Hooters-waitress-turned-COO (chief operating officer ) Kat Cole joins me today for an inspirational about daring to seize every opportunity, even when you’re starting at the bottom! She’s one of the most impressive female executives in the country and has a stellar track record, but her unconventional path to business success is the reason I’m so excited to talk to her today.
Kat worked as a Hooters waitress to put herself through college. She worked her way up the ranks, and actually ended up dropping out of college to pursue her career there. At just 26 years old, she was named Vice President of Training and Development. She helped Hooters grow from 100 to 500 locations before being hired by Cinnabon, where she quickly became President and C.O.O.
As you’ll hear in this episode, Kat has some incredible (and sometimes unconventional) insights and perspectives on shaping your career. Instead of focusing on having a mentor, she explains, you can look for “mentoring moments.” These may be more accessible if you’re not in a position of privilege or just don’t find someone who you can click with, and can be just as valuable. She also points out that she focuses less on managing her time, and more on managing her energy.
Make sure you tune in for this amazing episode with a truly incredible woman who understands the value (and power) of pairing humility and confidence. She’ll inspire you to take risks, make mistakes, and come out on the other side.
Highlights
[01:43] – Ruth introduces Kat Cole, today’s incredible guest.
[04:52] – Kat tells listeners a bit about how she got started, and how that brought her to where she is today.
[08:21] – In hindsight, looking back at her incredible story, does Kat feel a little exhausted by how much she’s done?
[09:52] – Kat explains that when she took her job at Hooters, she had no idea it would lead to her amazing opportunities.
[12:12] – We hear about how Kat made the decision to drop out of school, and how that decision played out.
[15:05] – Did Kat have any mentors who saw her potential and took her under their wing, or did she just see her own potential in herself?
[17:51] – Kat talks about whether she made a point of seeking out advice, or whether she let things happen.
[19:44] – We learn where Kat is today, what her current position and responsibilities are, and what her day-to-day looks like.
[22:07] – Does Kat have any specific hacks or tricks that she uses to manage her time?
[25:05] – Kat lists some of the things that fill her up and give her more energy, rather than draining her energy.
[26:48] – We hear about Kat’s decision to go back to school for her MBA, and how that decision played out for her.
[31:57] – What role has fear played in Kat’s life and business, and how did she move past the fear?
[37:43] – Kat talks about the most common mistake that she sees entrepreneurs and business executives make.
[38:37] – It’s time for some quickfire questions! First off: what does Kat do to help build and protect her confidence?
[39:30] – What is Kat working on now that has her really fired up?
[41:59] – What is the best piece of advice that Kat has ever received, and why?
[44:10] – Kat offers some closing words of wisdom for listeners, and lists a couple places where you can find her online.
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