Cheri Torres, PhD

Thought Leader and Lead Catalyst at CWH Institute

Management Consulting

Education: Lehigh University - University of Tennessee Knoxville
Asheville, NC, USA

Biography

Cheri Torres, PhD, co-founder and executive officer for CWH Institute Inc, where she helps individuals, teams, and entire systems unlock their potential through the power of communication. With decades of experience in leadership and teamwork, Cheri specializes in professional development and whole-system culture change using Appreciative Inquiry—one of the most widely adopted approaches for positive transformation. At the heart of her work are two deceptively simple practices: asking generative questions and using positive framing. These tools form the foundation of her best-selling book, Conversations Worth Having. Through this work, she discovered that the key to human and organizational potential lies in the quality of our conversations—with ourselves and with others. The nature of those conversations, she asserts, is fateful.

Cheri equips leaders and teams with the self-awareness, self-management, and communication strategies needed to build trust, foster meaningful engagement, spark innovation, and create collaborative cultures. Her work empowers people to shift from transactional to transformational relationships—cultivating workplaces where creativity and collective intelligence thrive. Whether it's a podcast, a keynote, or a workshop, everyone leaves with two simple practices they can implement immediately to strengthen relationships and generate successful outcomes.

A lifelong learner, Cheri holds a PhD in Collaborative Learning and Educational Psychology, an MBA, a Master’s in Transpersonal Psychology, and Level II certifications in both the Barrett Values Cultural Assessment and Spiral Dynamics Integral. Her thought leadership has been featured in Fast Company, Forbes, HR Magazine, SmartBrief, Training Industry, and Training Magazine. She continues to write and share her insights as a way of deepening her own learning while supporting others in discovering the transformative power of communication.

• Areas of Expertise: Leadership, Teamwork, Collaborative Learning, Appreciative Inquiry, Culture Change, Communication
• Education: PhD, University of TN-Knoxville; MBA, Lehigh University, MA, Institute of Transpersonal Psychology

Passion

Watching people come alive and thrive through the simple act of conversation. The first hint of that for me these days is witnessing their excitement when they realize they can strengthen their relationships, create positive change, and move toward desired outcomes by intentionally changing their conversations!

Best Story

Alisha Patel was senior VP in charge of quality at a hospital which had tripled in size over a three-year period. The stress of their expansion was being felt by everyone and patient satisfaction had been suffering. At nurse manager meetings Alisha would ask with a critical tone, "What going wrong? Why are your satisfaction scores dropping?" The managers' answer was always the same, "We are understaffed. Many of our nurses are working double shifts. There's nothing more we can do without more staff." Alisha grew more frustrated each quarter, the managers grew more resistant and angry, and Alisha was beginning to bring it home to her partner.

In hopes of some solution, Alisha attended an Appreciative Inquiry Training, thinking she had to try something! On the first day, she realized she was part of the problem. By speaking in critical ways that blamed and shamed the nurse managers, she basically contributed to a negative culture unable to create positive change. During the training, Alisha suddenly realized not all patients were dissatisfied; the score weren't zero. She'd just focused on what was wrong, what needed fixing. She learned that the secret to satisfaction could be found in the experiences of satisfied patients and that the nature of her question would make all the difference in how the managers responded.

At her next nurse manager meeting she shared her realization and asked, What do you know about the patients that are satisfied? What more might we learn from them?" She asked the nurses to pay attention to what was creating satisfaction, talk with patients who were satisfied and learn from them, observe nursing practices that best supported patients care and wellbeing. At the next meeting nurses were buzzing with conversation when Alisha entered. Everyone had stories to tell, ideas to share, and changes they'd already implemented. Alisha filled an entire white board with their creative ideas. Alisha sat excited and cautious at the end of the meeting. Could it be that easy, she wondered? Could it simply be changing the focus to what we want (instead of fixing what we don't want) and asking generative questions to widen our view of what's already working and what else is possible?

