From Real Fruit to Real Success - Duncan Parsons (10- 14)

Since leaving school, Duncan Parsons has taken a path that perfectly captures a spirit of open-mindedness, courage, and 
making the most of unexpected opportunities.  From studying at world-leading universities to launching a thriving ice cream business on Venice Beach, his journey is a powerful reminder that success does not always follow a straight line and that sometimes, the most unlikely ideas lead to the most rewarding outcomes.

After studying for one semester at Canterbury University, Duncan was awarded the Julian Robertson Scholarship for four years at Duke University in North Carolina. During that time, he also broadened his horizons further by studying for a year at the University of Cape Town in South Africa. A willingness to embrace change and seize new experiences shaped his path. “I wanted to study in the US after visiting on the Lindisfarne football trip in Year 13. I had no idea what that would entail but it seemed like a good idea,” he recalls. That instinct to say yes to opportunity proved pivotal. Despite being accepted into Harvard, Stanford, and Duke, he chose Duke because of the prestigious Robertson Scholarship, a decision that would open countless doors.

Duncan’s university experience in the United States further reinforced the value of flexibility and curiosity. The liberal arts system let him explore subjects from engineering and economics to literature, philosophy, and language, shaping his interests. While he admits that none of it directly prepared him for making ice cream, the experience broadened his thinking and confidence. Equally influential was scholarship benefactor Julian Robertson, whose mentorship left a lasting impression. “As someone very green to the U.S., it gave me a lot of confidence… someone who has ‘done it all’ respects the perspective and values of a boy from Hawke’s Bay and Lindisfarne.”

After graduating in 2019, his journey took an unexpected turn. “When I moved to California after university, a few of my college mates already had corporate jobs. I had a couple of months on my visa so I wanted to try and kick around with something else for a summer,” he explains. “I called Dad and told him that I was going to ‘move to LA, sell ice cream and talk to girls! Despite it being a bit more work than pitching up at the beach, selling ice cream and getting girls’ numbers, it’s been an awesome six years so far.”

“I went into ice cream because I love real fruit ice cream, and it seemed like a simple enough concept that I could get started right away,” he says. “Pretty soon everyone, including myself, was so fired up by the idea that I thought I have to go for it.”

That summer idea became Creamy Boys Ice Cream, a real fruit ice cream venture that began with a single trailer in Venice Beach. Today, the business employs around sixty people across two shops and a catering arm. The idea itself was simple but inspired by home. Growing up near the Strawberry Patch in Hawke’s Bay, he saw an opportunity to bring a beloved Kiwi classic to the United States.

Despite a decade overseas, Duncan’s connection to Lindisfarne and New Zealand remains strong. He fondly remembers his time at school, particularly the camaraderie among classmates and the formative influence of teachers like Mr Richardson, Mr Young and Mr Workman .“No question that all our experiences brought us boys close together and I’m most of all grateful for having great mates from Lindisfarne,” he says. Today, that connection continues, with former classmates now working alongside him in Los Angeles.

At the heart of his story is a clear message for current students: stay open, stay curious, and be willing to take chances. “The thing I would remind my younger self or a boy finishing Lindisfarne now is to be open to pathways that open up. If you’re not open to them, they can pass you by,” Duncan advises. He believes success is not defined by a single path. “When I think of my mates, I am most stoked for the ones who have found something that really ‘spins their wheels’… Whether it’s professional sport, a PhD, farming, travelling the world, or pursuing a weird career or lifestyle.” He adds, “People who are high integrity, work hard, and are open-minded, do the most surprising and awesome things and have the most fun.”

For students considering opportunities overseas or in entrepreneurial fields, Duncan is approachable and eager to help. “If you have any interest in hospitality or ice cream or what it’s like living in the U.S., please get in touch… I’d be happy to chat.”

This story is a compelling example of how embracing opportunity, being flexible, and backing your instincts can lead to extraordinary outcomes. From Hawke’s Bay to Venice Beach, his journey reminds us that sometimes the most unexpected ideas, like selling real fruit ice cream on a Californian beach, can turn into something truly remarkable.