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: 3535

Guests: Kat Cole

Summary

Kat Cole discusses her journey from a Hooters waitress to the CEO of AG1, emphasizing the importance of continuous learning and humility in leadership. She outlines key mindsets for leaders and shares insights on managing growth and remote teams.

What Happened

Kat Cole's career trajectory is a testament to her ability to leverage opportunities and her focus on personal development. Starting as a waitress at Hooters, she climbed the corporate ladder to become the President of Cinnabon and Focus Brands, and now leads AG1, which has grown from $160 million to over $500 million in revenue under her leadership.

Cole attributes AG1's growth to product quality and customer satisfaction, which sparked organic word-of-mouth marketing. Initially limited to direct-to-consumer sales, AG1 has expanded its reach by enhancing its retail presence and investing heavily in research, committing $20 million over three years.

A key theme in Cole's leadership philosophy is the concept of 'interviewing for your next job every day.' This mindset encourages professionals to maintain a high standard of professionalism and readiness for future opportunities. She emphasizes humility, curiosity, courage, and confidence as essential traits for effective leadership.

Cole's decision-making framework involves evaluating whether her work is complete and if someone else could better handle the next phase. This reflects her pragmatic approach to leadership, ensuring that the company's needs are met by the most capable individuals at each stage.

The episode also highlights Cole's strategic communication skills, particularly in neutralizing opposition and adapting messages to suit different audiences, a technique she honed during her early career at Hooters.

Cole's personal life is also marked by adventure and resilience, as demonstrated by her husband's ongoing quest to circumnavigate the globe using only human power, a journey that emphasizes the value of the experience over speed or accolades.

In terms of company strategy, Cole underscores the importance of storytelling and clear communication in setting the tone and pace for a business. This includes managing remote teams by providing context to ensure alignment and understanding of organizational changes.

Finally, Cole's insights into handling criticism and competition involve focusing on thematic learning from feedback and ensuring clear communication of facts, which helps navigate challenges and maintain a competitive edge.

Key Insights