AIMS Speaker Feature| Khalilah Cooper - Chick-fil-A
The Atlanta Integrated Marketing Summit (AIMS) is a half-day event that brings Atlanta’s vibrant marketing community together to turn inspiration into action, build meaningful connections, and spotlight incredible industry leaders.
Last year’s speaker lineup featured leaders from UPS, Kellanova, Edible Brands, and Papa Johns. Now, we’re excited to begin announcing our 2026 speakers for October 8 at SCADshow — a lineup of marketing leaders who are actively shaping what’s next for the industry.
The first speaker in our growing lineup is Khalilah Cooper, Vice President of Brand Strategy, Advertising & Media at Chick-fil-A. In her role, Khalilah leads the vision and execution of Chick-fil-A’s integrated marketing efforts, ensuring every touchpoint reflects the brand’s purpose, values and commitment to great tasting food and remarkable hospitality. She oversees brand strategy, national advertising and experiential, media planning and investment, family entertainment, and creative excellence across owned, earned, and paid channels.
We spoke with Khalilah to get a sneak peek at what attendees can expect from her session at AIMS:
Q1 | What does “building brand meaning” look like in practice for a brand like Chick-fil-A?
Working for Chick-fil-A has taught me that being a meaningful brand isn’t something we get to decide for our Customers. It’s something they determine themselves, based on how we show up for them in everyday moments and interactions with us.
Brand meaning is built over time through small interactions. It’s built through how we treat our Customers, how we care for them, and how we provide added value to their lives, above and beyond a transaction.
Q2 | How do customer experience and storytelling work together to shape how people feel about a brand?
One of the lessons I’ve learned is that the most important storytelling emerges through the work of our local Owner-Operators, where stories are created in the everyday interactions in their Restaurants. This happens long before a message ever reaches a consumer through marketing and media.
We still believe in the power of word-of-mouth brand advocacy, because when someone has a great experience, they’re more likely to share about it with others. The same can also be said for a negative brand experience. We don’t get the privilege of telling brand stories if we don’t have Customers who are experiencing the brand in a way that inspires them to tell others.
Our main role in storytelling is to deliver an experience worth talking about, listening to Customers, responding to Customer feedback, and then making sure our stories reflect their truth with honesty.
Q3 | What is one thing marketers often miss when trying to connect brand strategy, media, and experience?
It’s easy to think of connection as something we create through great campaigns. Working with Chick-fil-A has shown me that connection has to be earned through consistency: consistency in the Restaurant experience our local Owner-Operators provide, consistency in the way we care, and consistency in the quality of stories we tell, the way that we tell them, and the way that we reach our Customers on every level.
Media can be a tool to invite someone in by sharing our story at scale, but Customer experience determines trust. Maintaining trust is why we’re constantly pushing to ensure brand strategy, experience, operations, and marketing are working synergistically, across all parts of our business.
Q4 | What are you most excited to share with the AIMS audience this October?
Meaningful brands are built over time. When people know they can count on you to help make their lives more convenient, they’re more willing to trust you. It’s not about saying or doing the right thing once; it’s about continuing to show up, every day and in every interaction. Then you can earn the ability to create and share stories that resonate with others and highlight the heart of your brand.
Q5 | How do you think about keeping a brand experience consistent and meaningful at scale?
I’ve come to believe that consistency doesn’t come from trying to control every detail. It comes from being clear on what matters, and having local Owner-Operators who are bought into that vision and leading their teams to execute with excellence.
What makes Chick‑fil‑A feel familiar, even at scale, isn’t perfection. It’s a shared commitment to showing care in ways that feel genuine and personal, within the communities we serve.
We cannot wait to hear what else Khalilah has to share at AIMS! Join us October 8th for a day filled with inspiration, knowledge, and networking! Early Bird tickets last until May 31st — get the best deal today!