After A Career in Academia, Former College President Gives Others the Gift Of Travel
"When we travel to places whose people and cultures are far away from our comfort zone, we have no option but to grow, stretch, and reach out. We learn that our assumptions and worldviews are often limited, unintentionally biased and prejudiced, and that we have incredible opportunities to become the people that we often dream about. "
(Atlantic City, NJ)—Dr. Uma Gupta, envisions that world travel can motivate students and leaders in their academic, intellectual, and spiritual lives. As a former S.U.N.Y. college president, making sure students were energized by learning was at the top of her agenda. Now, she also convinces them that the world can serve as one of the best learning laboratories. Her own trajectory to the United States as a graduate student on an F-1 visa and Rotary Scholarship from India, also served as an invaluable training ground.
"When we travel to places whose people and cultures are far away from our comfort zone, we have no option but to grow, stretch, and reach out. We learn that our assumptions and worldviews are often limited, unintentionally biased and prejudiced, and that we have incredible opportunities to become the people that we often dream about. The gift of travel is one of the greatest gifts because it invites and entices all our senses to observe, learn, and become enriched," she said.
Her epiphany to start a company focused on offering educational and spiritual tours came while visiting India, when her sister reminded her she possessed the right mix of skills and passion for the job at hand.
"From that moment onwards I decided that I would open doors for others to experience India and all that it has to offer," she said.
A U.S. citizen originally from Madras (Chennai), Dr. Gupta has traveled through India extensively during the past 25 years and has collected not only anecdotes, but an understanding about how India can captivate others.
"I realized India had so much to offer the Western world," she said. "I want to be a messenger to those who may be unhappy, sad, confused, lost, stressed that it is easy to be the opposite—happy, peaceful, calm, joyous."
Dr. Gupta has found rewards in operating her consultancy.
"I love operating my company because of all the great people that I get to meet and work with," she went on to say. "I love it because, unlike academia where entrepreneurship, innovation, and creativity is often slowed down, or looked down upon, I can run with my strengths. Typically, every day is a learning day—every single day you learn something new; you learn about yourself a little more; and you have an opportunity to serve others—meet their needs, go the extra mile, and become one of the ‘most admired’ companies."
She is aware at the same time, about misconceptions that exist about India and hopes to enlighten others about the benefits of study abroad, enterprise, and spirituality in India.
"India, like human beings, is a glaring dichotomy of virtues and vices, systems and chaos, successes and failures, dreams and dashed hopes, good and bad, opulence and poverty. It is a country that exposes its strengths and frailties in a rich yet stark way. I love India because it has so much to offer, but you must be thirsty to drink from the well. It is not for everyone. It is for the adventurous; it is for those who are willing to step outside their comfort zone; it is for those who are willing to test and then adjust their assumptions; it is for those who are open to new experiences," she said.
To learn more about Global Cube tours, visit: www.globalcubeit.com
