679: Kat Cole - From Hooters Waitress to $500M CEO, You're Interviewing for Your Next Job Every Day, Learning vs. Ego, The Four Key Mindsets for Senior Leaders, and The Journey of Who You Become - The Learning Leader Show With Ryan Hawk Recap
Podcast: The Learning Leader Show With Ryan Hawk
Published: 2026-03-15
Duration: 59 min
Guests: Kat Cole
Summary
Kat Cole shares her journey from a Hooters waitress to becoming the CEO of AG1, emphasizing the importance of continuous self-improvement, leadership qualities, and the impact of curiosity and humility on career growth.
What Happened
Kat Cole's journey from a Hooters waitress to CEO of AG1 illustrates the power of persistence and adaptability. She took the company from $160 million in revenue to over $500 million, attributing success to customer loyalty and a high-quality product. Cole describes her unique career path, including earning an MBA before completing her undergraduate degree, and emphasizes the importance of asking critical questions in career decision-making.
She details the questions she asks herself before making career moves, such as 'Is my work done here?' and 'Can someone else do what the company needs next better than I can?' These questions have guided her through various roles and ultimately to leading AG1's significant growth. Cole also discusses how she adapted her communication style to neutralize opposition without confrontation, a skill she developed during her time at Hooters.
The episode also covers her decision-making framework, which includes financial needs, learning opportunities, and ego considerations, offering listeners a structured approach to evaluating career choices. This framework has been instrumental in guiding her through critical career transitions and in advising others on their professional paths.
Cole shares insights on the importance of humility, curiosity, courage, and confidence in leadership roles, attributes she looks for in her team. She explains how these qualities can be assessed through strategic questioning during interviews, revealing a candidate's potential to adapt and succeed in dynamic environments.
The discussion touches on her experience with AG1, where she was initially approached after being heard on a podcast. This underscores her belief that you are always interviewing for your next job, whether you realize it or not. Her proactive approach to opportunities has been a cornerstone of her success.
Kat emphasizes the importance of clear and direct communication, especially in a remote work environment, to help employees understand the context and significance of company decisions. She believes that effective storytelling and transparency are crucial for maintaining organizational trust and alignment.
Finally, Kat talks about how she balances professional success with personal priorities, highlighting her support for her husband's adventurous pursuits and the importance of family achievements. This holistic approach to life and work reflects her broader philosophy of leadership and personal growth.
Key Insights
- AG1's revenue grew from $160 million to over $500 million under Kat Cole's leadership, driven by a focus on customer loyalty and high-quality products.
- Kat Cole's decision-making framework includes evaluating financial needs, learning opportunities, and ego considerations, providing a structured approach to career transitions.
- In leadership roles, humility, curiosity, courage, and confidence are assessed through strategic questioning during interviews to evaluate a candidate's adaptability and potential.
- Clear and direct communication in remote work environments is vital for maintaining organizational trust and alignment, emphasizing the importance of storytelling and transparency.