How the MiM programme helped Pratyush Nair clarify his goals for his family business

Like many who grew up in families that run their own businesses, Pratyush Nair’s exposure to his family business, Vijayalaxmi Cashew Company (VLC), started from a young age. Based in Kerala, India, VLC was established in 1957 and is India’s largest (and one of the world's biggest) manufacturers and exporters of cashew kernels and cashew nutshell liquid.

“I was always a part of the casual business conversations at home and meetings with clients. This exposed me to the industry and the operational aspects of the business,” says Pratyush. When he formally joined VLC as a business development executive in 2017, this prior exposure proved invaluable.

Still, as a scion, he had to prove his worth to the employees and stakeholders. In a longstanding company that was still operating very traditionally in some aspects, his focus on restructuring, innovation and e-commerce was not without challenges.

Over the course of a year or so, he learned many valuable lessons on the job — about the importance of solid customer relationship management, of keeping employees motivated and up to date with modern business developments, and of implementing change in phases in order to avoid confusion among staff and management.

In 2019, he embarked on another learning experience. Drawn to SMU’s focus on Asian markets and the fact that the pedagogy was modelled after the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, Pratyush enrolled in the Master of Science in Management (MiM) programme to gain a solid business foundation.

“A good business Master’s is one that enables us to assess and question our own existing beliefs. This will enable us to think out of the box, and scan and pounce on the best opportunities available,” he believes. “The SMU MiM programme has instilled that mindset in me.” The programme’s linking of theory to practice through extensive case studies was particularly appealing to him, as he was preparing to make further contributions to VLC.

His wish to gain greater international exposure also contributed to his decision to study in Singapore. “As a culturally diverse country, Singapore offers the opportunity to build a strong network, and work with people from different parts of the world,” says Pratyush.

As such, he made full use of the opportunities SMU offers to help students gain global exposure. For instance, his cohort went on a Business Study Mission to Ateneo University in Manila, the Philippines, where they learned about sustainable business models and how young local entrepreneurs were spearheading innovative ventures to empower underprivileged communities.

“Understanding the details of running a business that focuses on helping these communities, while also generating profit, has broadened my mindset,” he says of the inspiring trip. Ninety per cent of VLC’s 20,000-strong workforce are women from underprivileged backgrounds, he points out.

When he returns, “my key priority would be to adopt a sustainable business model with a keen focus to ensure holistic development of the entire society. And the insights I gained from the Business Study Mission has helped me attain a clearer image of what I want to achieve”.

During his time in graduate school, one of his key goals was to immerse himself in business management in an international culture. The full-time, six-month internship that was a part of the MiM programme was thus a major draw. He is currently serving an internship as Business Manager - Corporate international, at Commerzbank, where he works in finance, general administration and operations.

In this role, he continues to glean valuable knowledge that he is raring to apply to VLC. Being a part of the bank’s Business Continuity planning discussions to tackle operational hurdles, for instance, has taught him what to focus on during a crisis and within tight time constraints.

In fact, the internship and the MiM programme as a whole, has helped Pratyush formulate a timeline for diving back into the family business. “I have come to realise that it is a coherent plan for the business after my studies. This will allow me to implement changes and expand the business with the knowledge I gained from my course and work experience in Singapore. I feel the company could use fresh blood. A different thought process will be beneficial in growing it to bigger heights. The sooner this is implemented, the better.”