Who we are

Educational immersions, inspired by authentic cultures, which stimulate critical thinking and spark imagination.

 

         Vision

A world enriched through travel

 

         mission

To enrich lives – one person, one community and one amazing learning experience at a time

 

         Vision

A world enriched through travel

 

         mission

To enrich lives – one person, one community and one amazing learning experience at a time

Programs

Faculty-Led

Thematic in nature, faculty-led programs are a curated blend of commerce and culture. We fully manage all the logistics and work closely with the faculty leader to create content that is stimulating and relevant. These may range from business and economy to following in the footsteps of Mahatma Gandhi. Programs can be created around a given theme (e.g. Healthcare or Science and Technology) to integrate different disciplines, destinations, interactions and immersions.

 

Service-Learning

Service-learning programs are focused on a project that revolves around enhancing the lives of a community. Whether it’s infrastructural or socio-entrepreneurial, the participants in the program are actively involved in helping with community-identified needs. The programs are enhanced by workshops, hands-on field work and interaction with social entrepreneurs who are working to make a difference.

Internships

There’s no better way to gain international exposure and awareness than by interning abroad. In a world where global connectivity is the norm, what better way to experience it first-hand than by immersing yourself in a working culture abroad? We place our interns in sound, secure and inspiring working environments that expose them to local culture. These may range from hospitality to healthcare, social entrepreneurship to NGOs, and manufacturing to finance.

Services

You can count on us for:

Content

Design and delivery

Logistics

Planning and management

Support

On the ground, before & after

Core Ideology

Core Purpose

Our core purpose is to enrich lives. We pursue this by designing and delivering academic programs that promote holistic growth on the physical, emotional, intellectual and spiritual dimensions

Core Values

Our beliefs, culture and decisions are shaped by our core values

    Excellence

Respectful. Trustworthy. Cooperative.

The whole is more than the sum of its parts. We love collaborating with our amazing network of partners and customers to create powerful and transformative programs for our participants that profoundly and positively impact the communities we work in

    Team Work

Respectful. Trustworthy. Cooperative.

The whole is more than the sum of its parts. We love collaborating with our amazing network of partners and customers to create powerful and transformative programs for our participants that profoundly and positively impact the communities we work in

    Excitement

Enthusiastic. Energetic. Creative. Positive. Healthy.

Life is beautiful, and we bring this gratitude and energy to celebrate the opportunity to grow and have a positive impact in the world we live in through our partnerships and programs.

    Open

Honest. Share. Listen.

At Authentica, we are constantly seeking to be a better version of ourselves by embracing honesty and transparency in our thinking and communication. We share openly and listen without judgment, so we can take every opportunity to improve and do better.

    Care

Caring. Nurturing. Wellbeing.

We care – for our communities, customers, and staff. We care about quality, health and safety, growth and impact. Tremendous attention is given to detail to ensure that we take care of everything that matters.

    Continuous Learning

Evolving. Educating. Enriching.

Growth never stops and learning never ends. We are constantly learning about the world outside and the one within to evolve and enhance the enrichment delivered by our programs.

Why Authentica?

In our opinion, an engaging cultural immersion provides an unparalleled degree of learning.

Simply being in a different environment provokes us to think outside the box. There are so many different aspects of being somewhere other than home that come together to weave an experience. Leverage our insight, imagination, knowledge, street smarts, hands-on expertise, and our own experience to get beneath the skin of a different place and culture.

We work with you to be:

Responsive

We get back to you quickly, usually within 24 hours.

Collaborative

We integrate the needs of every stakeholder. From students to faculty, the Dean to parents, we understand how important it is for everyone’s needs to be addressed and incorporated into the program.

Service Excellence Oriented

We vet every one of our suppliers and service providers personally. We consider it our responsibility to bring you the very best of what the destination has to offer.

We believe in:

Scenario and Risk Management

Safety is our priority. We live in a world where many things happen. The key is to always be prepared and have an agile contingency plan for every possible situation. We have a granular risk management protocol that we follow strictly, and are protected by liability insurance.

Equitable and Ethical Approach

Responsible travel is key to our ethos. We believe that the experiences and interactions we offer should have equal value for everyone involved – both the visitor and the visited. We work closely with local communities to ensure that we are giving back to them.

Value For Money

We keep our pricing strategically competitive in order to allow a vast range of students from across the world to experience our programs.

