Dr. Cheryl Lentz

Dr. Cheryl Lentz is an author, university professor, keynote speaker, and publisher whose career spans higher education and entrepreneurship. Lentz holds a Doctorate of Management in Organizational Leadership from University of Phoenix, a Master of Science in International Relations from Troy University, a Master of Science in Criminal Justice from Walden University, and a Bachelor of Arts from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She serves as adjunct faculty at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Walden University, and Grand Canyon University, where students refer to her as Doc C.

Lentz is the founder and president of The Lentz Leadership Institute, where she created and curates "The Refractive Thinker" series, a peer-reviewed anthology featuring contributions from more than 150 doctoral scholars worldwide. The series, which has received multiple awards, centers on Lentz's concept of refractive thinking, which extends beyond traditional critical thinking. She is also the author of works including "Fail Faster, Succeed Sooner," "The Golden Palace Theory of Management," and "Technology That Tutors: 7 Ways to Save Time Using the Blog as a Teaching Tool," contributing to the fields of leadership, critical thinking, and educational technology.

Lentz has been published more than 57 times and has received more than 26 writing awards. Her work has been recognized internationally, and she has been featured on ABC, CBS, NBC, and Fox. Lentz delivered a TEDx talk titled "The Science of the F-word No One Talks About: Failure," sharing her expertise on failure as a transformative force. She has also received the Walden University Faculty of the Year award for the DBA Program.

As a keynote speaker, Lentz presents the WRIST Method, a five-step framework for problem-solving, and offers insights on embracing failure as a pathway to success. She has addressed audiences including military spouses and university faculty, and her presentations have reached institutions such as Wrocław University of Technology in Poland. Lentz is known for translating academic research into practical strategies for organizations, universities, and professional communities focused on leadership development, critical thinking, and educational innovation.