Media Release

Bengaluru, Apr 13: While most Friday evenings are reserved for switching off, members of Kanara Entrepreneurs (KE) who attended the 28th edition of Founders’ Fiesta on April 11 chose to "switch on" to stories, laughter, and hard-hitting truths.

Hosted at Konkan Samudai Bhavan, the evening featured Adrian D’Souza, co-founder and MD of Deccan Group of Companies, who delivered an unconventional and refreshingly unfiltered success story. From vivid childhood anecdotes to the raw realities of building a business, Adrian’s journey captivated the audience. His blend of honesty and spontaneous humour reinforced a key takeaway: authenticity is not just a leadership style, but a distinct business advantage.

What makes Founders’ Fiesta unique is its courage to spotlight failures as the primary narrative rather than mere footnotes. Adrian’s journey was no exception, offering practical wisdom often missing from textbooks.

Key reflections from the session:

• FEAR (Face Everything And Rise): Do not avoid or delay; rise to the challenge.

• Workforce Value: Success is never a solo effort; your employees build your wins.

• Systems and People: Pair bold business moves with steady systems and reliable people behind the scenes.

• Efficiency in Learning: Experiment early, fail fast, and learn faster—it is more cost-effective when the scale is small.

• Pragmatism: Cut losses early; emotional attachment in business can be expensive.

• Niche Focus: Identify your strengths and double down on them; not every opportunity deserves your energy.

• Innovation: Value creation keeps you ahead, more so than growth for the sake of it.

• Long-term Resilience: Diversify investments and think long-term rather than chasing quick wins.

• Cultural Connection: While English connects minds, the local language connects hearts.

Beyond business strategy, Adrian emphasised the importance of personal grounding, reminding the 90-plus members in attendance to remain present, value family, and maintain a supportive relationship with one's spouse as a fundamental success mantra.

The evening commenced on a soulful note with a prayer and a welcome hymn by Nadia D’Souza. Adrian also took the opportunity to acknowledge his close aides, reinforcing the theme of collective effort.

KE president Pramod D’Souza and director of mentorship Sunil Attavar shared insights into the Founders’ Fiesta and the KE Mentorship Program. Founder president Charles Gomes presented a memento of appreciation to the guest speaker.

The session concluded with a powerful reminder for the entrepreneurs present: build boldly, stay grounded, and never lose sight of one's identity while chasing professional goals.