Muslim Art, contributes her expertise to human trafficking and social justice initiatives, and actively participates in Toastmasters. Guided by faith, integrity, and transparency, Charmaine remains committed to building programs and communities that foster personal growth, leadership excellence, and lasting societal change.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Charmaine
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to my children. I have two boys, and I have seven grandchildren, but mainly my two boys. My first one brought me purpose, he gave me a purpose, and the second one taught me what my love is all about. So I would attribute my success to them.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I've ever received is to never take anything personally. I realize that when people feel like they're attacking you, it has nothing to do with you, it has everything to do with them. Another piece of advice is to keep your emotions out of the game. And I've also learned that God is bigger than whatever situation you're going through. It's bigger than you. No matter what you're going through, God has something much greater for you.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
My advice to young women entering my industry is to never take anything personally. Don't take it personal. You can achieve anything you want in this world. You are the captain of your ship, and don't let anyone block your path. These are the three things I would say that stand out the most.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The biggest challenges I have faced in my career are trying to find the right people in the right alignment with you, those who want to help you and not take from you. It's about finding those who genuinely want to support you in your journey so you can do more to help more people. Another challenge is walking your purpose. Knowing what your purpose is, and when you find your purpose, knowing that you need grace with you, because once you know your purpose, your purpose is coming to free the people. There will always be challenges in life when you're trying to help other people get to the other side where you're at. Life is always going to be a struggle, but you have to keep pushing forward. It's also about finding funding and support overall to help you in your journey.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values that are most important to me are transparency, honesty, and integrity. Integrity is everything. I also know that I always have somebody higher than me, so I'm always being mindful of what I say and do, because I have to report to somebody else. These are my core values and integrities.
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