Applied AI Speakers — Feature Profile
Cheryle Hays
The Human Potentialist™
“Your brain is designed to keep you safe — not make you successful. Courageous Curiosity™ is the upgrade.”
— Cheryle Hays, The Human Potentialist™
01 — The Human Story
25 Years Helping Leaders Upgrade from Reactive Autopilot to Intentional Design.
Cheryle Hays is The Human Potentialist™ — a leadership keynote speaker, strategist, and Amazon Best-Selling co-author who has spent 25+ years helping leaders in tech and male-dominated industries lead by intentional design rather than reactive default.
Founder of InPower Strategists and developer of the Courageous Curiosity™ framework and R³ (Reflect, Reframe, Respond), Cheryle’s work has been recognized by the Smithsonian Institution. She is co-author of People Fusion and is completing her forthcoming book Courageous Curiosity: The One Thing That Changes Everything (2026).
Her core insight: your brain is designed to keep you safe, not make you successful — and that default operating system is what keeps smart, capable leaders stuck on autopilot. Courageous Curiosity™ is the upgrade.
The R³ Framework
Reflect
Pause the reactive default. Notice what’s actually happening.
Reframe
Shift from judgment to curiosity. Ask a better question.
Respond
Lead by intentional design. Choose empowerment over control.
25+
Years Experience
2
Bestselling Books
🏛️
Smithsonian
Human Judgment + AI Execution
Courageous Curiosity™ restores the human discernment that AI cannot replicate — while John’s AI toolkit amplifies every leader in the room
02 — The AI Application
When AI Can Execute, the One Skill That Wins Is the One It Can’t Replace.
Cheryle’s tandem keynote with John Chmela tackles the defining leadership challenge of the AI era: when AI can execute, what is the irreplaceable human advantage? Together they reveal how default brain wiring makes leaders trust the tool over their own judgment — and how Courageous Curiosity™ restores human discernment, direction, and connection.
John demonstrates live AI tools for leadership coaching, communication analysis, and decision support. Cheryle shows audiences exactly how to use those tools with the R³ framework so AI amplifies their people instead of sidelining them.
The audience leaves with both a leadership OS upgrade and a practical AI toolkit they can use the next morning.
03 — Signature Keynotes
Two Keynotes. One Transformative Framework.
The One Thing That Changes Everything
Courageous Curiosity™ — The Leadership OS for a World That Won’t Slow Down
Through bold storytelling, humor, and neuroscience-based insight, Cheryle leads audiences from overwhelmed, reactive autopilot to leading by intentional design. Tailored for mixed-level or executive audiences; adapts to change, culture, and AI themes.
- ✓Default brain wiring vs. intentional leadership design
- ✓Courageous Curiosity™ as a leadership OS: reactive to responsive
- ✓R³: the everyday leadership reset
- ✓RESPOND 3-2-1™: in-the-moment clarity under pressure
- ✓Building Clarity, Connection & Capacity across teams
Keynote (45–90 min) · Workshop (half-day or full-day) · Virtual or in-person
The One Skill AI Can’t Replace
Courageous Curiosity™ — The Human Leadership Advantage in an AI-Driven World
Almost half of all leaders think AI is the solution. The other half think it’s the problem. Your opportunity lies on the edge between the two. Cheryle reveals how default brain wiring makes leaders trust the tool over their own judgment — and how to restore human discernment.
- ✓AI & future-ready leadership
- ✓Critical thinking & human discernment in an AI world
- ✓Leadership in complexity and ambiguity
- ✓Psychological safety as AI reshapes teams
- ✓Innovation & the irreplaceable human advantage
Keynote (45–90 min) · Workshop (half-day or full-day) · Virtual or in-person
04 — Why This Talk Is Needed Right Now
The Data Is Clear. Leadership Is the Missing Variable.
70%
of digital transformations fail
Not because of tech — because of the human element
McKinsey77%
of executives say AI will transform their org
Yet fewer than 30% feel their leaders are ready
IBM57%
of leaders feel overwhelmed
Reactive default is now the norm, not the exception
DDI21%
global employee engagement
Dropped to pandemic lows as AI anxiety compounds the gap
GallupAI can execute. It cannot lead. The organizations that win won’t be the ones with the best tools — they’ll be the ones with leaders who know how to use them.
05 — Ideal Audiences
Who Books Cheryle & John
Ready to Book Cheryle & John?
Bring The Human Potentialist™ and Applied AI’s leading expert together for a keynote your audience will still be talking about next quarter.