Build cultures
where people and performance thrive.
Dr. Cherise Bernard partners with Fortune 500 leaders and organizations to design high-trust, inclusive cultures through consulting, executive coaching, and transformative frameworks.
Dr. Cherise Bernard
PHD · ICF CERTIFIED COACH · FOUNDER & CEO
(Rutgers University, Spelman College)
Goldman Sachs, One Million Black Women in Business
Meet the Founder
Science-trained.
People-obsessed.
Before building Modern Work LLC, I spent over a decade at the intersection of organizational behavior and human performance. I worked at Spotify, McCann Worldgroup, Invitae, and Elsevier. My scientific background gave me something most culture consultants do not have. It shaped a deep belief in rigor, measurement, and evidence.
Today, I help organizations move beyond performative gestures toward real, sustainable culture change. I use proprietary frameworks built on behavioral science, leadership research, and lived experience.
Full Bio →What We Do
Three ways to
work with us.
Every engagement is customized, whether you need organizational strategy, executive coaching, or a keynote that shifts how people think about culture.
Organizational Consulting
End-to-end culture transformation for companies ready to move beyond performative inclusion toward measurable, lasting change.
- Culture Assessment & Diagnostics
- Leadership Development Programs
- ERG Strategy & Community Design
- Green Flag™ Framework Integration
- Fractional People Executive
Executive Coaching
Individual and cohort coaching for leaders navigating complexity, transition, and the ambiguity that comes with growth.
- 1:1 Leadership Coaching (6–12 months)
- Transition Blueprint (90-day intensive)
- Personal Operating System™ Framework
- Inclusive Leadership Development
- Group Coaching Cohorts
Keynotes & Speaking
Science-backed, story-driven keynotes that reshape how leaders and teams think about culture, belonging, and ambiguity.
- Your Brain on Ambiguity™ (Signature)
- Green Flag Your Culture™ Keynote
- Navigating Ambiguity Workshop
- Executive Panels & Facilitation
- Facilitation Bootcamps
Proprietary Frameworks
Two frameworks.
One north star.
Built from behavioral science and real organizational experience — not generic models.
Green Flag
Your Culture™
Culture isn't invisible, it leaves signals. This framework identifies the "green flags" that reinforce inclusion and belonging, and replaces red-flag behaviors with measurable daily actions across five pillars.
Navigating
Ambiguity™
When leaders don't know what comes next, most freeze or force certainty. This framework gives leaders neuroscience-backed tools to find clarity, make confident decisions, and lead with poise in uncertain terrain.
Start Where You Are
Ways to engage.
Whether you're exploring or ready to commit, there's a right next step for every stage of the journey.
01 — Watch
Your Brain at Work
A YouTube series breaking down the neuroscience of workplace culture, designed for leaders who want to understand what's really happening in their organizations.
02 — Download
The Green Flag Playbook
A practical guide to identifying the micro-moments that shape your culture, and turning red flags into green ones. Download free for your team.
03 — Connect
Discovery Call
A 30-minute conversation to explore where your organization is, where you want to go, and how Modern Work can help you get there.
04 — Explore
Career Resources
Discover tools designed for your growth, from the Career Discovery Bundle to the Navigating Ambiguity Cards, now available for pre-order.
Now Streaming
Your Brain at Work — Episode 1
Why your nervous system is running your company culture (and what to do about it)
Client Voices
What it's like to
work with us.
Cherise delivered beyond expectation. Her ability to hold the strategic vision while driving day-to-day execution is rare. We saw measurable improvement in employee sentiment, leadership engagement, and team performance.
Cherise's coaching changed how I lead. I gained tools to navigate difficult conversations with confidence and build stronger relationships across difference. She brings empathy and accountability in equal measure.
She didn't just give us a strategy, she guided us through how culture could drive business growth. Her ability to connect data, leadership buy-in, and long-term planning gave our executive team exactly what we needed.