Meet Charlie Gilkey, founder of Productive Flourishing, award-winning author, executive coach, and a guiding voice for creators, entrepreneurs, and leaders seeking purpose-driven productivity. From his beginnings as an Army officer and philosopher, Charlie unexpectedly found his calling in helping individuals and teams do their best work—by balancing structure with soul.
Charlie’s work has helped thousands, particularly women and people of color, build meaningful businesses and careers that align with who they truly are. At Humans of Fuzia, we are proud to feature Charlie for his contributions to thought leadership, his inclusive approach to empowerment, and his belief in reshaping the narrative around success and entrepreneurship. With over 5 million community members united by our “She for She” and “He for She” mission, Charlie’s story is both timely and transformative.
Charlie, what inspired you to become a coach?
I actually fell into coaching by accident. Back in the mid-2000s, I was writing on my website Productive Flourishing about doing your best work—individually and as a leader. People started asking if I could coach them through their business and leadership challenges. At first, I said no—after all, I was an Army officer and a philosopher! But eventually, I gave it a try and realized I loved it. I’ve been coaching ever since.
What were some challenges you faced along the way, especially as an early coach?
I started out without much business acumen. Pricing, naming services, building a brand—those were all new to me. And back then, coaching wasn’t as normalized as it is now. Only big-name authors were taken seriously in this space. For someone like me, it meant figuring things out without a template. Plus, balancing coaching with writing—both of which I love—has always been a creative challenge.
Are you a solopreneur, or do you work with a team?
I do have a small team. They handle different parts of the business, which allows me to focus on writing, coaching, and showing up for interviews like this one.
Is there a milestone or achievement you’re especially proud of?
Publishing my first traditionally published book Start Finishing in 2019 was a big one. It won the Eric Hoffer Grand Prize—across all nonfiction categories. Productivity books don’t usually get that kind of recognition, so it felt validating. It meant the work transcended its niche and really resonated.
What are your thoughts on women in leadership today?
Broadly speaking, I believe women make better leaders than men in today’s world. They navigate complexity with empathy and are more attuned to the invisible conversations happening in workplaces. Most of my clients are women, and I’ve seen firsthand how they create structures that serve communities better than the patriarchal models we’ve inherited. I’m hopeful that in a generation or two, we won’t need to keep having the same conversations about “a woman’s place” in leadership—they’ll just be there.
What advice would you offer to aspiring women leaders and entrepreneurs?
First, don’t think you’re less-than or uniquely flawed—you’re not. Second, get clear on your boundaries. Given how women are socialized, that’s especially important. Third, play to your strengths rather than trying to fit into someone else’s mold. Lastly, forget the pressure to build a billion-dollar business unless that’s what you truly want. Focus on building something that matters, that serves your people, and that takes care of you.
What’s your personal and professional definition of success?
Success to me is threefold: having the financial abundance to live a good life, doing work that matters to you and your community, and making the world better through your efforts. That’s it. And that can look different for everyone.
“The world needs what only you can give. When you stop believing that, you rob both yourself and the people you’re here to serve.” – Charlie Gilkey
🔗 Connect with Charlie Gilkey:
Website: productiveflourishing.com
LinkedIn: Charlie Gilkey
Instagram: @charliegilkey
🌍 Want to be featured?
If you’d like to be featured in the Humans of Fuzia series, email us at fuziatalent@fuzia.com.
