Leadership is not defined by titles, but by the number of people who rise because of you. Few embody this philosophy as powerfully as Pankaj Kumar, Founder of Bowl’d Masala and DNA Franchise Pro, whose mission is simple yet transformative: democratizing entrepreneurship for everyday people. From global hospitality boardrooms to empowering first-time business owners across the U.S. and beyond, his journey is a testament to grit, clarity of purpose, and value-based leadership.
“I believe leadership is not about titles, it’s about impact, influence, and helping others rise,” he reflects, a belief that has shaped every chapter of his professional life.
Born and raised in India, Pankaj’s career took him across Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, and Brunei with renowned global brands including A&W, Pizza Hut, Domino’s, and the Taj Group. Nearly three decades in hospitality leadership shaped him into a strategist who understood operations, people, and scalable growth at a deep level. But destiny had more in store.
The COVID-19 pandemic, which shook industries worldwide, became a defining turning point. Instead of retreating, he reinvented. With just $50,000 and extraordinary belief, he launched a ghost kitchen that rapidly evolved into Bowl’d Masala, a modern Indian fusion fast-casual franchise built on bold flavors and smart operations. Parallelly, he founded DNA Franchise Pro, a franchise consulting and portfolio firm that today represents 600+ franchise brands globally.
Each step, corporate leader, entrepreneur, franchise mentor, built toward the same mission: creating opportunities.
Pankaj’s professional identity is rooted in versatility. As the visionary behind Bowl’d Masala, he leads the expansion of a new-age restaurant brand that celebrates Indian flavors while meeting global efficiency standards. Meanwhile, DNA Franchise Pro helps entrepreneurs evaluate, select, and invest in franchise opportunities across industries.
His portfolio spans restaurant franchising, consulting, real estate selection, operations manuals, training systems, and franchise development, while also helping immigrant business owners navigate E-2 and EB-5 investor pathways. Whether guiding U.S. professionals or supporting global families to set up their first franchise, his goal is unwavering, to make franchising accessible, affordable, and life-changing.
Behind the milestones stands his greatest source of strength, his family. “My wife and my two sons, Dhruv and Arjun, are my inspiration. Their strength pushes me to build a legacy of opportunity,” he shares.
His next decade is mapped out with clarity:
• Empower 1,000 new entrepreneurs globally
• Scale Bowl’d Masala across the U.S. and India
• Build a franchise ecosystem where small business owners thrive with mentorship and systems
Pankaj calls himself a people-first leader, and his four pillars of business, People, Product, Process, Profit, always begin with the first.
His teams know him for collaboration, transparency, training, and empowerment.
“I believe in leading from the front, but also stepping back to let others shine. Leadership is about building other leaders, not followers,” he says, a philosophy deeply embedded into the culture of Bowl’d Masala and DNA Franchise Pro.
His greatest strength, he admits, is relentless perseverance. But he also openly discusses his weakness, taking on too much because he genuinely wants to help everyone. “Your passion must be strong, but so must your boundaries. Growth comes when you learn to trust your systems and empower your team.”
With businesses expanding rapidly, Pankaj maintains equilibrium through discipline, presence, and structure. Whether mentoring franchisees, attending family events, or planning a store opening, he focuses on being fully present wherever he is. To unwind, he treasures family time, travel, culinary exploration, fitness, writing, and youth mentorship, especially through the EdisonCare Internship Bootcamp.
For him, unwinding isn’t escaping work; it’s reconnecting with what matters most.
Over the years, Pankaj has received recognition across corporate and entrepreneurial spheres, including the CXO Las Vegas Rising Leader Award, Amazon Bestselling Author achievement, participation in Amazon Prime’s business reality show “The Blox,” and prominence within the global franchise community. Yet, he believes his greatest accolades are not trophies but the lives transformed through entrepreneurship.
His words reflect the mindset of a builder and believer, “No dream is too big, and no beginning is too small. If you are waiting for the perfect moment, it will never come, create it. Be consistent, stay humble, surround yourself with the right mentors, and build something that outlives you. The world needs more creators, more leaders, and more doers, start today.”
