During my MBA, I had the opportunity to meet Raghunandan Kamath, the founder of Naturals Ice Cream. Their flagship store was very close to our college in Juhu, and I made it a point to visit within my first week in Mumbai. Soon enough, I learned that his sons were also alumni of our college. That year, his son Sidhant Kamath was invited to give a lecture on the journey of Naturals, and Mr. Raghunandan attended the talk as well.
Dressed in a plain white shirt, Raghunandan smiled proudly as his son guided us young students through lessons on branding and management. After a long and meaningful lecture by Sidhant, Raghunandan was handed the mic to say a few words. He seemed reluctant at first, modestly claiming that everything had already been said by his son.
When he got to the stage, he asked the audience, “Can you tell me what do you Naturals' ‘expertise’ is?”
The room fell silent, wondering if this was a trick question or something simple. A few students raised their hands, crediting Naturals' success to excellent branding, quality sourcing, and deep customer insights.
Raghunandan, with a humble smile, responded, "I'm not so educated to know all of this. But I know that I am an expert in—‘de-seeding’ any fruit. We have custom-made machines in the Naturals Ice Cream factory to get the pulp out of the fruits in the quickest, cheapest, and most efficient manner."
This revelation was unexpected.
He continued, "Our expertise is hidden. That's why it cannot be copied. That's why there is only one Naturals."
The room was filled with admiration and surprise. Raghunandan's words left a lasting impression on me. "Thank you for the memories, sir. And thank you for Naturals. May you rest in peace and find a scoop of tender coconut ice cream that we all love."
Raghunandan's lesson on hidden expertise taught me a fundamental business principle that transcends textbooks. The idea that true mastery often lies in the unseen, intricate details resonated deeply with me. His humility and focus on the core skill that defined his business inspired me to look beyond the obvious and discover my unique strengths.
As I continue my journey as an entrepreneur, I am constantly reminded of his words. I strive to find and sharpen my expertise, just as he did with Naturals.
Thank you for the memories, sir. And thank you for Naturals. May you rest in peace and find a scoop of tender coconut ice cream that we all love."
-Namit
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