A Day in the Life of Cava CEO Brett Schulman
Balancing public company demands with operational discipline and a structured daily routine.
1From Finance to Food
Brett Schulman transitioned from a decade in corporate finance to entrepreneurship, initially bootstrapping the snack brand Snikiddy. In 2009, he joined Cava Mezze founders to scale their concept. By 2011, he led the launch of their first walk-the-line restaurant, eventually growing the business to over 500 locations as a public company.
2Morning Routine and Discipline
Schulman wakes at 6:30 a.m., prioritizing a 45-minute home workout and market news consumption. He avoids breakfast due to intermittent fasting, focusing instead on coffee preparation. This structured start allows him to balance family time with his three children before heading to the office by 8:00 a.m. for his workday.
3Strategic Calendar Management
The CEO blocks his calendar before 9:00 a.m. to ensure focus on high-level planning, including quarterly town halls and investor conferences. He relies on an executive coordinator to manage his schedule, ensuring that recurring commitments are balanced against ad-hoc strategic initiatives, marketing campaign reviews, and essential culinary development pipeline discussions.
4Maintaining Operational Connection
Despite his executive duties, Schulman works a shift in a Cava restaurant every quarter to stay connected to the frontline. He prioritizes proximity to locations, often walking seven minutes to pick up a bowl for lunch. This practice ensures he experiences the product exactly as customers do, including testing new menu items.
5Hybrid Collaboration Strategy
Cava operates with a hybrid model, requiring three days in the office. The company maintains a main collaboration center in Washington, DC, alongside smaller hubs in Brooklyn and Plano, Texas. Schulman emphasizes being physically present in the office whenever he is in town to foster culture and direct team engagement.
6The Value of Punctuality
Schulman views punctuality as a core form of respect for his team and family. He believes that strict time management is the only way to handle the complex responsibilities of running a public enterprise while remaining present at home. This obsessive approach to scheduling allows him to maintain high efficiency throughout.
7Evening and Personal Balance
He leaves the office between 5:30 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. to cook dinner with his wife. Evenings are reserved for family time, walking the dog, and watching television, such as the show The Bear. He concludes his day by reviewing documents and emails to prepare for the next morning's scheduled meetings.
8Scaling Through Evolution
Schulman acknowledges that he has had to reinvent himself as a CEO across startup, growth, and public enterprise phases. His journey highlights the necessity of evolving leadership structures to support rapid scaling. By maintaining a consistent sleep schedule of seven hours, he ensures the mental clarity required for ongoing corporate growth.
Original article: Business Insider — A Day in the Life of Cava CEO Brett Schulman