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Listen "S2/Ep 80 - Kat Cole | Don’t Forget Where You Came From, but Don’t Let It Ever Solely Define You"
Episode Synopsis
In this episode, we talk with KAT COLE, who is the COO and President of Focus Brands...the parent company of Cinnabon, Auntie Anne’s, Moe’s, Schlotzsky’s, McAlister’s Deli, Carvel and Jamba Juice.
THOUGHT #1
Don’t Forget Where You Came From, but Don’t Let It Ever Solely Define You
THOUGHT #2
Do The Best You Can Until You Know Better. Then When You Know Better, Do Better - Maya Angelou
CONNECT:
Website: FocusBrands.com
Podcast: EntreLeadership
Book: Small Changes Big Impact
Newsletter: Checking In
Facebook: @Kat.Cole
Instagram: @KatColeATL
Linkedin: Kat Cole
Twitter: @KatColeATL
BRAND & RESOURCE MENTIONS:
"Let's Dance" (David Bowie) - Youtube
Salsa Dance - Wikipedia
Twizzlers - Hersheys.com
Charleston Chew - Toostie.com
100 Grand Bar - FerraraUSA.com
Smarties - Smarties.com
Werthers Original - Werthers-Original.us
Andes - Toostie.com
Toblerone - MondelezInternational.com
Dum Dums - DumDumPops.com
Big League Chew - BigLeagueChew.com
Mounds - Hersheys.com
Almond Joy - Hersheys.com
BMW - BMWUSA.com
CHART - Chart.org
Cinnabon - Cinnabon.com
U.N Entrepreneurs Council - UNFoundation.org
Hooters - Hooters.com
"Undercover Boss" (CBS) - CBS.com
Auntie Annes - AuntieAnnes.com
Moes - Moes.com
Schlotzsky's - Schlotzskys.com
McAlister's Deli - McAlistersDeli.com
Carvel - Carvel.com
Jamba Juice - Jamba.com
Forbes - Forbes.com
M.B.A - Wikipedia
GRE Test - Wikipedia
GMAT - Wikipedia
iPhone 4 - Wikipedia
Maya Angelou - MayaAngelou.com
Children's Home Society - CHSFL.org
Hard Rock International – HardRock.com
Thoughts That Rock – ThoughtsThatRock.com
Certified Rock Star - CertifiedRockStar.com
Culture That Rocks: How to Revolutionize Your Company’s Culture (Jim Knight) – CultureThatRocks.com
Black Sheep: Unleash the Extraordinary, Awe-Inspiring, Undiscovered You (Brant Menswar) - FindYourBlackSheep.com
Rock ‘n Roll With It: Overcoming the Challenge of Change (Brant Menswar) – RocknRollWithIt.com
Cannonball Kids’ cancer – CannonballKidscancer.org
Big Kettle Drum - BigKettleDrum.com
Spectacle Photography (Show/Website Photos) – SpectaclePhoto.com
Jeffrey Todd “JT” Keel (Show Music) - JT Keel
KAT COLE'S BIO:
Kat Cole is an inspiring leader and operator with a track record of turning around companies and building brands, teams and high-growth businesses over two decades.
As COO and President of Focus Brands, the owner, franchisor and operator of global limited-service food brands, doing billions in product sales in over 50 countries, she leads the company’s 7 brands: Cinnabon, Auntie Anne’s, Moe’s, Schlotzsky’s, McAlister’s, Carvel and Jamba with 6500 operations globally, and leads the multi-brand licensing and CPG business. She is formerly president of Cinnabon Inc. and past Group President Focus Brands. She has led the evolution of several brands through product and technology innovation, organizational structure changes and building customer-centered cultures.
Kat is a Young Global Leader of the World Economic Forum, a member of the Milk Bar Board of Directors, an advisor to high-growth businesses, and mom of two. Kat is a past member of the United Nations Global Entrepreneurs Council, was featured on CBS' "Undercover Boss”, and was named one of Fortune’s 40 under 40. She is past chair of the board of the Women’s Foodservice Forum, past Silver Plate winner from IFMA, named most admired leader by QSR magazine and named Elliot Leadership Motivator of the year. She is a college dropout, yet has her MBA in International Business. Her journey from restaurant hostess at 17, executive by 26, president by 31, and investor by 35 is often shared as an example of the American and entrepreneurial dream.
