The CEO of an American-baked goods chain had reportedly worked as a waitress for American restaurant chain Hooters, Inc. as a teenager to earn money to buy a car.
Kat Cole, who was named as president of Cinnabon three years ago, had reportedly cleared tables, served food and drinks and greeted customers as a 16-year-old at a Hooters restaurant in the state of Florida dressed in tiny orange shorts and a revealing top.
According to the New York Post, however, Cole eventually rose from her waitressing position to being a bartender, a manager trainer and ultimately an executive vice president at the bawdy restaurant chain, with Hooters asking her to open franchises around the world.
Stating that one of the biggest lessons she learned from the experience of being a Hooters Girl was to never try to hide what makes a company unique, Cole said that the central piece of the business model at Hooters were the girls, adding that the focus on the Hooters Girls made the chain special.
After being promoted to the executive suite at Hooters, Cole was able to earn her MBA from Georgia State University, and the report added that she had chief executives and business leaders in Atlanta write letters of recommendation for her to get accepted into the MBA program.