Kelly Costanza on AI experiments

About Kelly Costanza

Kelly Costanza, Chief People Officer at Cava, has discussed the company’s approach to using technology in hiring. She stated that Cava experimented with an AI tool that scanned social media and LinkedIn profiles to deliver candidate leads to restaurants, but the company discontinued it because “it wasn't as human as we wanted it to be.” Costanza said that many employees want “more humanity in the recruiting process” and that people want to interact with humans, though she noted there is “a great opportunity for us to get more efficient and speed up the interview process.” Costanza has also described Cava’s efforts to operationalize its culture through a mission, values, and competencies framework. She said the company created an “MVC” program with values including “generosity first, passion for positivity, collective ambition and constant curiosity” and seven competencies such as accountability and diversity cultivation. She noted that Cava ties 25% of bonus payouts to performance on these competencies, requires support center employees to work in restaurants quarterly through a “shoulder-to-shoulder” program, and uses language that frames people programs as “investments” rather than expenses. Costanza cited Gartner’s “human deal framework” as a model Cava subscribes to, emphasizing radical flexibility, personal growth, holistic well-being, shared purpose, and deeper connection.

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