School dropout entrepreneur shares success story at B School

The Managing Director of Milky Mist T Sathish Kumar, who dropped out of school after Class Eight to take over his father’s floundering milk business and turned it into a Rs.200-plus crore company, received The Weekend Leader Amazing Entrepreneur Trophy at a function in VIT Vellore last week. (Read: Milky Mist Success Story)

Dr. Kalyani Rangarajan presenting the Amazing Entrepreneur trophy to T Sathish Kumar, CEO, Milky Mist. To his left is P C Vinoj Kumar (Photos: H K Rajashekar)

Sathish Kumar traced the growth of the company from the period when they used to sell paneer in carry bags in small quantities to the stage when their products are retailed in stores across South India in their own Milky Mist chillers.

Based in Erode, the company makes a range of value added milk products including Milky Mist Paneer, its flagship product.

“I would have done better with an academic degree,” the 40-year-old entrepreneur admitted during a conversation with P C Vinoj Kumar, Editor of The Weekend Leader that preceded his interaction with students of VIT Business School.

Sathish with VIT Business School students

Sathish’s response was to a question on whether he would have been a better entrepreneur if he had attended college, and may be acquired an MBA.

Later, he interacted with the students, who asked him probing questions on their business model and the challenges in procuring pure milk.

Sathish explained the stringent quality check they follow during procurement of milk from the farmers and their policy of not engaging with blacklisted farmers who adopt unethical practices.

Sathish Kumar said aspiring entrepreneurs should not expect overnight success

To questions on how he had become conversant in English, Sathish said he had cultivated the habit of reading English newspapers.

Advising aspiring entrepreneurs, the entrepreneur with rural roots warned that they should not expect overnight success and be willing to work hard.

Earlier Dr. Kalyani Rangarajan, Dean, VIT Business School, addressed the students and presented The Weekend Leader Amazing Entrepreneur Award to the young entrepreneur. – TWL Bureau