When the next quarterly reports came out, Alisha was eager to see if the positive change she anticipated was going to be proven. Sure enough, patient satisfaction was up on every unit and one unit had 100% patient satisfaction! In addition, her relationship with the nurse managers improved, morale in each unit improved, as did retention. And her husband was happy to have her arrive home uplifted with positive stories to share!

Origin Story

For my entire career I have focused on facilitating the potential of people and organizations to achieve their goals. Early on I facilitated parent/child relationships then leadership and team development through experiential learning (adventure-based learning/ropes courses). In order to bring experiential learning to more people and make it affordable for schools and non-profits, a colleague and I designed a portable low ropes course which we patented and later won the Association for Experiential Education Creativity Award. The following year we were introduced to Appreciative Inquiry, which provided a concise framework for teaching the way we facilitated--focusing on what worked and asking questions that encouraged creativity, success, and practical application.

Eventually I began to realize people are inherently team players and readily share leadership--it was the design of the activities that brought out those characteristics. In other words, teamwork and leadership emerge when the cultural/environmental structure calls for or supports those characteristics. This lead me to a career change. I began to work toward culture and systems change, transforming structures to bring out inherent teamwork and leadership. My primary focus was using Appreciative Inquiry, one of the most effective and widely used approaches for fostering positive change, to support strategic planning. It wasn't until I co-authored Conversations Worth Having with Jackie Stavros that I realized the simplicity of culture transformation. Everything we do involves conversation--with ourselves or others--and those conversations move us toward desired outcomes...or not. Two simple practices --which every person can use--are capable of turning any conversation--any time, anywhere, and in any situation--into one worth having.

It's simple. It is practical and immediately implementable. Focus on what you want instead of what you don't want. Ask generative questions, which widen the view, change the way people think, and expand possibilities. It is the simple on the other side of complex and I am passionate about sharing it with others. Collectively, people can create organizations that flourish and communities that help every living being thrive. We simply have to change our conversations!

Example talks

Leaders: Make Your Conversations Worth Having

In today’s fast-paced, high-stakes world, leadership isn’t just about strategy—it’s about connection. The most successful leaders don’t just talk; they engage in conversations that energize teams, unlock innovation, and move organizations forward.

In this dynamic and inspiring keynote, Dr. Cheri Torres shares the power of Conversations Worth Having—two simple yet transformative practices that equip leaders to shift culture, resolve conflict, and ignite collaboration. Grounded in Appreciative Inquiry and backed by years of research and real-world application, this session will leave your audience with practical tools they can use immediately to foster trust, elevate performance, and lead with purpose.

Whether you're looking to kick off your conference with energy or close it with a call to action, this keynote delivers the perfect mix of insight, inspiration, and interaction.

Ideal For:
Leadership conferences • Women in leadership events • HR & talent development summits • Education, healthcare, and nonprofit forums • Company-wide retreats

Featured Video

Featured Book

I am willing to travel

More than 100 miles

When it comes to payments

I generally get paid for speaking but make exceptions

Topics

leadership communication skills workplace engagement difficult conversations constructive feedback conflict resolution emotional intelligence team communication employee engagement workplace culture conscious leadership regenerative business culture change inclusive leadership manager development organizational health self-awareness resilience training positive mindset inner dialogue mindful communication crucial conversations personal growth confidence building wellbeing workplace wellbeing health wellness healthcare womens wellbeing employee wellbeing teacher communication student success sel strategies classroom culture teacher impact burnout prevention compassionate care medical teamwork clinical communication mission alignment purpose-driven teams non-profit leadership community engagement relationship building healthy relationships family family conversations talking with teens parenting parent teacher communication parent engagement

Best Story

Alisha Patel was senior VP in charge of quality at a hospital which had tripled in size over a three-year period. The stress of their expansion was being felt by everyone and patient satisfaction had been suffering. At nurse manager meetings Alisha would ask with a critical tone, "What going wrong? Why are your satisfaction scores dropping?" The managers' answer was always the same, "We are understaffed. Many of our nurses are working double shifts. There's nothing more we can do without more staff." Alisha grew more frustrated each quarter, the managers grew more resistant and angry, and Alisha was beginning to bring it home to her partner.

