Engineer quits software firm to coach corporates using wildlife; earns Rs80 lakh in first year

A deep connection with nature and wildlife prompted 35-year-old Sai Kiran Bhagavatula to quit as a senior product manager at a software company and start Wildlife Whisperers. The startup draws upon Mother Nature to foster personal and professional growth among students and corporate employees.

Sai says early humans learnt their survival instincts from animals, observing their behaviours, migration patterns, and food sources. 

“At Wildlife Whisperers, we aim to facilitate transformative life experiences that connect the corporate world and the untamed wilderness,” Sai tells 30Stades.

“Instead of launching a typical tour operating company offering packages to national and international destinations, I wanted to provide an immersive experience to people by incorporating learning and development (L&D) and behavioural science into tours,” says Sai, who quit software firm Model M India in 2023 to start Wildlife Whisperers.

The teamwork of lions, disaster management of honey bees and duty delegation of ants hold key lessons for life and leadership. “Our programmes are designed in such a manner that Mother Nature becomes your mentor, and the outcome is a high-performing, cohesive team that works together effectively to achieve your business objectives,” says Sai.

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Wildlife Whisperers is currently bootstrapped (self-funded). It was registered as Kathaa Pravaha Creative Studios LLP. The company generated revenue of Rs 80 lakh in its first year. “While the company is headquartered in Hyderabad, from where I operate, our team sits across various places in India…we often meet in jungles,” says Sai.

It currently has three core members, a mindfulness coach, and 10 L&D facilitators who work on contract (most of them are certified in psychometric assessment tools). “Apart from this, we have our trusted vendors and properties in specified destinations that align with the vision of Wildlife Whisperers,” Sai says. 

“We are planning to scale up to cater to higher volumes as we see the demand growing,” he says. 

“We collaborate with properties and drivers in each destination where we offer our services. Every component for the supply chain, from properties to professionals who work with us, is selected based on the common interest of creating awareness about the importance of nature.”

The company offers various packages with different objectives. To overcome workplace anxiety, fatigue and stress, a 2-4 day adventure package named The Jungle Book-Mindfulness helps employees discover balance, foster resilience, and redefine their approach to teamwork. “Move like a Pack” provides insights from nature’s experts to strengthen employee bonding, build trust, and align with colleagues. 

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Wildlife Whisperers is working with universities and is also in discussion with some B-Schools and Colleges. It has worked with Perfetti Van Melle and Siemens Digital and is in talks with other companies in the banking, FMCG, and manufacturing sectors for curating programmes.

“The entire concept of moving the corporate workshops from closed boardrooms to an open nature involves extensive research and work for our team, which includes wildlife professionals, naturalists and seasoned L&D professionals,” he says. 

They also offer private tour packages to 19 national parks in India, including Kanha, Kabini, Gir, Tadoba, Bandhavgarh, Pilibhit, Satpura, Dudhwa, and Jim Corbett. The international destinations include Amboseli National Park and Maasai Mara National Reserve in Kenya, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Vietnam.

How it all began

After graduating in electronics and communication engineering in 2010, Sai worked in Hyderabad, Chennai and Mumbai. “I met several wildlife enthusiasts—scientists, conservationists, and photographers. Although I worked in cities, every weekend, I would embark on nature trails armed with an intermediate-level DSLR camera, which I used for nearly six years, even winning photography awards with it.“

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In 2014, he moved to the United States to pursue his Master’s in operational research and data science at the University of North Carolina, Charlotte. Over the next six years, while working in the IT industry, Sai travelled across the country.

“By 2020, I had travelled enough, seen enough. Being away from my family for too long wasn’t easy. Although my sister was in the United States, my parents were in India. I decided to return home, hoping to start something on my own.”

However, the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic halted his plans. “I ended up as a Senior Product Manager at Model N India,” he recollects. 

“Nevertheless, I continued my wildlife adventures, meeting people, and telling stories. However, my initial obsession with capturing stunning animal portraits began to wane.  After a 13-year stint in the IT field, I quit to start Wildlife Whisperers in 2023,” Sai adds.

Sai’s Inspiration

“As a five-year-old, I received a book from my father ‘Animals in the Wild,’ which I still treasure,” says Sai, adding “This laid the foundation for my love for nature and animals. I also make it a point to narrate only animal stories to my 3-year-old daughter at bedtime.” 

“Meanwhile, I remember my uncle had also gifted me a book called ‘The Treasury of Children’s Knowledge.’ He was also a photographer and introduced me to the camera. When I was five, I held a film camera for the first time, clicking pictures at family gatherings. The film was expensive those days, so I could only use it when he visited. I can say this laid the foundation for my love for photography.”

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“We have so much to learn from nature. A deer hears a langur’s call and scoots because of the danger lurking in the form of a predator. Animals have always co-existed with each other. Intuitively, humans have co-existed with animals, but down the line, the society has changed. Now when we see a weaker animal, we tend to attack, and when we spot a stronger animal, we run.”

With a passion for wildlife photography, Sai has travelled extensively across national parks in India, the United States and Africa. 

“Each visit teaches me something that I can apply to my daily life. I have always felt that nature is a teacher and a leveller and it would have a great impact in making us mindful and observant, something we lack in the concrete jungle,” he says.

Every day, birds and animals are involved in hunting, climbing, marking territories, exploring and expanding their areas, and digging holes and burrows. However, they also take time off to rest and recover. 

“Similarly, it is important for humans to balance work and rest for overall well-being. Relaxing the body and mind can make one more productive and creative. Keeping mental and physical health in check can lead to a happy and fulfilling life,” says Sai winding up. 

(Rama Devi Menon is a Hyderabad-based independent journalist, bird conservationist and animal rights advocate)

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