Cornerstone University Hosts Renowned Fortune 500 CEO

Cheryl Bachelder, former CEO of Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen, shares leadership insights with students and community.

Apr. 16, 2026 at 7:05pm

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A brightly colored, high-contrast silkscreen print of a coffee cup or other iconic business-related object repeated in a tight grid pattern, in the style of Andy Warhol, conceptually representing the intersection of faith, leadership, and the business community.Cornerstone University's leadership forum brings together influential voices to inspire the next generation of Christ-centered business leaders.Grand Rapids Today

Cornerstone University recently welcomed over 100 students, alumni, faculty, and West Michigan community leaders for a leadership forum and networking breakfast featuring Cheryl Bachelder, former CEO of Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen and one of the nation's most respected Fortune 500 leaders. The event underscored Cornerstone's reputation as a Christian thought leader, convening distinguished leaders to prepare students for today's market while also providing valuable business insights to the local community.

Why it matters

By hosting influential leaders like Bachelder, Cornerstone University is establishing itself as a hub for thought-provoking discussions on faith-based leadership and equipping the next generation of Christ-centered influencers. The event reflects the university's commitment to creating spaces where leadership, faith, and community converge.

The details

During the 60-minute conversation, Bachelder shared practical leadership insights, emphasizing the importance of clarity, discipline, and a people-centered approach. She challenged attendees to rethink leadership as fundamentally about serving their teams well while pursuing ambitious goals.

  • The leadership forum and networking breakfast took place on April 15, 2026.

The players

Cheryl Bachelder

Former CEO of Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen and one of the nation's most respected Fortune 500 leaders, with nearly four decades of executive leadership experience spanning companies such as Procter & Gamble, Domino's Pizza, and Yum!.

Gerson Moreno-Riaño

President of Cornerstone University, who engaged in a 60-minute conversation with Bachelder during the event.

Kyra Woodley

A SOAR student in Cornerstone's Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership program, who traveled more than two hours across the state to attend the early morning event and learn from Bachelder.

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What they’re saying

“Set the daring destination but serve that team well every step of the walk.”

— Cheryl Bachelder, Former CEO, Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen

What’s next

Cornerstone University plans to continue creating spaces where leadership, faith, and community converge, including through its successful Wisdom Conversations series.

The takeaway

Cornerstone University's ability to host influential leaders like Cheryl Bachelder underscores its reputation as a Christian thought leader, committed to equipping the next generation of Christ-centered influencers and providing valuable insights to the local community.