We bring you:

Impactful Content

We work with our faculty and associates to ensure that the content before, during and after the program are curated and powerful, inspiring one to visit that integrate a range of academic inputs, practical advice and cultural nuances about each place.

Authentic Experiences

We specialize in rich and authentic immersions in each destination. We stay away from tourist traps and create enriching and enjoyable moments throughout the journey.

Enrichment and Fulfilment

Enrichment is the key that unlocks the door to the depth of the destination. We focus on creating experiences that are meaningful and fulfilling in four holistic dimensions: Physical, Emotional, Intellectual and Spiritual.

Team

Ravi Raj

CEO and Co-Founder

Ravi’s inspiration to start Authentica springs from his belief that authentic human connections in travels should be the norm rather than the exception. He earned his MBA from the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth and has worked as a Social Enterprise Consultant at Eastside Consulting in London (UK) and as a strategy consultant with Oliver Wyman in the US. He enjoys traveling, landscape photography, tennis, running, cooking, and Spanish and French movies (with subtitles!)

Ravi Raj

CEO and Co-Founder

Ravi’s inspiration to start Authentica springs from his belief that authentic human connections in travels should be the norm rather than the exception. He earned his MBA from the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth and has worked as a Social Enterprise Consultant at Eastside Consulting in London (UK) and as a strategy consultant with Oliver Wyman in the US. He enjoys traveling, landscape photography, tennis, running, cooking, and Spanish and French movies (with subtitles!)

Sayalee Joshi

COO and Co-Founder

Sayalee brings a wealth of experience in ethnographic research, along with an academic grounding in architecture and anthropology. She has helped Fortune 100 clients in various sectors such as Telecom, FMCG, and IT, helping them design appropriate products and services by providing field-research based insights on the market context and needs. She loves films, travel and sketching.

Sayalee Joshi

COO and Co-Founder

Sayalee brings a wealth of experience in ethnographic research, along with an academic grounding in architecture and anthropology. She has helped Fortune 100 clients in various sectors such as Telecom, FMCG, and IT, helping them design appropriate products and services by providing field-research based insights on the market context and needs. She loves films, travel and sketching.

Anitha Ramanna

VP Academic Programs

Anitha believes that education is about learning by doing, and was therefore inspired to join Authentica to promote experiential learning. She earned her Ph.D. in International Studies and a post-doctoral fellowship from the International Food Policy Research Institute. Anitha is a Fulbright Scholar and was affiliated with the University of California, Berkeley and Harvard University. Anitha brings extensive teaching and research experience along with a passion for travel, experiencing new cultures, and creatively designing impactful experiences for students.

Anitha Ramanna

VP Academic Programs

Anitha believes that education is about learning by doing, and was therefore inspired to join Authentica to promote experiential learning. She earned her Ph.D. in International Studies and a post-doctoral fellowship from the International Food Policy Research Institute. Anitha is a Fulbright Scholar and was affiliated with the University of California, Berkeley and Harvard University. Anitha brings extensive teaching and research experience along with a passion for travel, experiencing new cultures, and creatively designing impactful experiences for students.

Pratik Talwar

Visual Storyteller

Pratik only wishes he could see the world in Noir. An Industrial Production Engineer by qualification who spent the 5 years of his University building his filmmaking skills. A classical musician who turned towards Rock and Metal as he grew up. Very competitive in sports he is good at and sometimes even at those he isn’t. His hunger to learn and grow is what creates a unique bond with Authentica and its core value of continuously learning. Pratik provides the visual flavor to all our programs through shooting and editing videos and drives the visual content for Authentica. 

Pratik Talwar

Visual Storyteller

Pratik only wishes he could see the world in Noir. An Industrial Production Engineer by qualification who spent the 5 years of his University building his filmmaking skills. A classical musician who turned towards Rock and Metal as he grew up. Very competitive in sports he is good at and sometimes even at those he isn’t. His hunger to learn and grow is what creates a unique bond with Authentica and its core value of continuously learning. Pratik provides the visual flavor to all our programs through shooting and editing videos and drives the visual content for Authentica.

Vedanth B

Head of Operations

A mechanical engineer by accident, Vedanth believes life must be bigger, better and bolder – he therefore chose to follow his passion for inspiration through travel. He was one of a select few chosen to participate on a 15-day, 8000 Kms rail journey that circumnavigated India, understanding rural and urban challenges and opportunities through inspiring social enterprises. An active volunteer with Deshpande Foundation’s “LEAD Prayana” program, he harbours ambitions to serve his country through political leadership. When not working, he’s usually raiding the office pantry.