In hopes of some solution, Alisha attended an Appreciative Inquiry Training, thinking she had to try something! On the first day, she realized she was part of the problem. By speaking in critical ways that blamed and shamed the nurse managers, she basically contributed to a negative culture unable to create positive change. During the training, Alisha suddenly realized not all patients were dissatisfied; the score weren't zero. She'd just focused on what was wrong, what needed fixing. She learned that the secret to satisfaction could be found in the experiences of satisfied patients and that the nature of her question would make all the difference in how the managers responded.

At her next nurse manager meeting she shared her realization and asked, What do you know about the patients that are satisfied? What more might we learn from them?" She asked the nurses to pay attention to what was creating satisfaction, talk with patients who were satisfied and learn from them, observe nursing practices that best supported patients care and wellbeing. At the next meeting nurses were buzzing with conversation when Alisha entered. Everyone had stories to tell, ideas to share, and changes they'd already implemented. Alisha filled an entire white board with their creative ideas. Alisha sat excited and cautious at the end of the meeting. Could it be that easy, she wondered? Could it simply be changing the focus to what we want (instead of fixing what we don't want) and asking generative questions to widen our view of what's already working and what else is possible?

When the next quarterly reports came out, Alisha was eager to see if the positive change she anticipated was going to be proven. Sure enough, patient satisfaction was up on every unit and one unit had 100% patient satisfaction! In addition, her relationship with the nurse managers improved, morale in each unit improved, as did retention. And her husband was happy to have her arrive home uplifted with positive stories to share!

Origin Story

For my entire career I have focused on facilitating the potential of people and organizations to achieve their goals. Early on I facilitated parent/child relationships then leadership and team development through experiential learning (adventure-based learning/ropes courses). In order to bring experiential learning to more people and make it affordable for schools and non-profits, a colleague and I designed a portable low ropes course which we patented and later won the Association for Experiential Education Creativity Award. The following year we were introduced to Appreciative Inquiry, which provided a concise framework for teaching the way we facilitated--focusing on what worked and asking questions that encouraged creativity, success, and practical application.

Eventually I began to realize people are inherently team players and readily share leadership--it was the design of the activities that brought out those characteristics. In other words, teamwork and leadership emerge when the cultural/environmental structure calls for or supports those characteristics. This lead me to a career change. I began to work toward culture and systems change, transforming structures to bring out inherent teamwork and leadership. My primary focus was using Appreciative Inquiry, one of the most effective and widely used approaches for fostering positive change, to support strategic planning. It wasn't until I co-authored Conversations Worth Having with Jackie Stavros that I realized the simplicity of culture transformation. Everything we do involves conversation--with ourselves or others--and those conversations move us toward desired outcomes...or not. Two simple practices --which every person can use--are capable of turning any conversation--any time, anywhere, and in any situation--into one worth having.

It's simple. It is practical and immediately implementable. Focus on what you want instead of what you don't want. Ask generative questions, which widen the view, change the way people think, and expand possibilities. It is the simple on the other side of complex and I am passionate about sharing it with others. Collectively, people can create organizations that flourish and communities that help every living being thrive. We simply have to change our conversations!

Example talks

Leaders: Make Your Conversations Worth Having

In today’s fast-paced, high-stakes world, leadership isn’t just about strategy—it’s about connection. The most successful leaders don’t just talk; they engage in conversations that energize teams, unlock innovation, and move organizations forward.

In this dynamic and inspiring keynote, Dr. Cheri Torres shares the power of Conversations Worth Having—two simple yet transformative practices that equip leaders to shift culture, resolve conflict, and ignite collaboration. Grounded in Appreciative Inquiry and backed by years of research and real-world application, this session will leave your audience with practical tools they can use immediately to foster trust, elevate performance, and lead with purpose.

Whether you're looking to kick off your conference with energy or close it with a call to action, this keynote delivers the perfect mix of insight, inspiration, and interaction.

Ideal For:
Leadership conferences • Women in leadership events • HR & talent development summits • Education, healthcare, and nonprofit forums • Company-wide retreats