Kaydia Benjamin served as inaugural CEO of Georgia State's student-run Saxbys cafe.
Often, by Georgia State’s Library North entrance, a line of students stretches through the common study area. But those students aren’t waiting to check out a book—they need caffeine from the adjacent Saxbys.
The busy cafe opened in October 2023 as part of the Saxbys Experiential Learning Platform (ELP), which allows students to hone leadership skills through paid positions. The program is well-established at more than two dozen universities throughout the Northeast, but Georgia State launched the first student-run Saxbys in the South. Kaydia Benjamin, an entrepreneurship major from Georgia State’s Robinson College of Business, served as the university’s inaugural student CEO (SCEO). Because she was the first, her responsibilities were more intense than a typical SCEO. In addition to overseeing operations and managing 60 student employees, Benjamin ordered equipment, worked with contractors on setting up the space, tested recipes, and trained an entirely new staff on company processes and values. Saxbys designed the SCEO position to last one semester.
Benjamin wasn’t thrown into the fire alone. The summer before she started, she traveled to the Saxbys headquarters in Philadelphia, where all upcoming SCEOs convened for onboarding. Plus, new market leader Kush Patel relocated to Atlanta as part of the ELP’s expansion.
“Kush was my lifeline throughout the semester,” Benjamin said. “When I was unsure how to respond when a teammate needed advice or direction, I could go to him. We also divided and conquered opening and closing the cafe.”
From L-R: Pounce, Georgia State University (GSU) mascot;
Jennifer Sherer, former director, Entrepreneurship & Innovation Institute;
Nick Bayer, CEO and founder, Saxbys; Kaydia Benjamin; Jeff Steely, dean of libraries, GSU; Bridget Blake, first lady, GSU; and M. Brian Blake, president, GSU, snap a photo at the ribbon cutting for Georgia State's first student-run Saxbys.
Benjamin pulled 40-hour-plus workweeks. She stayed on top of inventory, ordered food and supplies, handled payroll and scheduling, supervised daily operations, and figured out what to do if something went wrong. For example, when whole milk and bread ran out before the arrival of the next shipment, Benjamin ordered enough to hold them over via Instacart. She didn’t just slap on a Band-Aid; she aimed to prevent repeat mistakes.
“I tried to foster a culture of observation and proactivity,” Benjamin said. “It would have been exhausting to convey feedback like that to people over and over again. I encouraged everyone to function like a true team by sharing information and learning together.”
In addition to holding down a chaotic full-time job, Benjamin took two asynchronous online courses. She also attended weekly virtual seminars provided by Saxbys. Her favorite workshop covered maintaining composure during stressful situations, and cultivating awareness of the impact of body language.
“Managing my emotions is important,” Benjamin said. “But as a leader, I also have an obligation to notice when someone looks upset and ask if they’re okay.”
The SCEO opportunity aligns with Benjamin’s entrepreneurial ambitions.
Benjamin is currently renovating an investment property and has considered developing a community of townhomes and/or opening a consulting business that focuses on interpersonal skills. On top of that, a recruiter has approached her about joining Saxbys corporate. Benjamin graduates this summer and has a lot of options.
Benjamin’s biggest takeaway from the ELP isn’t management acumen. It has nothing to do with business chops. She realized that at the end of the day, she has to prioritize self-care.
“I’ve lived under a constant cloud of stress the past few years,” she said. “If I build a solid internal foundation, I can show up to all these endeavors as my best self.”