LDP’s recipe for next-gen leaders: ‘It’s a template that enables success’

Micana Gallaway had worked for an independent Chick-fil-A? franchisee Operator since she was a college sophomore, and she became the general manager for the Operator in Gainesville, Fla.??

She mastered that role, confirming to Gallaway that business was her passion. That motivated her to ask a natural question: What’s next??

She answered her question by applying to Chick-fil-A, Inc.’s Leadership Development Program (LDP), a premier experience for next-generation business leaders. The immersive Program enables personal and professional growth during a 24- to 36-month period, all on the road, as Participants solve real-world challenges.?

Today, Gallaway is the Director of Operations and Business Development at Crumbl, LLC, a family-owned cookie business started in 2017, intent on revolutionizing the gourmet dessert experience. Gallaway credits her LDP experience with the ability to move to another successful company.?

“You definitely have the gratitude for where Chick-fil-A has come in terms of the systems and procedures,” she said. “It's a template that enables success. And so understanding the work that went into that from Truett, it's just insane being able to see it from this side.”?

The promise of business experience and transferrable skills attracted her to the high-performance leadership program. When she left LDP, she departed knowing how to run a business with intention, how to work with different business minds, and how to guide other leaders.?

One of her biggest takeaways was “being able to collaborate with multiple kinds of people in different areas and having the confidence in my own knowledge or know-how that I can steer people in the right direction based on the experience with LDP. Thirteen openings and four transitions definitely equipped me to be able to work with startups and new businesses.”??

Sweet job transition?

?LDP gave Gallaway the confidence and skills to become a leader outside of Chick-fil-A, part of the Program’s mission. Crumbl’s relative youth attracted Gallaway, and she felt empowered by her newfound skills. The company turned to her to drive growth.?

“We’re in the process of building and opening. That's kind of my role right now. And so, it's a lot of new store openings, leadership development and recruitment,” said Gallaway, who experienced all of those in LDP.?

The journey, not the destination?

LDP elevated Gallaway’s business competencies, as it does for all Participants, by instilling in her the ability to lead humbly, connect personally, communicate clearly, act wisely, persist creatively and show ownership.?

Gallaway already had 10 years of Chick-fil-A franchise experience by the time she applied for LDP. The process went smoothly, and she remained a humble leader.?

“My Chick-fil-A knowledge was high, but my business acumen needed work,” Gallaway said. “So, if you're considering LDP, ensure that your intentions are business related and make sure you're open to adaptability, flexibility, and the journey - not the destination.”?

Learn more about the Chick-fil-A, Inc. Leadership Development Program, including things to consider and how to apply. Or share the website with a future leader: https://www.chick-fil-a.com/leadership-development-program ??