Aklima Hyson

Aklima Hyson, Senior Manager of Operations Integration and Training at CHAGEE USA, has built a career defined by resilience, adaptability, and a passion for developing people. Born on a small coffee farm in Trinidad and Tobago, she moved to the United States at age seven, learning to navigate different cultures while embracing her Indian and West Indian heritage. After attending Cardozo High School in New York, where she successfully auditioned for the dance program despite having no formal dance company experience, Aklima discovered her interest in advertising and marketing. She earned an associate degree in marketing and communications, with a focus on advertising, marketing, and public relations, from the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York. Although the economic disruption following September 11, 2001, altered her original career plans, she embraced new opportunities in business operations, recognizing how marketing, customer engagement, and brand strategy could translate into successful day-to-day execution. Throughout her career, Aklima has developed extensive expertise in multi-unit operations, process optimization, leadership development, and employee training. She advanced through management positions at TUMI and Skechers before joining Starbucks, where she spent seven years overseeing company-operated and licensed stores as a district manager. She later brought her operational leadership and people-development expertise to The Wendy’s Company, where she championed integrating professional development into everyday business practices and helped emerging leaders prepare for advancement into district management roles. Aklima’s commitment to helping people recognize their potential has become a defining element of her leadership philosophy. Lessons she learned from her Mother Cynthia Khan and Father Faizool Khan when they worked in the Salvation Army stores in NYC. She saw firsthand how to build and develop individuals who would not normally be seen or heard. She believes effective training extends beyond teaching procedures; it empowers individuals to build confidence, strengthen their judgment, and develop the skills needed to succeed She furthered her education through the Starbucks College Achievement Program with Arizona State University by taking Organizational Leadership and Project Management classes. An important source of encouragement throughout her professional journey has been her husband, Mark, who initially served as her mentor and helped guide her career growth. His support, insight, and inspiration have played a meaningful role in her development as a leader, and their professional connection eventually grew into a lasting personal partnership. Aklima deeply values the guidance he has provided and recognizes him as an important part of the journey that brought her to where she is today. Today, at CHAGEE USA, Aklima brings together her experience in operations and passion for training as she helps establish scalable systems to support the brand’s expansion into the American market. Her responsibilities include strengthening onboarding programs, aligning operational practices with brand standards, improving compliance and quality assurance, and preparing teams for new store openings and market launches. She collaborates across departments to ensure that operational excellence, employee development, and exceptional customer experiences remain connected as the company grows. For Aklima, building the training function from the ground up represents an opportunity to create a lasting foundation for both business performance and employee success. She is particularly excited about contributing to CHAGEE’s ambitious U.S. expansion and developing systems that preserve the brand’s identity while equipping employees to thrive in a new market. Guided by her belief in approaching every interaction with love and care, Aklima places integrity, genuine passion, and continuous growth at the center of her professional and personal life. She hopes to look back on this chapter knowing that she helped build more than a growing business—that she helped create an environment where people feel supported, develop into confident leaders, and achieve success together. With Mark and her parents continuing to be a source of strength and inspiration, Aklima remains committed to leading with purpose, empowering others, and making a meaningful impact throughout her career.