David’s Bridal CEO Kelly Cook’s career didn’t always revolve around pearls, lace and wedding gowns.
Cook, who became the new head of the international chain of wedding dress stores in April, worked night and weekend jobs to afford math classes at a junior college, she told The New York Times in an interview published Sunday. As a single mom at the time, she lived off just $882 per month, she said.
“I ate a lot of pinto beans and cornbread,” said Cook, 58. “It proved to me that life’s tough, but you don’t have to worry about life. Just worry about today.”
Looking back on her career, Cook learned more during night shifts as a registration clerk at an emergency room and as a bartender on weekends than she did as a college student, she said: “I wish it was a requirement to work a year in a service-related field before you go to college. Serving others, that really teaches you a lot about yourself.”
DON’T MISS: A step-by-step guide to buying your first home—and avoiding costly mistakes
