Kat Thomas

Katherine (Kat) Thomas graduated from Duke in 2012 as a double major in Russian and International Comparative Studies with a certificate in Markets and Management Studies. Upon graduation she moved overseas to London to join the Securities Division of Goldman Sachs International as an algorithmic trader of European Equities. After two years on the trading floor she joined American Health Associates, a private clinical laboratory company in South Florida as Chief Operating Officer. She helped AHA in the acquisition of their greatest competitor thus making AHA the largest provider of clinical laboratory services in the Long Term Care Division in the US. After this venture Kat set out on a passion project with a friend to bring a health food product to market. She co-founded MUSH in 2015, a manufacturer of plant based overnight oats. MUSH is now available in more than 3,500 retailers nationwide. In 2017 Kat and her business partner, Ashley, appeared on ABC’s “Shark Tank” where they secured funding from Mark Cuban in exchange for 10% of the company. Since then, the company has secured additional funding from Peter Rahal, co-founder of RXBar and leader in the consumer packaged goods space. As of spring of 2019 Kat has stepped out of the company as COO and today functions as an owner / co founder. You get one opportunity to make a first impression, so engage people, empathize, and share your story. The hope is that you'll add value to their life, and them to yours. Kat is a former athlete, a Duke Blue Devil, a foodie, and a craft coffee addict whose nurturing persona completely contradicts her love of extreme activities and adrenaline highs.