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Cheryl Bachelder

Cheryl Bachelder

Keynote Speaker: Former CEO of Popeyes; Author of "Dare to Serve: How to Drive Superior Results by Serving Others,"; Podcast Host

Cheryl Bachelder Biography

Cheryl Bachelder is a passionate, purpose-led business leader -- the former CEO of Popeyes® Louisiana Kitchen, Inc. From 2007 to 2017, she led the transformation of a tired brand and discouraged organization into a top-performing quick service restaurant chain. The story of the Popeyes success is chronicled in her book Dare to Serve: How to drive superior results by serving others. Today Cheryl’s aim is to help senior leaders understand and implement Dare to Serve leadership in for-profit and non-profit workplaces.

Cheryl’s earlier career included brand leadership roles at Yum Brands, Domino’s Pizza, RJR Nabisco, The Gillette Company and Procter & Gamble.
Today Cheryl serves as a director and compensation committee chair at Pier 1 Imports, Inc. (PIR). She also serves as a director of US Foods Holding Corp (USFD). She is an advisor to Procter & Gamble’s franchising venture, Tide Dry Cleaners. She is active in many ministries developing future leaders: Spring Hill Camps, Crossroad Farms, and CRU. She speaks at conferences such as Work Matters, RightNow Media, Truth@Work, Servant Leadership Institute, and Greenleaf Center for Servant Leadership.

Cheryl holds a Bachelor’s and Masters of Business Administration degree from the Kelley School of Business at Indiana University. She is married 37 years to Chris Bachelder and they have three grown daughters, two terrific son-in-laws, and two handsome grandsons. Cheryl and Chris reside in Atlanta, Georgia and attend Buckhead Church. They are avid learners, fans of the classical education movement, and can always be found reading a good book!

Contact a speaker booking agent to check availability on Cheryl Bachelder and other top speakers and celebrities.

Cheryl Bachelder Speaking Topics

Dare to Serve

How can leaders get breakthrough results? Cheryl Bachelder tells how she and her team engineered the extraordinary turnaround of Popeye Louisiana Kitchen by making a tough but rewarding decision to lead through service.

Cheryl Bachelder joined an ailing restaurant chain and turned it into the darling of the industry—by daring to serve the people in her organization well.

When Bachelder was named CEO of Popeyes in the fall of 2007, guest visits had been declining for years, restaurant sales and profit trends were negative, and the company stock price had dropped from $34 in 2002 to $13. The brand was stagnant, and relations between the company and its franchise owners were strained.

By 2014, average restaurant sales were up 25 percent, and profits were up 40 percent. Popeyes’ market share had grown from 14 percent to 21 percent, and the stock price was over $40. The franchisees were so pleased with the turnaround that they began reinvesting in the brand, rapidly remodeling restaurants, and building new units around the world.

The difference maker, Bachelder says, was a conscious decision to lead in a new way. She and her team created a workplace where people were treated with respect and dignity yet challenged to perform at the highest level. Silos and self were set aside in favor of collaboration and team play. And the results were measured with rigor and discipline. Servant leadership is sometimes derided as soft or ineffective, but this book shows that it’s actually challenging and tough minded—a daring path. Bachelder takes you firsthand through the transformation of Popeyes and shows how a leader at any level can become a Dare-to-Serve leader.

Cheryl Bachelder Videos

Celebrating Women in LeadHERship: Cheryl Bachelder, former ...
Cheryl Bachelder Truth At Work Conference Snapshot
The Power of Serving Others | Cheryl Bachelder

How do I book Cheryl Bachelder to speak at my event?

Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Cheryl Bachelder for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for Cheryl Bachelder, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for Cheryl Bachelder or any other speaker of your choice.

How much does it cost to book Cheryl Bachelder for a speaking engagement?

Speaking fees for Cheryl Bachelder, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fees to book Cheryl Bachelder are $20,000 - $30,000 for live events and Below $10,000 for virtual events. For the most current speaking fee to hire Cheryl Bachelder, click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent.

