Cheryl Bachelder

Cheryl Bachelder is a highly skilled leadership keynote speaker and the former CEO of Popeyes® Louisiana Kitchen, Inc. Renowned for her adeptness in team building, motivation, innovation, and peak performance, she successfully led the transformation of Popeyes from 2007 to 2017, turning a struggling brand into a top-performing entity in the quick service restaurant industry. Her leadership book, "Dare to Serve: How to Drive Superior Results by Serving Others," details this impressive turnaround. Beyond her role at Popeyes, Bachelder is celebrated for her effective leadership strategies and her significant experience in brand building with major companies like Beats by Dre and Nike.

In her earlier career, Bachelder held brand leadership positions at Yum Brands, Domino's Pizza, RJR Nabisco, The Gillette Company, and Procter & Gamble. She currently serves as a director and compensation committee chair at Pier 1 Imports, Inc. (PIR), and as a director of US Foods Holding Corp (USFD). She also advises Procter & Gamble's franchising venture, Tide Dry Cleaners. Additionally, Bachelder is committed to developing future leaders through her involvement with several ministries including Spring Hill Camps, Crossroad Farms, and CRU.

Bachelder holds a Bachelor’s and Masters of Business Administration degree from the Kelley School of Business at Indiana University. She resides in Atlanta, Georgia with her husband Chris Bachelder. Together, they have three grown daughters, two son-in-laws, and two grandsons. Bachelder is a passionate advocate for leadership development, speaking at numerous conferences such as Work Matters, RightNow Media, Truth@Work, Servant Leadership Institute, Greenleaf Center for Servant Leadership, and Summit At Sea 2023. She continues to help organizations cultivate a culture that can thrive in today’s volatile and competitive global marketplace, focusing on creating confidence and making work engaging.