Today on The Servant Leadership Podcast, we hear from Cheryl Bachelder, a highly respected business leader who transformed Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen into one of the most successful restaurant brands in the world. Cheryl has built a career on servant leadership, leading with purpose, and driving results. As the former CEO of Popeyes, she took the company from declining sales and struggling franchisees to record-breaking growth—all by putting people first. Under her leadership, Popeyes experienced unprecedented success, with franchisees thriving, customer satisfaction soaring, and the brand reaching new heights—all while fostering a culture of trust and service. Cheryl has also held executive roles at KFC, Domino’s, and Chick-fil-A, making her a leader in shaping how businesses succeed through servant leadership. In her book, “Dare to Serve,” Cheryl shares her bold philosophy on leadership—how putting others first isn’t just good ethics, but great business. I’m excited for her to share today how servant leadership can empower your team, accelerate growth, and drive real results.
Timestamps:
00:00 Cheryl Bachelder's Intro
01:08 Welcome Cheryl Bachelder
01:22 Cheryl's Career Journey
05:43 Popeye's Transformation Challenges
09:21 Keeping An Attitude of Servant Leadership During Transformation
12:40 Servant Leadership As A Driver of Company Results
13:34 Biggest Misconception of Servant Leadership
14:57 Defining Servant Leadership
17:00 Measuring Courage/Daring and Humility
18:40 Valuing Humility
19:21 Practical Steps To Turnaround An Organization
22:13 Building The Right Team
23:48 Finding The Right People
25:20 Discerning When/How To Stop or Change
26:54 Focus On The Vital Few Priorities
28:35 Next Stage Of Cheryl's Journey
32:25 Advice For Working Mothers
35:11 10-Rapid-Fire Questions
37:13 Closing
Cheryl Bachelder Links: https://cherylbachelder.com/
Servant Leadership:
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