Catherine Tan-Gillespie did not reach the top of KFC's U.S. business by playing it safe. Since taking charge of the fried chicken chain's American operations in April 2025, the 52-year-old president has relied on a career philosophy built on risk-taking and constant learning—one that began with a dishwashing job at age 13 and an early ambition to become "the female Richard Branson."

Rather than chasing prestigious titles or splashy paychecks, Tan-Gillespie says she has gravitated toward jobs that pushed her out of her comfort zone, forced her to take risks, and taught her to embrace a little chaos.

"I wasn't chasing money, I wasn't chasing title," Tan-Gillespie, 52, told Fortune. "I was chasing opportunities that put me in the learning zone as opposed to in the comfort zone—and tried to keep me out of the panic zone."

From Dishwasher to the C-Suite

Tan-Gillespie grew up in a middle-class household in the U.K., where her mother worked as a nurse and her father was a lighting director for the BBC. Her restaurant industry experience began early: at 13, she landed a job washing dishes at Beefeater, a now-defunct British restaurant chain, for just £1.20 an hour—about £3.62 or $4.84 in today's terms, adjusted for inflation.

She was eventually promoted to the ice cream machine, and along the way grew fond of the adrenaline-like rush that can come with working in a restaurant. Tan-Gillespie stayed with the chain throughout secondary school and later rose to assistant general manager.

"I can say from firsthand experience, restaurant jobs are incredible in terms of the pressure, the pace, the teamwork, the accountability, the discipline of following standard operating procedures—but then having your own personality to delight customers," she said. "I think that was probably formative in my career, certainly in terms of interacting with the customer part of it and building strong teams."

Tan-Gillespie went on to become the first in her family to attend college, studying business at the University of Plymouth and graduating in 1996. She then built a career in marketing, starting with an internship at HP and moving through roles at companies including Frito-Lay and Sony Pictures.

The 'Female Richard Branson' Thesis

As her career developed, so did her aspirations. Tan-Gillespie found a role model in Richard Branson, the British billionaire who founded Virgin Group—so much so that she wanted to become the "female Richard Branson."

"I love that he's being innovative and creative, but he's doing the right thing by the customers and by people," Tan-Gillespie said. "I had this thesis that I want to if I can be the female version of him, and that was really the genesis of everything I've done since."

That ambition also meant being willing to walk away. Tan-Gillespie has left companies where she felt the culture would not allow her to thrive.

"I did exit companies if I didn't feel that the culture would allow my personality to give the behaviors that would make me successful," she added. "And I joined companies that I didn't think I would, such as KFC and [parent company] Yum, because I fell in love with their culture."

Tan-Gillespie joined KFC South Pacific in 2015, overseeing marketing in Australia and New Zealand. Two years later, she became the chain's global chief marketing officer. She went on to lead KFC Canada in 2024 before taking over the U.S. business in April 2025.

Tasked With a U.S. Turnaround

Tan-Gillespie is now charged with getting KFC's American business back on track as the brand faces growing competition and more health-conscious, cash-strapped consumers. The chain's U.S. sales fell 3% year over year in 2025 and were down another 2% in its most recent reported quarter. The stakes reach beyond one restaurant chain: KFC operates within Yum Brands, the parent company that also runs Taco Bell and Pizza Hut, and its U.S. trajectory is unfolding as chicken-focused fast-food rivals compete for the same value-minded diners.

Part of the strategy involves connecting with younger consumers, including a recent partnership with 21-year-old livestreamer iShowSpeed, alongside innovation in menu items, branding, and store layout. This month, it was reported that KFC ended its roughly four-decade-long partnership with Pepsi in favor of rival Coca-Cola. How those levers—the beverage switch, the push to reach Gen Z, and the menu and store redesigns—translate into results will become visible in KFC's quarterly sales reports in the months ahead.

Advice for Gen Z: Embrace Fear and Speak Up

In her role, Tan-Gillespie interacts with Gen Z daily, whether at KFC's corporate office or across its more than 3,400 U.S. locations. While she recognizes the anxieties young people face entering the workforce, she sees plenty to admire in the generation—particularly their willingness to speak their minds, be themselves, and push for the opportunities they want.

"So much is on their terms, which I really respect. They know who they are and what they want, which I love," Tan-Gillespie said.

She encourages young people to keep advocating for themselves and others, even when doing so feels uncomfortable. One piece of advice she often returns to comes from the 1987 self-help book Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway by Susan Jeffers: don't let fear keep you from taking a chance.

"Courage is not the absence of fear," Tan-Gillespie said. "Courage is actually feeling fearful about the future or jobs—but actually just saying, 'Okay, what would I do if I wasn't scared?'"

The answer, she added, can be revealing. When facing a difficult decision, whether at work or in life, she recommends asking one final question: "What's the worst that can happen?"

This story was originally featured on Fortune.com.