We recently connected with Charlitta Hatch and have shared our conversation below.

Charlitta, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today We’d love to hear the story behind how you got your first job in field that you currently practice in.

I still remember it vividly. The moment that changed everything for me. I was a senior in college, flying home from what I thought might be my first “real” job interview. The interview had gone fine, but as I sat there reflecting, I realized something felt off. I wasn’t excited. I wanted more than a job. I wanted a career that challenged me, pushed me, and allowed me to see the world differently.

As I walked through the airport, deep in thought, I noticed a man briskly moving through the terminal with a phone in one hand, suitcase in the other, commanding every step with confidence. In that instant, I knew that’s what I wanted to do. I wanted to be in motion, solving problems, leading teams, making things happen.

So, I did something that, in hindsight, perfectly captures who I am: I stopped him. I told him I admired his energy and asked what he did for a living. After a brief moment of surprise, he smiled, handed me his business card, and said, “Call me.”

That man became my first boss, and that encounter became the beginning of my career. Looking back, it taught me one of the most valuable lessons of my life. Opportunity doesn’t always come through applications or formal interviews. Sometimes it comes from trusting your instincts, taking a risk, and speaking up when something inside you says, “That’s it.”

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I often describe myself as a bridge builder between data and people, between policy and impact, and between families and the systems that shape their futures. My career began with a single moment of curiosity and courage: I stopped a man in an airport because I admired his energy and asked him what he did for a living. He became my first boss, and that encounter sparked a career built on initiative, relationships, and a deep desire to solve complex problems with both heart and strategy.

Today, I serve as the Chief Data and Analytics Officer for the City of Charlotte, leading efforts to transform how local government uses data to drive transparency, accountability, and innovation. I’m also the founder of AG Advisory Services, a consulting practice that helps organizations in education, technology, and the nonprofit sector use data and equity-centered strategies to achieve measurable impact. Through my nonprofit, The Me3 Project, I create culturally affirming children’s books, workshops, and storytelling experiences that celebrate Black boy joy and empower young voices.

What sets my work apart is the intersection of technical expertise and human understanding which is blending analytics and empathy, governance and storytelling, strategy and soul. I believe that systems change begins with data, but transformation happens when people are invited into the story that data tells.

I’m most proud of building initiatives that make a difference: creating Charlotte’s first enterprise data governance framework, authoring children’s books that affirm identity, and mentoring the next generation of leaders. Whether I’m leading a team, teaching, or speaking to families, my goal is always the same and that is to make complex things clear, to make systems work for people, and to leave every space more equitable and innovative than I found it.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

Resilience, for me, has never been a single moment. It’s been a series of choices to keep moving forward, even when the path wasn’t clear. One story that stands out happened early in my career.

I was often the only woman and usually the only Black person in the room. I remember leading a major project with senior executives who doubted whether I belonged at the table. I prepared twice as hard, asked the questions no one else would, and when the project hit a wall, I stepped up to lead the turnaround. We not only met our goals but exceeded them, and that moment taught me something powerful: resilience isn’t just about endurance; it’s about transformation.

That lesson has carried me through every chapter since whether navigating graduate school while working full-time, raising a family, leading through a pandemic, and championing equity in spaces where it’s often uncomfortable to do so. Resilience, for me, is the quiet courage to show up fully, to keep building, and to turn obstacles into opportunities for growth not just for myself, but for the people and communities I serve.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

One of the biggest lessons I had to unlearn was that hard work alone is enough.

Early in my career, I believed that if I just put my head down, delivered results, and outworked everyone in the room, the opportunities would naturally follow. And for a while, that approach served me as I built a reputation for excellence and dependability. But over time, I realized that hard work without visibility, advocacy, and boundaries can lead to burnout and missed opportunities.

The turning point came when I was leading a large, complex initiative early in my leadership journey. I was managing a team, juggling deliverables, and trying to prove myself. I rarely asked for help and took pride in being “the one who could handle it all.” Then, when recognition was given, it went to others who had been more vocal about their contributions. That moment stung but it also shifted something in me.

I learned that leadership isn’t just about doing the work; it’s about elevating the work, communicating impact, building relationships, and empowering others to shine. I unlearned the need to be everything to everyone and replaced it with a commitment to lead with balance, clarity, and intention. Now, I teach others especially women that their voice, not just their effort, is their power.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.charlittahatch.com
• Instagram: @charlittahatch
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charlittahatch/