Podcasts · Coffee Pump Podcast

Nokia, Blackberry & The Death of Big Brands - Atul Chaturvedi | Coffee Pump (E107)

6 Jul 2026 · 1 h 44 min · S1 E107

Konnichiwa Fam,

On E107, I sit down with Atul Chaturvedi, marketing strategist, Strathmore and USIU lecturer, and a former telecom CEO who has built businesses across roughly ten different industries.

Atul spent his first 41 years in India before landing in Kenya in 2010, and he's run companies in pharmaceuticals, white goods, telecom, fiber, dairy and more. We get into why Nokia really lost its crown, the dual-SIM warning their own team dismissed, and how Blackberry guarding BBM opened the door for WhatsApp to copy the idea and sell for nineteen billion. He breaks down his 80/20 split between marketing and sales, the free-nighttime-minutes play that pulled more new customers than Safaricom in a single month, and why Kenyans stay loyal to a brand even when it costs more.

We also get into KDN and Kenya's fiber backbone, the milk powder business most people have never thought about, and the COVID gamble where he paid every supplier out of his own pocket and came out the other side at more than double the turnover.

We talk about:

• Growing up in India and a career spanning ten industries • Why power makes big brands arrogant and deaf to the market • The dual-SIM signal Nokia's own people ignored • Blackberry refusing to open BBM, and WhatsApp doing exactly that • The 80/20 rule for splitting marketing and sales budgets • Free nighttime minutes and outselling Safaricom in a month • Why Kenyans don't switch brands, even for a cheaper deal • Safaricom's grip on M-Pesa and the cost of every transaction • Running KDN and the Nairobi to Mombasa fiber backbone • The milk powder business and how dairies really work • Hiring the loyal lifer versus the industry jumper • The COVID bet: paying suppliers himself and doubling the business

Hope you enjoy the episode.

Best,

Team Coffee Pump

Join Our Membership and get access to videos early:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkZKGnWZWb-S9wJdz9IGDTw/join

Our Coffee and Tea Is Launching Soon!! Keep An Eye Out On Our Website: https://coffeepumppodcast.com/shop

Find Atul Chaturvedi:

- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/atulchaturvedi1967

Find our host Sajid Vayani:

- Linktree: https://linktr.ee/sajvayani

Coffee Pump Spotify, Apple and Socials:

- Linktree: https://linktr.ee/sajvayani

Disclaimer:

The content of The Coffee Pump Podcast is intended for entertainment and informational purposes only. The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed by the hosts and guests are solely their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Coffee Pump Podcast, its affiliates, or any associated entities. Nothing discussed in this podcast should be construed as professional advice in any field, including but not limited to legal, financial, medical, or business matters.

Any statements made about businesses, products, or individuals are based on personal experiences and opinions and are not meant to be taken as fact or a definitive review. The Coffee Pump Podcast does not assume any liability for the accuracy, completeness, or consequences of using the information discussed. Listeners are encouraged to form their own opinions, conduct their own research, and seek professional guidance where appropriate.

By listening to this podcast, you acknowledge that The Coffee Pump Podcast is not responsible for any actions or decisions made based on the content provided.

The episode on the publisher’s site ↗ (opens in a new tab)