Sharad Devarajan
AI & Technology Professor, Columbia Business School | Award-Winning Creator & Entrepreneur | Founder & CEO of FaiBLE & Graphic India | Co-Creator of Spider-Man: India
Kat Cole
CEO of AG1 | Former President & COO of Focus Brands | Former President of Cinnabon | Global Operator, Brand Builder & Growth Strategist
Kat Cole went from a Hooters hostess at 17 to running iconic global brands, and is today CEO of the nutrition company AG1. As former President and COO of Focus Brands and President of Cinnabon, she has scaled consumer businesses across more than 60 countries. On stage, she shares hard-won, practical lessons on leadership, resilience, and disciplined growth, delivered with rare candor and frontline credibility.
Want to book Kat Cole as a speaker for your event? Please provide the info below and we’ll get in touch within 24h:
Kat Cole biography
CEO keynote speaker Kat Cole is one of the most respected operators in consumer business, a leader who rose from frontline roles to the C-suite and has built, scaled, and revitalized iconic brands across more than 60 countries. Today she is CEO of AG1, the global health company focused on foundational nutrition, where she leads the business through its next phase of growth, product innovation, and international expansion.
Cole’s career is a study in unconventional ascent. She began working at 17 as a hostess at Hooters, took on nearly every role in the restaurant, and by 26 had become a vice president, traveling the world to open new franchises. She went on to serve as President of Cinnabon, which she helped grow into a global, multichannel brand, and then as President and COO of Focus Brands, where she oversaw nine brand presidents and a portfolio generating billions in systemwide sales across names including Auntie Anne’s, Jamba, Moe’s Southwest Grill, and Schlotzsky’s. She later earned an MBA from Georgia State University, admitted despite not holding an undergraduate degree.
From Main Street to the C-Suite
Cole joined AG1 in 2021 as President and COO before being named CEO in 2024, succeeding the company’s founder. Beyond her operating roles, she is an active angel investor in more than 70 early-stage companies and serves on the boards of Slice and Milk Bar. Her impact has been widely recognized: she has been named a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum, served on the United Nations Global Entrepreneurs Council, and was included on Fortune’s 40 Under 40.
As a speaker, Kat Cole brings a rare combination of operational credibility and personal story. She speaks about building and revitalizing resilient brands, leading innovation from within large organizations, and navigating change with speed and discipline. Drawing on her improbable path and decades scaling global consumer businesses, she gives audiences clear, practical frameworks for leadership at every level, from culture and decision-making to execution under pressure, all delivered with honesty, energy, and heart.
Kat Cole Speaking Videos
The “Hot Shot Rule” To Help You Become a Better Leader | Kat Cole | TED
Kat Cole - Leadership Lessons from Unexpected Places
Kat Cole Keynote Topics
Whether launching a brand or rescuing a struggling one, Cole shares what it really takes to build something durable. Drawing on her work turning around Cinnabon and scaling global names, she explores brand culture, repositioning, and the role every employee plays in protecting and growing a brand, with practical answers for organizations in any industry.
Cole shows how even mature, traditional organizations can innovate at speed. From her well-known "hotshot rule" to lessons in "hustle muscle," she explains how to spot meaningful patterns, make tough calls with short-term trade-offs and long-term payoff, and accelerate change no matter where you sit in the organization.
A candid, inspiring account of Cole's rise from humble beginnings to global executive. She shares how the most important leadership lessons often come from unexpected places, why empathy and purpose drive lasting performance, and how hustle and heart together carry people further than either alone.
From hypergrowth to deep transformation, Cole offers a frontline operator's playbook for leading through uncertainty. She addresses decision-making under pressure, team alignment and communication, and how to build organizations that perform at scale without losing their culture or their soul.
Speaker topics
FAQs on Booking Kat Cole
Why Kat Cole?
Booking Kat Cole brings a rare, proven global operator to your stage, a leader who has built and scaled iconic consumer brands across more than 60 countries. As CEO of AG1 and former President and COO of Focus Brands, she speaks with genuine operational credibility, not theory, about leadership, resilience, and disciplined growth. Her story, from a Hooters hostess at 17 to running billion-dollar brands, makes her as inspiring as she is practical, and she connects with every level of an organization. For events on leadership, brand building, innovation, and change, few speakers offer her blend of authority and heart. Aurum Speakers Bureau can help you bring Kat Cole to your next event; complete our contact form to check her availability.
Who is Kat Cole?
Kat Cole is an American business leader and the CEO of AG1, a global health and nutrition company. She is widely known for her remarkable career path, rising from a Hooters hostess at 17 to a vice president by 26, then serving as President of Cinnabon and as President and COO of Focus Brands, the franchisor behind brands such as Auntie Anne's, Jamba, and Moe's Southwest Grill. She is also an active angel investor and board member.
What companies has Kat Cole led?
Kat Cole has led several well-known consumer brands. She was an executive vice president at Hooters early in her career, President of Cinnabon, and President and COO of Focus Brands, where she oversaw a portfolio generating billions in systemwide sales worldwide. In 2024 she became CEO of AG1, having joined the company as President and COO in 2021. She also serves on the boards of Slice and Milk Bar.https://aurumbureau.com/wp-admin/post.php?post=37327&action=edit#
What topics does Kat Cole speak about?
As a speaker, Kat Cole addresses leadership and culture, building and revitalizing resilient brands, innovating from within large organizations, and leading through change and rapid growth. She blends decades of frontline operating experience with her own unconventional story to give audiences practical, memorable lessons. To invite Kat Cole to speak at your event, contact Aurum Speakers Bureau through our booking form.
How to book Kat Cole as a keynote speaker?
Aurum Speakers Bureau can help you book Kat Cole as a speaker for your next event, conference, or board meeting. Simply fill out our contact form to inquire about Kat Cole's availability for a speaking engagement. One of our booking agents will respond to your request immediately and contact the speaker to let them know you want to hire them. We will assist you with obtaining speaking fees, booking information, and confirming availability for Kat Cole or any other top keynote speaker or celebrity of your choice.
How much is Kat Cole speaking fee?
Kat Cole speaking fees are determined by several factors, including the event's date, whether it's a virtual or in-person event, the duration, format, preparation required for their speech, and more. The same applies to the cost to hire any other top expert speakers and celebrities. The Speaker Fee Range listed on our website is simply a guideline and is subject to change without notice. If you would like to hire Kat Cole to deliver a keynote speech for your event, please fill out the contact form or email us at info@aurumbureau.com with as much detail as possible. One of our experienced agents will get in touch with you and let you know exactly how much it will cost to book Kat Cole.
How can I contact Kat Cole?
We only work with Kat Cole on paid speaking engagements. Aurum Speakers Bureau can assist you in booking Kat Cole and will handle all negotiations, contracts, and logistics associated with having Kat Cole speak at your event. We will be your sole point of contact throughout the process. Get in touch with Aurum Speakers Bureau today, and we will reach out to any motivational speaker or celebrity you want to enquire about speaking at your event. If you wish to contact Kat Cole for any other reason, we will be unable to assist you as we are not authorized to provide personal contact information.
Can I book Kat Cole for a virtual keynote?
Yes, Kat Cole is available for virtual keynotes and webinars. To book Kat Cole for a virtual event, please complete the contact form or send us an email to inquire about the special fees for virtual engagements.
