Pooja Bavishi is the founder and CEO of Malai, an unusual artisanal ice cream brand. Raised in North Carolina, Pooja remembers waking up each morning to the delicious aroma of her parent’s morning cuppa and knew she would eventually start a dessert business.
Life took her to grad school in London, working in DC, business school in New York until she finally decided to take the plunge and start her journey as an entrepreneur.
Learn how Pooja’s parents supported her decision and contrary to the desi norm, did not expect her to follow a career as a doctor, engineer, lawyer or investment banker.
Start-ups are never easy and Pooja had the added obstacle of Covid to navigate but she plouged on and now has a thriving business. Her flag ship store on Smith Street in Brooklyn is always buzzing and her lientele is very non-desi.
Pooja is the 2018 Tory Burch foundation fellow and was named one of Inc Magazine’s 100 female founders in October of 2020.
Find out why she chose the name Malai and wait till the Rapidfire round to discover her comfort food.
