Episode #40
Careers in India Few Would Dare to Follow - Cheesemaking
While editing, we made a change in the opening sequence - because you need to know the risks that Namrata took From Boardrooms to Cheeseboards: How Curiosity Built an Unconventional Career What happens when a management consultant with a successful corporate career decides to follow an unexpected passion and ends up building an award-winning artisanal cheese brand in Chennai? In this episode of My First Job , we sit down with Namrata Sundaresan, co-founder of Kase Cheese , to explore a career journey that defies conventional expectations. From studying engineering and management, working in HR, marketing, research, and consulting, to discovering the art and science of cheesemaking, Namrata's story is a masterclass in curiosity, reinvention, and lifelong learning. This conversation goes far beyond cheese. It explores how careers evolve when we remain open to opportunities, embrace experimentation, and allow our interests to guide us toward meaningful work. Namrata shares how travel, food, entrepreneurship, personal loss, and a willingness to keep learning helped her discover a craft that eventually became a thriving business with social impact at its core. You'll learn how an unconventional idea became a scalable enterprise, why curiosity is one of the most valuable career skills, how artisan businesses can create sustainable livelihoods, and why success often comes from being willing to receive opportunities—not just seek them. If you've ever wondered whether it's possible to build a career outside traditional paths, transition into a completely new field, or turn a passion into a business, this episode offers inspiration, practical insights, and a fresh perspective on what a successful career can look like. Listen now to discover why some of the most rewarding careers are the ones nobody plans for.