Outside of the foodservice industry, Kat is an angel investor and advisor to early-stage consumer products and Direct-to-Consumer companies and an outspoken advocate for women’s issues and the broader role of business in democratizing access to education and opportunity.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
THOUGHT #1
Don’t Forget Where You Came From, but Don’t Let It Ever Solely Define You
THOUGHT #2
Do The Best You Can Until You Know Better. Then When You Know Better, Do Better - Maya Angelou
CONNECT:
Website: FocusBrands.com
Podcast: EntreLeadership
Book: Small Changes Big Impact
Newsletter: Checking In
Facebook: @Kat.Cole
Instagram: @KatColeATL
Linkedin: Kat Cole
Twitter: @KatColeATL
BRAND & RESOURCE MENTIONS:
"Let's Dance" (David Bowie) - Youtube
Salsa Dance - Wikipedia
Twizzlers - Hersheys.com
Charleston Chew - Toostie.com
100 Grand Bar - FerraraUSA.com
Smarties - Smarties.com
Werthers Original - Werthers-Original.us
Andes - Toostie.com
Toblerone - MondelezInternational.com
Dum Dums - DumDumPops.com
Big League Chew - BigLeagueChew.com
Mounds - Hersheys.com
Almond Joy - Hersheys.com
BMW - BMWUSA.com
CHART - Chart.org
Cinnabon - Cinnabon.com
U.N Entrepreneurs Council - UNFoundation.org
Hooters - Hooters.com
"Undercover Boss" (CBS) - CBS.com
Auntie Annes - AuntieAnnes.com
Moes - Moes.com
Schlotzsky's - Schlotzskys.com
McAlister's Deli - McAlistersDeli.com
Carvel - Carvel.com
Jamba Juice - Jamba.com
Forbes - Forbes.com
M.B.A - Wikipedia
GRE Test - Wikipedia
GMAT - Wikipedia
iPhone 4 - Wikipedia
Maya Angelou - MayaAngelou.com
Children's Home Society - CHSFL.org
Hard Rock International – HardRock.com
Thoughts That Rock – ThoughtsThatRock.com
Certified Rock Star - CertifiedRockStar.com
Culture That Rocks: How to Revolutionize Your Company’s Culture (Jim Knight) – CultureThatRocks.com
Black Sheep: Unleash the Extraordinary, Awe-Inspiring, Undiscovered You (Brant Menswar) - FindYourBlackSheep.com
Rock ‘n Roll With It: Overcoming the Challenge of Change (Brant Menswar) – RocknRollWithIt.com
Cannonball Kids’ cancer – CannonballKidscancer.org
Big Kettle Drum - BigKettleDrum.com
Spectacle Photography (Show/Website Photos) – SpectaclePhoto.com
Jeffrey Todd “JT” Keel (Show Music) - JT Keel
KAT COLE'S BIO:
Kat Cole is an inspiring leader and operator with a track record of turning around companies and building brands, teams and high-growth businesses over two decades.
As COO and President of Focus Brands, the owner, franchisor and operator of global limited-service food brands, doing billions in product sales in over 50 countries, she leads the company’s 7 brands: Cinnabon, Auntie Anne’s, Moe’s, Schlotzsky’s, McAlister’s, Carvel and Jamba with 6500 operations globally, and leads the multi-brand licensing and CPG business. She is formerly president of Cinnabon Inc. and past Group President Focus Brands. She has led the evolution of several brands through product and technology innovation, organizational structure changes and building customer-centered cultures.
Kat is a Young Global Leader of the World Economic Forum, a member of the Milk Bar Board of Directors, an advisor to high-growth businesses, and mom of two. Kat is a past member of the United Nations Global Entrepreneurs Council, was featured on CBS' "Undercover Boss”, and was named one of Fortune’s 40 under 40. She is past chair of the board of the Women’s Foodservice Forum, past Silver Plate winner from IFMA, named most admired leader by QSR magazine and named Elliot Leadership Motivator of the year. She is a college dropout, yet has her MBA in International Business. Her journey from restaurant hostess at 17, executive by 26, president by 31, and investor by 35 is often shared as an example of the American and entrepreneurial dream.
Outside of the foodservice industry, Kat is an angel investor and advisor to early-stage consumer products and Direct-to-Consumer companies and an outspoken advocate for women’s issues and the broader role of business in democratizing access to education and opportunity.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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