Women's Week 2021 - Opening Keynote Speaker: Kat Cole

Kat Cole

Advisor, Investor, and Former COO and President of Focus Brands.

Focus Brands

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. Recently completing a 10-year executive career at Focus brands, she is now an investor and advisor to high-growth businesses and brands.

Most recently, she was COO and President of Focus Brands, the owner, franchisor and operator of global limited service food brands, with billions in product sales in over 50 countries, she led the company’s 7 brands: Cinnabon, Auntie Anne’s, Moe’s, Schlotzsky’s, McAllister’s, Carvel and Jamba with 6500 operations globally as well as the multi-brand licensing and CPG business. IN other roles at Focus Brands, before becoming COO, she was president of Cinnabon and Group President of the multi- channel licensing division at Focus. Prior to Focus Brands, Kat was Vice President at Hooters, leading the company’s global growth through franchising, training, and operations.

Kat is a Young Global Leader of the World Economic Forum, a member of the Board of Directors of growth stage VC and PE backed companies Milk Bar and Slice as well as on the Board of HumanCo SPAC. 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 a college dropout, yet has her MBA in International Business. She is past chair of the board of the Women’s Foodservice Forum, and has led women’s development initiatives in the US and Rwanda.

Kat is an outspoken advocate for protecting democracy, for women’s issues, and for the broader role of business in democratizing access to education and opportunity.