What happens when a high-achieving career is working on paper, but no longer feels aligned in real life?

In this episode of CEOs and ABCs, Kevin sits down with Charisse Hughes, a senior marketing and growth executive who has led at some of the world’s most iconic consumer brands, including Estée Lauder, Pandora, Kellogg, and Kellanova. But this conversation goes far beyond titles and career highlights.

Charisse opens up about being raised by a single mother and grandmother who instilled in her the values of education, independence, faith, and community. She reflects on the years she spent on the fast track, getting promoted, traveling the world, and building an impressive career, while realizing that work had quietly become her entire identity.

She shares the pivotal decision to step away from a successful role without another one lined up, the fear that came with it, and the clarity she found on the other side. Kevin and Charisse also talk about leadership, ambition, bonus motherhood, and why presence is not something anyone gives you. It is something you have to choose.

This is a conversation about success, identity, reinvention, and building a life that reflects what truly matters.

In This Episode, You'll Learn:

• How Charisse’s mother and grandmother shaped her values around education, independence, faith, and service

• Why starting in finance gave her an edge as a marketer and business leader

• What she learned from moving into beauty, luxury, and global brand leadership

• The hidden cost of life on the fast track and how achievement became her whole story

• Why she left a successful role without another job lined up and what that season taught her

• How Pandora and Kellogg helped shape her leadership and confidence at the highest levels

• What becoming a bonus mom taught her about love, values, and showing up for family

• Why clarity, balance, and presence are not given to us, they must be chosen

Key Takeaways

• Success on paper is not always the same thing as success in alignment with your values

• Career momentum can become addictive if you do not stop to ask what it is costing you

• Taking a step back is not always career suicide. Sometimes it is the clearest move forward

• A background in finance can make marketers stronger, more commercial, and more influential leaders

• Leadership is not just about functional excellence. It is about adaptability, conviction, calm, and the ability to influence others

• Children reflect back what matters most and can keep us grounded in what is real

• You do not need to stay locked into a path just because it once made sense

• Nobody is going to hand you the clarity or balance you want. You have to choose it

Guest Links/Show Notes

Virtuosi League (⁠https://virtuosileague.com/⁠),
Equal Justice Initiative (⁠https://eji.org/⁠)
Howard University (⁠https://giving.howard.edu/ways-give⁠)

About Charisse Hughes:

Charisse Hughes is a senior marketing and growth executive who has held leadership roles at some of the world’s most recognized consumer brands, including Estée Lauder, Pandora, Kellogg, and Kellanova. She has served as Chief Marketing Officer, led major brand and business transformations, sat on the board of Crocs, and was named CMO of the Year by Consumer Goods Technology in 2022. Known for combining commercial rigor with bold leadership, Charisse brings a powerful perspective on career growth, reinvention, and leading with purpose.