Cold Stone Creamery Fullerton X Infinnovate

07/26/26
Photos By: Sophia Kim

A Taste of Real-World Business

The first thing most people notice at Cold Stone Creamery is the ice cream.

The last thing they notice is the business behind it.

For Infinnovate students Sean Kim and Jinu Kang, a visit to Cold Stone Creamery Fullerton became much more than an opportunity to enjoy a familiar brand. It became an opportunity to step behind the counter and discover how a local business creates value, serves its customers, develops its team, and earns trust one interaction at a time.

As part of the Infinnovate Ecosystem, students are learning that business is not something found only in textbooks. It is something that lives inside local communities, built by people who make decisions, solve problems, and create meaningful experiences every day.

Rahul’s Journey began at Sunny Hills High School before continuing through to UC Irvine, where he studied International Business, and later Columbia Law School. Along the way, he gained experience in law, accounting, real estate, and entrepreneurship before eventually becoming the owner of a Cold Stone Creamery franchise.

For Sean and Jinu, his story demonstrated something important.

Entrepreneurship is rarely a straight line.

It is built through experiences, relationships, continuous learning, and the willingness to adapt as opportunities appear.

Rather than following one predetermined career, Rahul built a foundation across multiple disciplines before bringing those experiences together through business ownership.

The conversation was not a presentation; it was a dialogue.

Sean focused on understanding the franchise model and the responsibilities of ownership. Jinu explored customer relationships, community engagement, and what creates memorable experiences for guests. Together, their questions uncovered topics that extended far beyond ice cream.

They discussed leadership, customer service, marketing, daily operations, decision-making, and the realities of operating a nationally recognized brand while still serving a local community.

Each question revealed another layer of what it means to own a business.

Rahul then welcomed the students behind the counter for a closer look at the business in motion.

They watched employees greet customers with energy, prepare customized orders, maintain an organized workspace, and work together during busy periods. What appeared effortless from the customer side was supported by consistency, communication, preparation, and teamwork behind the scenes. The students quickly realized that customers may arrive because of the product, but they return because of the experience. That realization became one of the most valuable lessons of the day.

“Honor and Treasure your relationships with your people.”

- Rahul

One of the questions Sean asked centered on what it means to operate a franchise.

Rahul explained that while Cold Stone provides a recognizable brand and proven operating system, successful ownership still requires constant leadership, thoughtful decision-making, and a deep understanding of the local community.

Some decisions can be made locally. Others require collaboration with the larger franchise organization.

For the students, this introduced an important business concept.

Leadership is not always about complete independence. Sometimes leadership means creating value while operating within a larger system.

Cold Stone Back of House

Toward the end of the visit, the conversation shifted toward the future.

Rather than ending with questions and answers, Rahul invited the students to continue thinking about the business beyond the visit. Together, they discussed opportunities to strengthen relationships with nearby schools, students, families, and the surrounding Fullerton community.

The discussion naturally evolved into the beginning of a student case study.Rather than searching for "right" answers, Sean and Jinu left with a real business question to continue exploring.

How can a business continue creating meaningful connections within its community?

That question will become the foundation for their first community business case study.

Every business has something to teach.

Cold Stone Creamery taught something equally important. Customers remember how a business makes them feel.

Behind every scoop is a team working together. Behind every experience is an owner making countless decisions. Behind every successful business is trust built one interaction at a time.

For Sean and Jinu, what began as a visit to a neighborhood ice cream shop became a lesson in entrepreneurship, professionalism, customer experience, and community.

That is the very purpose of the Infinnovate Ecosystem. To help students move beyond the classroom. To learn from real businesses. To ask real questions. To solve real problems.

And to discover that some of life's greatest lessons are waiting just beyond the counter.

Cold Stone Ice Cream Churner