Athens- Limestone CEO class got the chance to visit Chick-fil-a of Athens and meet with Owner-Operator Matthew Kyle. He shared an inspiring conversation about leadership, Chick-fil-A corporate values, and the importance of creating an environment where people want to work.
Our CEOs learned that strong leadership goes beyond business success. Matthew emphasized the importance of creating an environment where people want to be and where you feel comfortable bringing your family. He encouraged our CEOs to extend kindness and grace to others and to have a positive influence on everyone around them.

One of the biggest takeaways was the importance of persistence and consistency. Matthew shared that one of the hardest parts of running Chick-fil-A is doing the same things well, consistently. Customers expect consistency in the product and service at the restaurant. Doing the right thing every day, even when it can be challenging, is what builds trust and creates a lasting impact.

Our CEOs also learned about the importance of taking care of employees and building strong teams, with Chick-fil-A locations often employing 120–130 people.

Above all, Matthew reminded our CEOs that kindness goes a long way and encouraged them to simply “do the right thing.”

Thank you, Matthew, for sharing your experience, the story behind Chick-fil-A, and valuable lessons on leadership, consistency, kindness, and doing what’s right with our CEOs!