On Leadership with Global CEO Niren Chaudhary
Prior to becoming Chairman, NIREN CHAUDHARY served as CEO of Panera Brands and Panera Bread, one of the world’s largest fast casual restaurant companies with nearly 4,000 locations in 10 countries. Sparking industry-leading retention rates for GMs and associates, Chaudhary’s leadership makes a tangible difference in the everyday lives of those involved with his organizations.
In engaging conversations, Chaudhary lays out what makes an effective team, resilience in the face of challenges, and the ultimate toolkit for leadership. Join Chaudhary to learn how to foster a culture of positivity, support, and success on such topics as:
How Niren Chaudhary Drives Innovation
Chairman of the Board of Panera Brands NIREN CHAUDHARY was named to Nation’s Restaurant News “Power List” for his innovative initiatives. Under his leadership, Panera Brands expanded its leading digital capabilities, widened its loyalty base, and increased its pace of innovation. In this engaging presentation, Niren Chaudhary lays out the essential toolkit for creating stakeholder buy in, recognizing opportunities, and driving transformation in any industry.
Live Music & Conversation: Niren Chaudhary’s Impact
Chairman of the Board of Panera Brands NIREN CHAUDHARY is also a talented musician. Guitar in hand, he discusses personal impact in this uplifting exploration of his personal life and career journey alongside a live music performance. In this unforgettable, creative engagement, Chaudhary inspires audiences to take the next step towards their own success.
Former Chairman of the Board of Panera Breads Niren Chaudhary provides a powerful lesson on embracing life's highest mountains
Former Chairman of the Board of Panera Brands NIREN CHAUDHARY is a future-first leader, constantly evolving to keep up with new trends and insights. He brings audiences unparalleled expertise in leading successful multinational companies.
From a humble middle-class background in India, Niren’s relentless work ethic and unwavering dedication to his family’s story have made him a celebrated global figure. He shares insights about values-based leadership and the key experiences that shaped his leadership philosophy. Through personal stories of loss, pain, and failure, Niren demonstrates how these challenging moments formed the foundation of his leadership approach. Niren inspires every audience with his meaningful conversations, encouraging them to develop clarity around their personal values as a pathway to achieving their goals.
Niren Chaudhary’s inspirational TED Talk on daughter's health provides lessons in resilience and happiness
NIREN CHAUDHARY, former CEO of Panera Bread and former COO and President International of Krispy Kreme, is a powerful voice on resilience, leadership, and the transformative power of love. He is also known as the “Super Dad of India,” a title that has resonated deeply with audiences around the world, thanks to the moving story of his late daughter, Aisha Chaudhary. In his emotional yet uplifting TEDx talk, Niren shares how Aisha’s extraordinary life, despite the rare and debilitating condition that took her life at the age of 18, continues to inspire millions. Through his personal journey and Aisha’s legacy, Niren invites audiences to embrace the everyday as an opportunity to live with purpose, positivity, and love.
His daughter’s life was immortalized in the critically acclaimed Indian film The Sky is Pink, a testament to their powerful bond and the profound impact of her philosophy. In his talks, Niren encourages all to live life to the fullest—because every day is a gift.
Niren Chaudhary is the former Chairman of the Board of Panera Brands, one of the world’s largest fast casual restaurant companies with nearly 4,000 locations in 10 countries. Panera Brands is comprised of Panera Bread, Caribou Coffee and Einstein Bros Bagels.
Prior to becoming Chairman in 2023, Niren served as CEO of Panera Brands and Panera Bread. During his four-year tenure, Panera Brands strengthened its leadership in the fast casual segment by expanding its leading digital capabilities, which as of 2023 account for 51% of total sales at Panera Bread, while increasing its loyalty base to more than 53 million members and launching an innovative loyalty subscription model that resulted in 25% of all Panera transactions coming from Unlimited Sip Club members. Panera also increased its pace of innovation, strengthened franchisee partnerships and led the creation of a strong, people-first culture, resulting in industry-leading retention rates for GMs and associates, earning Black Box Intelligence’s Employer of Choice Award in 2022.
Previously, Niren served as Chief Operating Officer and President of Krispy Kreme where he implemented a new operating model to elevate consistency across the global brand and created a path for enterprise value growth of 3x over 5 years. Prior to that, he spent 23 years at Yum! Brands serving in global leadership positions including Global President of KFC and President of Yum! India.
Niren is guided by his deep passion for serving others and building future leaders. He spends his personal time sharing his personal and professional journey with students and professionals, often wielding a guitar to sing about his life or even a new Panera menu item. In addition, he dedicates his personal time serving on the Tufts Medical Centre Board and as an advocate for DKMS, a leading non-profit with the world’s largest stem cell donor registry.
As a lifelong learner, Niren focuses on both formal and informal education. Formally, Niren holds a bachelor’s degree in Economics from St. Stephen’s College in Delhi, an MBA in marketing from the University of Delhi, and completed the Advanced Management Program at Harvard Business School. Informally, Niren speaks 4 languages – Hindi, English, Dutch and German. He holds a black belt in Shotokan karate and is an avid golfer, tennis player and musician with his own rock band.
My Speaker List
