Experienced leader Kat Cole shares her career journey from Hooters to Cinnabon to CEO of Athletic Greens. She discusses negotiation, change management, and the importance of asking strong questions for personal and professional growth. Learn about her transformative leadership at Cinnabon, balancing growth with core business, and navigating career choices. Explore her transition to AG1, focusing on quality over expansion, and improving health through unique products.
Asking the right questions is crucial for scaling a business successfully and forging a strategic path.
Leaders can address cultural gaps and conflicts effectively through negotiation, empathy, and prioritizing staff comfort.
Deep dives
Kat Cole's Journey from Hooters to Athletic Greens
Kat Cole's transformative career journey from working at Hooters, where she started as a 15-year-old hostess, to becoming the President of Athletic Greens, a billion-dollar health supplement company. Her experience showcases her growth from the restaurant industry to leading a successful health-focused brand.
Navigating Leadership Challenges at Hooters
Kat Cole's leadership challenges at Hooters, where she faced cultural gaps and resistance from employees concerning uniform standards. Through negotiation and empathy, she successfully managed the conflicts, highlighted by reshaping uniforms and prioritizing staff comfort, leading to a successful restaurant launch.
Lessons Learned in Scaling Legacy Brands
Cole's leadership insights in scaling legacy brands like Cinnabon, emphasizing the importance of innovation and maintaining brand integrity. She discusses expanding the brand into omnichannel territories and navigating the complexities of the CPG industry, showcasing her strategic approach to driving growth.
Transition to Athletic Greens and Focus on Talent and Speed
Cole's transition to Athletic Greens and her focus on talent and speed in a rapidly growing company. She emphasizes the significance of talent management and operational efficiency in sustaining hyper-growth while maintaining product quality and expanding into new channels, reflecting her commitment to fostering a culture of excellence.
From traveling the world opening restaurants as a teenager to pioneering new strategies at legacy brands, Kat Cole knows the importance of asking the right questions to forge a path to scale. Host Jeff Berman dives into Cole's fascinating career, exploring how she led teams at iconic brands like Hooters and Cinnabon, applying the lessons to steering the billion-dollar health supplement company Athletic Greens, where she’s just been named CEO. Plus, how her renowned Hot Shot Rule can change your life and career.