We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Snehee Chaplot a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Snehee, thanks so much for taking the time to share your insights and lessons with us today. We’re particularly interested in hearing about how you became such a resilient person. Where do you get your resilience from?
I think it comes from three things:
Firstly, I started my career working with numerous food giants. Very early into my career, I was put in very tough situations that I had to quickly learn how to mitigate. Over time, this built up resilience and perseverance in me.
Secondly, I’m fortunate to have a vast network in the Food and Beverage industry to turn to for insights and guidance. I’m a firm believer that with the right approach, every challenge has a solution.
Lastly, maintaining an unwavering sense of positivity has always been a core part of who I am. This mindset has been instrumental in keeping me driven, even during tough times.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
I’m a Food Safety Scientist by trade and have over 17 years of experience in the Food and Beverage industry. I started my career working with numerous food giants including Tyson Foods, KraftHeinz, and Nestle in various operations and R&D roles. Currently, I’m an SQF Auditor and Food Safety Consultant, where I have established robust food safety teams, systems and processes with clients including Mendocino Farms, Shipley Donuts, and more. I am also the founder and CEO of Gallivant Mawa Ice Creams.
I launched Gallivant Mawa Ice Creams in 2019, after a personal health scare caused me to develop severe gluten allergies and several other food sensitivities. It became very difficult for me to find affordable, delicious food that did not make me sick.
Gallivant Mawa Ice Creams are made using MaahVaah branded milk solids and Ayurvedic principles of dairy farming and processing. We cook milk and mawa (Indian Milk Solids) together at 175°F for more than 3 hours, compared to the traditional process that ran for 30 minutes at 165°F. This cooking process helps reduce the harmful properties of milk that elevate lactose intolerance.
Additionally, we work directly with dairy farmers who implement Ayurvedic principles into farming. The cows are not separated from their calves, they feed their calves first, and the leftover milk is used for human consumption. All our cows are grass-fed in open lands where regenerative farming practices are followed over generations. This ensures that the milk we use is stress hormone-free and not harmful to the body.
Our ice creams, aptly named ‘Gallivant’ signify a journey in pursuit of delight. Today, Gallivant is available in 10 different unique, authentic global flavors where each flavor celebrates and honors different culinary cultures. Taste the world in every scoop!
These frozen creations are an attempt from my end to bring back age-old healing green and sustainable technologies, scaling them while keeping their healing properties intact and providing a healthier option to our consumers without compromising on taste and yumminess!
We are currently available in H-E-B in Texas, Bristol Farms in California, and 40+ independents in Hawaii, California, Arizona, and Texas. To find us near you, please check out our store locator: https://gallivanticecreams.com/where-to-buy/
We are excited to continue our expansion around the US. To stay updated on our journey, join us on social @gallivanticecreams and sign up for our newsletter via our website https://gallivanticecreams.com/
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
1. Having Great Mentors – Throughout my career, I’ve been graced with fabulous mentors and managers. They trusted in my abilities to not only complete challenging deliverables but to do them in a way that brought people together and worked effectively as a team. Their faith and trust helped me recognize my own potential.
2. The Art of Discernment – Early in my professional journey, I learned the critical skill of discernment. Distinguishing constructive feedback from negative criticism has not only optimized my performance but also enhanced my decision-making and confidence as an entrepreneur. This skill ensures I surround myself with the right team members, advisors, directors, and partners.
3. Product Lifecycle Expertise – My graduate studies and professional experience equipped me with a deep understanding of a product’s journey—from ideation to commercialization to scaling. This knowledge is invaluable in ensuring efficient use of resources and avoiding potential pitfalls.
What’s been one of your main areas of growth this year?
Building my team has been instrumental in the success Gallivant has had. I think the best advice I can give to fellow entrepreneurs is to surround yourself with an army of people who always have your back. You do not need “yes” people — you want honest and authentic people on your team as well as a board of advisors. Your chances of success increase significantly when your team has the right mindset and the right attitude towards the mission and you.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://gallivanticecreams.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gallivanticecreams/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gallivanticecreams/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/gallivant-mawa-ice-creams/
Image Credits
Rohan Nanavati | Roar Studios