What topics does Cheryl Bachelder speak about?

Cheryl Bachelder is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as Business Leadership, Business, Women in Business, Female Leadership, Influential Women, Food & Beverage, Business Growth, Authors, Customer Service, Leadership, Teamwork & Teambuilding and Women.

Where does Cheryl Bachelder travel from?

Cheryl Bachelder generally travels from Atlanta, GA, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances.

Who is the agent for Cheryl Bachelder?

AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully secured keynote speakers like Cheryl Bachelder for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Cheryl Bachelder for your next private or corporate function.

What is a full-service speaker booking agency?

AAE Speakers Bureau is a full-service speaker booking agency, meaning we can completely manage the speaker’s or celebrity’s engagement with your organization from the time of booking your speaker through the event’s completion. We provide all of the services you need to host Cheryl Bachelder or any other speaker of your choice, including offer negotiation, contractual assistance, accounting and billing, and event speaker travel and logistics services. When you book a speaker with us, we manage the process of hosting a speaker for you as an extension of your team. Our goal is to give our clients peace of mind and a best-in-class service experience when booking a speaker with us.

Why is AAE Speakers Bureau different from other booking agencies?

If you’re looking for the best speaker recommendations, paired with a top-notch customer service experience, you’re in the right place. At AAE Speakers Bureau, we exclusively represent the interests of our clients - professional organizations, companies, universities, and associations. We intentionally do not represent the speakers we feature or book. That is so we can present our clients with the broadest and best performing set of speaker options in the market today, and we can make these recommendations without any obligation to promote a specific speaker over another. This is why when our agents suggest a speaker for your event, you can be assured that they are of the highest quality with a history of proven success with our other clients.


Cheryl Bachelder is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics including Business Leadership, Business and Women in Business. The estimated speaking fee range to book Cheryl Bachelder for live events is $20,000 - $30,000, and for virtual events Below $10,000. Cheryl Bachelder generally travels from Atlanta, GA, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Sarah Kauss, Deborah Rosado Shaw and Sylvia Acevedo. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Cheryl Bachelder for an upcoming event.

Cheryl Bachelder Speaking Topics

  • Dare to Serve

    How can leaders get breakthrough results? Cheryl Bachelder tells how she and her team engineered the extraordinary turnaround of Popeye Louisiana Kitchen by making a tough but rewarding decision to lead through service.

    Cheryl Bachelder joined an ailing restaurant chain and turned it into the darling of the industry—by daring to serve the people in her organization well.

    When Bachelder was named CEO of Popeyes in the fall of 2007, guest visits had been declining for years, restaurant sales and profit trends were negative, and the company stock price had dropped from $34 in 2002 to $13. The brand was stagnant, and relations between the company and its franchise owners were strained.

    By 2014, average restaurant sales were up 25 percent, and profits were up 40 percent. Popeyes’ market share had grown from 14 percent to 21 percent, and the stock price was over $40. The franchisees were so pleased with the turnaround that they began reinvesting in the brand, rapidly remodeling restaurants, and building new units around the world.

    The difference maker, Bachelder says, was a conscious decision to lead in a new way. She and her team created a workplace where people were treated with respect and dignity yet challenged to perform at the highest level. Silos and self were set aside in favor of collaboration and team play. And the results were measured with rigor and discipline. Servant leadership is sometimes derided as soft or ineffective, but this book shows that it’s actually challenging and tough minded—a daring path. Bachelder takes you firsthand through the transformation of Popeyes and shows how a leader at any level can become a Dare-to-Serve leader.

Cheryl Bachelder Videos

Celebrating Women in LeadHERship: Cheryl Bachelder, former ...
Cheryl Bachelder Truth At Work Conference Snapshot
The Power of Serving Others | Cheryl Bachelder
Cheryl Bachelder | Bring Your Best Self to Work
Dare To Serve | Cheryl Bachelder | TEDxCentennialParkWomen

Cheryl Bachelder News

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