HR Leaders · 2026-06-15 · 31 min
In this episode of the HR Leaders Podcast, I had an inspiring conversation with Kelly Costanza , Chief People Officer at CAVA , to unpack how one of the fastest-growing restaurant brands is turning culture, hospitality, and frontline careers into a real business advantage. Kelly shares why culture cannot just be a word on a wall. At CAVA, culture is operationalized through values, competencies, recognition, career pathways, frontline listening, stock grants, mental health benefits, and leadership rituals that make the employee experience feel just as intentional as the guest experience. Most importantly, Kelly explains how CAVA is building a place where people can have a career, not just a job, from hourly team members growing into general managers, to leaders staying connected to the restaurants through shoulder-to-shoulder service, town halls, and practical feedback from the frontline.
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