Vedanth B

Head of Operations

A mechanical engineer by accident, Vedanth believes life must be bigger, better and bolder – he therefore chose to follow his passion for inspiration through travel. He was one of a select few chosen to participate on a 15-day, 8000 Kms rail journey that circumnavigated India, understanding rural and urban challenges and opportunities through inspiring social enterprises. An active volunteer with Deshpande Foundation’s “LEAD Prayana” program, he harbours ambitions to serve his country through political leadership. When not working, he’s usually raiding the office pantry.

Aishwarya Gawade

Program Manager

Aishwarya is a bibliophile and loves exploring new places and cultures. She has earned a Post-graduate degree in Marketing & Biotechnology from Pune University (PUMBA) and was a Teach for India Fellow before she joined Authentica. She has been a Toastmasters International Ambassador and loves public speaking. A Reebok certified Aerobics and Pilates instructor, she is a sports and fitness enthusiast to the core. She is an avid stargazer, dancer and an aspiring Italian speaker. 

Aishwarya Gawade

Program Manager

Aishwarya is a bibliophile and loves exploring new places and cultures. She has earned a Post-graduate degree in Marketing & Biotechnology from Pune University (PUMBA) and was a Teach for India Fellow before she joined Authentica. She has been a Toastmasters International Ambassador and loves public speaking. A Reebok certified Aerobics and Pilates instructor, she is a sports and fitness enthusiast to the core. She is an avid stargazer, dancer and an aspiring Italian speaker.

Amrendra Kumar Rai

Web Developer

Amrendra, our resident technocrat, is Authentica’s IT wizard. He is usually found wearing his headphones, nodding away to the latest beats, while creating code. He is an Electronics & Communication Engineer by profession, but all work and no play isn’t his style. When he’s not in front of a computer, you can usually find him on the Cricket field. Amrendra’s career has taken him places from his home in Bihar in the north to Bhopal, in Central India and now to Pune, in western India. He’s a pro at JavaScript, HTML, CSS and more, but most importantly, he is an important backbone to our team at Authentica. 

Amrendra Kumar Rai

Web Developer

Amrendra, our resident technocrat, is Authentica’s IT wizard. He is usually found wearing his headphones, nodding away to the latest beats, while creating code. He is an Electronics & Communication Engineer by profession, but all work and no play isn’t his style. When he’s not in front of a computer, you can usually find him on the Cricket field. Amrendra’s career has taken him places from his home in Bihar in the north to Bhopal, in Central India and now to Pune, in western India. He’s a pro at JavaScript, HTML, CSS and more, but most importantly, he is an important backbone to our team at Authentica.

Suhasini Joshi

Finance Manager

A retired banker by profession, Suhasini is one of the bedrocks of Authentica’s success and growth. After a successful 30-year career at Bank of India, she currently guides the Authentica leadership on key decisions about the company, ensures that the company is current with all its payments to vendors and employees, and compliant with the government on taxes and filings. Her hobbies include Bollywood classic melodies, world cinema and politics.

Suhasini Joshi

Finance Manager

A retired banker by profession, Suhasini is one of the bedrocks of Authentica’s success and growth. After a successful 30-year career at Bank of India, she currently guides the Authentica leadership on key decisions about the company, ensures that the company is current with all its payments to vendors and employees, and compliant with the government on taxes and filings. Her hobbies include Bollywood classic melodies, world cinema and politics.

Partnerships

At Authentica, we believe in working with partners whose ethos matches our own. They are intrinsically immersed in the destination and causes that they support.

Affiliations

At Authentica, we believe in working with partners whose ethos matches our own. They are intrinsically immersed in the destination and causes that they support. Passionate, enthusiastic, and focused on making a difference, they are well-established, highly respected and play a hands-on role within their individual communities.

Careers

Working at Authentica is many things – it’s challenging, hands-on, creative, inspiring, transformational… but it’s never, ever boring.

Bring the right attitude through the door with an aptitude to learn on the job, and we can teach you everything you need to know.

At Authentica, we are driven by our VISION to see a world enriched by travel and our MISSION to enrich lives – one person, one community and one amazing travel experience at a time

Click on the button below to join us now – we promise you’ll be enriched by the experience.