The world today is in a polycrisis. We face significant challenges - rise in hate, increase in inequity, global warming and increased risk with technology. However these challenges can become unprecedented opportunities if we lead through our values - compassion for hate, accountability for climate, responsibility for inequality, and morality for risk. Values based leadership is the way forward for a better world. Niren will share some unique perspectives on the importance of and the way to build values based leadership. As an additional incentive to come he promises to sing some Eric Clapton and Oasis together with you all!

About our speaker:

Niren Chaudhary was the Chairman of the Board of Panera Brands 2023-2024, 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. Under his leadership Panera was also voted the Most Innovative Company by Fast Company in 2021 and rated as amongst the Top 20 Most purpose driven companies and Top 10 most sustainable companies 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. KFC India and Pizza Hut India were rated as the most trusted brands during his tenure and the company also received the President of India’s award for their work on equal opportunity for hearing and speech impaired employees

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 Board of DKMS, a leading non-profit with the world’s largest stem cell donor registry. He is also an Executive in Residence at the Columbia Business school and a frequent guest lecturer at top Ivy league schools. Go forward Nien’s mission is to “be a catalyst to help unlock human potential “as a coach / mentor / academic / book writer and investor

Niren has faced some significant personal challenges with the loss of 2 of his daughters which has shaped him profoundly as a human and as a leader and deepened his commitment to live a life of service. The story of his family has been captured in a movie called “The Sky is Pink” and a documentary called “Black sunshine baby” on Netflix.

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, Advanced Management Program at Harvard Business School and is now pursuing a fellowship at Harvard under the Advanced Leadership Initiative. Niren is also an International Coaching Federation Accredited Executive Coach & mentor. Informally, Niren speaks 4 languages – Hindi, English, Dutch, German and is now learning Spanish. He holds a black belt in Shotokan karate and is an avid golfer, tennis player and musician with his own rock band. Niren is also a passionate and powerful keynote speaker at many corporate leadership events across the country.

TICKETS: will be released in January
WHEN:  Thursday 13 February 2025
5.30 pm – 6.00 pm: Wine reception and networking in Chetwynd Room
6.00 pm – 7.00 pm: Fireside discussion in Keynes Lecture Theatre
WHERE: King's College, Cambridge