KE members enjoyed a delicious breakfast and a power-packed dose of inspiration at the recent Founder’s Fiesta hosted by Carol D’Souza on Saturday, June 27th, 2024!

Carol Shelley: From Novice Cook to Restaurateur

• From Novice to Entrepreneur: Carol shared her journey from a novice in cooking to becoming a successful restaurateur, driven by her husband’s support and encouragement during their time in Riyadh.
• Business Ventures: Leveraging her hospitality experience from the Taj Hotels, Carol along with her husband now owns and manages multiple restaurants and cloud kitchens specializing in Mangalorean coastal cuisine, with a focus on pork dishes. She also runs a pork shop which caters to pubs and breweries in Bangalore and Korean kitchens in Chennai. Her restaurants include the cloud kitchen The Mangalorean and Sanaas Multi Cuisine Restaurant which was where the session was held.
• Challenges and Successes: Carol discussed the challenges of staffing and retaining talent in her business, noting that complementary skills between her and her husband have been crucial in overcoming these challenges.
• Customer Experience: She emphasized personalized customer service and offering an authentic Mangalorean cultural experience as key differentiators for her restaurants.
• Entrepreneurial Advice: Carol’s advice to aspiring entrepreneurs included knowing the market, focusing on quality, prudent financial management, and maintaining persistence and patience. She highlighted adaptability, authenticity, and effective communication as essential entrepreneurial traits.

Bonus: Well-known journalist Faye D’Souza and a host of other celebrities have been fans of Carol’s food since The Mangalorean restaurant opened its doors in Kammanahalli back in 2017!

A Morning of Inspiration

The KE Founder’s Fiesta session of Vilina Sequeira and Carol D’Souza left everyone with full stomachs and a renewed sense of purpose. Attendees gained valuable insights into navigating challenges, achieving entrepreneurial success, and maintaining a healthy work-life balance.