Leilani Brown interviews Paul Nasrani, CEO and founder of Adirondack Creamery, about his journey from CFO to ice cream entrepreneur. Nasrani discusses the creation of unique flavors like Black Raspberry, inspired by political unity, and Kashmiri Kawa, based on a traditional Kashmiri drink. He emphasizes the importance of community and social impact, donating half of the profits from Syrian Date and Walnut to the International Rescue Committee. Nasrani advises aspiring entrepreneurs to stay passionate, learn continuously, and be open to new opportunities. He also highlights the significance of building relationships and respecting diverse perspectives in business.
ABOUT PAUL
Paul N. Nasrani discovered his passion for ice cream during childhood summers on a Pennsylvania farm, where he helped churn fresh homemade batches with unrivaled flavors and quality. His professional journey began as a Public Accountant at BDO Seidman in audit and consulting, before advancing to COO of an Orthodontic Care Start-Up, and later CFO positions at both a privately held staffing firm (an opportunity he chose over acceptance to University of Michigan Business School) and a mid-market private equity-owned legal services company.
Despite his successful finance career in New York City, Paul's ice cream dream persisted, leading him to produce premium homemade ice creams in his Manhattan studio apartment in 2002. As demand from colleagues and friends quickly outgrew his home setup, he dedicated his vacations to visiting ice cream shops and attending specialized dairy programs at Penn State and Cornell Universities to perfect his craft.
The turning point came on a winter Sunday in Grand Central Station when Paul purchased a commercial batch freezer at an auction. Within a year, he left his corporate career behind to establish Adirondack Creamery Ice Cream, where he now serves as Founder and President, finally fulfilling his lifelong dream of sharing his passion for exceptional ice cream with the world.
