OPERATORS Kat Cole: From Hostess to AG1’s CEO With +$500M in Revenue
78 snips
Feb 26, 2026 
Kat Cole, CEO of AG1 and former restaurant executive who rose from hourly roles to senior leadership. She recalls crisis‑forged leadership, a weekly reflection practice she uses, and how AG1 spent years on ops and clinical science before a rapid wave of product, flavor, and retail launches including Costco.
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Pandemic Tested Leadership Under Personal Crisis
- Kat Cole lived through leading a multi-billion restaurant group through the pandemic while her infant daughter nearly died, forcing daily crisis decisions under extreme personal stress.
- She juggled franchisee emergencies, cash preservation, and hospital bedside advocacy, then used prior investments in delivery and apps to rebound quickly and profitably.
From Hostess To VP In Nine Years
- Kat rose from a Hooters hostess at 17 to vice president by 26, opening franchises globally and running integrated businesses including airlines and casinos.
- Those early shop-floor roles taught her to stay close to action and value operators' knowledge.
Make CEO Customer Calls A Mandatory Rhythm
- Do talk directly to customers regularly; Kat runs a mandatory Customer Interview Program where she and teams interview users on Zoom to stay close to their experience.
- She also sends teams to Costco samplings and uses qualitative calls plus surveys to surface consistent patterns.
