Leaving behind a stable corporate career, this woman decided to do
something for her hometown. Guided by her mother’s teachings, Deepika is now a
successful entrepreneur- a name that echoes in the travel industry!
Deepika Negi was denied vendor contracts. "How will a woman survive in a
male-led industry?"
Recalls Deepika, the foundation behind one of the most successful
travel operators. She says it is very odd for people to accept a woman in the
male-led travel industry. Building a business is not the issue, but the
unyielding ratio of male to female is. Nobody believes in you, neither the
vendors nor the travellers.
One such journey belongs to Deepika Negi, Founder of BizareXpedition, whose path from Pauri Garhwal to a successful company reflects
persistence and quiet leadership.
This story takes a closer look at Deepika’s resilience. What went
behind the idea, the roadblocks, and the experiences that helped shape her
journey. How she conquered the mountains (quite literally).
From Humble Hills to Entrepreneurship Heights
Growing up, I have always seen my uncle and elder brothers doing the
negotiations, travel bookings, and never in my life had I met a travel agent
who was a woman. I was always taken by the idea of a woman in charge of others’
trips. But that was never the case.
These intrusive questions went blurry when I lost my father at a
tender age, and after that, life took a U-turn, says Deepika.
For me, now the focus was on completing my studies and getting a good
job to help my mother back at home. She was a Government teacher, and it was
her ideologies that instilled this self-confidence in me.
I did a double master's, the first time in history, and then a
master's in Tourism at the HNB Garhwal University. And soon landed a job in Cox
and Kings, Kuoni, and SITA. But that question remained in my head, and finding
the answer led me here.
The personal connection with the hills, the will to help locals get
work, and the belief to shatter male-networked industry became essential for
Deepika, and thus began the BizareXpedition journey.
The Road to the Dream
The transition from a high-paying job to square one was a thrilling
one. But had I not left it, I wouldn’t be here employing hundreds of dreamers
just like me, says Deepika. Her colourful career gave her an upper hand in
inbound tourism, which she later used in building her own brand.
Driven by a desire to explore beyond the familiar, she founded
BizareXpedition in 2014, a time when most people were unsure of starting
something of their own. Establishing and running a women-led travel operator
was more than an achievement for a girl from a small town in Uttarakhand.
On Uneven Roads: How Challenges Shaped a Woman’s Journey in the Travel
Industry
Deepika’s travel brand strives for smooth journeys and hassle-free
travel itineraries. But for her, the road to building this brand was never an
easy one, both literally and metaphorically.
Coming from a small town posed geographical and logistical challenges
in the initial years. While the region offered a closer connection with hill
tourism, it also meant slower networks and limited access. And for a woman in a
gender-skewed industry, these issues were even more amplified.
“I was judged for who I was and not what I can do”, says Deepika.
There was one time when a vendor cancelled on me because he found it odd to do
business with a woman. She is now working with more than a dozen vendors who
not only believe in her vision but also stand by it. Being in the male-centric
industry comes with skepticism, which challenged my credibility, but I never
gave up.
She explains that challenging times moulded her journey. Be it vendor
negotiations or on-ground operations, I was put to the test time and again. But
the only thing that persisted during these harsh situations was my
‘determination’ to become a successful woman entrepreneur. My mother’s words
echoed in my ears whenever I wanted to give up, and I am happy I never did!
A Journey Beyond Destinations
Deepika’s story highlights the truth behind every profession which
runs on gender roles and not capabilities. After struggling for almost a
decade, she is now a proud CEO. She not only answered the questions she had as
a child, but also defied gender norms.
“When a traveller comes back with not only photographs, but also with
stories, emotions, and a sense of belonging, that is when I realise that we
have really created value”, says Deepika.
The same girl who never saw a female travel agent is now the reason
many young girls are choosing entrepreneurship in the region. She is now an
icon for many like her.