Kat Cole is the President and COO at Focus Brands, which owns well-known brands like Auntie Anne's, Moe's, Jamba, and Cinnabon. Kat started her career at the age of 15 so that she could provide for her family. One day during her shift at a clothing store in the local mall, she was recruited to be a Hostess at Hooters. Little did she know that she'd spend over a decade moving up the ranks at Hooters. By age 26, she was a Vice President at Hooters. At 31, she took a new job to be President of Cinnabon, and helped turn around a mall-based brand in the heart of a recession. As you might imagine, this journey did not come without its challenges. Kat's career story offers great insight into what it takes to be a successful business leader: tenacity, a willingness to say yes, and a lot of empathy.