ALUMNI MATTERS
Alumni at the Forefront
Pooja Bavishi ’02
Enjoys Sweet Rewards By Danielle Ferguson, Director of Alumni Relations
Pooja Bavishi ’02, founder and CEO of Malai, has created a unique and fast-growing ice cream company with flavors inspired by aromatic spices and global ingredients. Based in Brooklyn, New York, the company grew from a beloved hobby and the courage to take a new path.
After earning a BA in public policy from UNC-Chapel Hill and a master’s degree in urban planning from the London School of Economics, Pooja began her career in fair and affordable housing through the nonprofit sector. In her free time, she nurtured a dessert-making hobby by blogging and throwing parties as an excuse to try new recipes. “The truth is that I pursued these different interests, because, just like most people, I have various interests,” she explains. “I have always been motivated by making the world a fairer place. I have always loved learning about my Indian culture and my family’s traditions. And I love making desserts! My business provides me an outlet to pursue all these interests, and it’s my cumulative experiences that have prepared me for what I am doing today. I have learned that you don’t have to be just one thing or choose one path.” Last spring, she returned to campus to share secrets of success with Cum Laude Society inductees. Pooja described to Upper School students the three things she had to accept before shifting her career. “First, since starting my business, I have come to accept that the future is not finite. There isn’t just one goal, which, once reached, will mean that everything is done. Second, failure is a fleeting moment—and is necessary. Finally, education is never complete. I make it a point to constantly look out for opportunities that help me build skills and exposure that will be valuable to advancing my current venture—whether it’s a class on ice cream making or something less obvious, like small business financing.” Pooja also earned an MBA from NYU’s Stern School of Business; and she is a 2018 Fellow of the Tory Burch Foundation, which supports women entrepreneurs. 54
PERSPECTIVES
