Episode Description:

Pooja Bavishi didn't wait for permission. The founder andCEO of Malai, the Brooklyn-born ice cream company infusing South Asian spices like cardamom, saffron, and rose into an all-American treat, sat down to share her journey from feeling like she wasn't "enough" for her own culture to building a profitable, multi-location business rooted entirely in it. We talk about growing up in a mostly white private school, the moment she realized she'd internalized more than she knew, the summer she lived in India on her own for the first time, and the Friendsgiving that changed everything. Pooja's story is proof that you don't need a straight line to belonging - you can build it yourself, on your own terms.

About Pooja Bavishi:

Pooja Bavishi is the founder and CEO of Malai, a Brooklyn-based ice cream company known for infusing South Asian spices likecardamom, saffron, rose, and nutmeg into its flavors. She launched Malai in 2015 while completing her MBA at NYU Stern, selling her first scoops at New York food fairs before opening her flagship scoop shop in Brooklyn's Cobble Hill. Today, Malai operates four locations across New York, Philadelphia, andWashington D.C., alongside a growing wholesale and e-commerce business, and brought in $2.8 million in total sales in 2025. Pooja has been recognized as one of Inc. Magazine's Female Founders 100 and won an episode of Food Network'sChopped Sweets. Before Malai, she studied urban planning at the London School of Economics and worked as a civil rights project coordinator. She lives and works in Brooklyn, where she remains hands-on in every part of the business, from flavor development to daily operations.

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 Courage Class with Dr. Lindsay Kwock Hu and content posted by Dr. Lindsay Kwock Hu is presented solely for general informational, educational, and entertainment purposes. The use of information on this podcast or materials linked from thispodcast or website is at the user's own risk. It is not intended as a substitute for the advice of a physician, professional coach, psychotherapist, or other qualified professional diagnosis or treatment. Users should not regard or delay in obtaining medical advice for any medical or mental health conditionthey may have and should seek the assistance of their healthcare professional for any such conditions.