Kat Cole
FOCUS Brands
Atlanta, GA USA
"Follow the compelling alternative...you can always go back to make up for what you’ve chosen to forgo."
Career Roadmap
Kat's work combines: Business, Entrepreneurship, and Learning / Being Challenged
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Day In The Life
Skills &
Education
Advice for getting started
While I was in college, I was faced with the dilemma of staying in school to get my degree or pursuing an amazing job opportunity to open franchises around the world. I decided to pursue the job opportunity because I knew I could always go back to school later on, but that job opportunity wouldn't necessarily still be there.
Here's the path I took:
High School
Graduate Degree
Business/Commerce, General
Georgia State University
Here's the path I recommend for someone who wants to be a Chief Executives:
High School
Bachelor's Degree: Business/Commerce, General
Graduate Degree: Business/Commerce, General
Learn more about different paths to this career
Life & Career Milestones
My path in life has been direct
1.
Was raised by a single mother who struggled with alcoholism, so she had the responsibility of helping raise her sisters from a young age.
2.
She was the first person on either side of her family to get into college, and she didn’t have any examples of family members working in “white collar” jobs.
3.
Started out as an electrical engineering and computer science major, but dropped out before the end of her second year to pursue a job opportunity for Hooters, opening franchises around the world.
4.
Has worked in the foodservice industry her whole life, starting from the bottom and working her way up—asks, “Who better to run the business than someone who knows every piece of it?”
5.
Became an executive at Hooters of America when she was 26—she experienced imposter syndrome because, in boardrooms, she was usually the youngest, the only woman, and the one with the least education.
6.
Decided to go back to school to pursue her MBA at Georgia State University, which she received without ever having earned a bachelor’s degree.
7.
Was recruited by FOCUS Brands when she was 31 to become the president of Cinnabon.
8.
She is now the president and COO of FOCUS Brands—credits her success to getting involved with rapidly growing companies and constantly desiring to learn more.
Defining Moments
How I responded to discouragement
THE NOISE
Messages from Myself:
Should I stay in school?
How I responded:
While I was in college, I was faced with the dilemma of staying in school to get my degree or pursuing an amazing job opportunity to open franchises around the world. I decided to pursue the job opportunity because I knew I could always go back to school later on, but that job opportunity wouldn't necessarily still be there.
Experiences and challenges that shaped me
I grew up with a single mother who struggled with alcoholism. As a result, I had the responsibility of helping to raise my sisters and growing up much faster than most kids my age.
I am the first person on either side of my family to go to college. I didn't have any "white collar" examples growing up, so I had to find my own way. I ended up dropping out of college to work instead.