Travel the World, Learn From Its Artists — With Geetika Agrawal, Founder of Vacation With An Artist (VAWAA) | #146
Creative travel is changing how people experience the world. Geetika Agrawal, founder of Vacation With An Artist (VAWA), has built a global network that lets travelers spend several days learning directly from master artists in their studios. The idea began with Geetika’s own travels, from spending summers learning traditional crafts in India to taking a year-long journey across 12 countries while turning VAWA from an idea into a business. Today, VAWA works with more than 215 artists across 43 countries. We get into the challenges of building a new kind of travel company from scratch, the travelers who have surprised her most, and why sometimes the best reason to travel is to come home seeing yourself differently.
Show Notes
content type
Interview
primary goal
Educational
summary
Gitika, founder and CEO of VAWA, shares her journey from architect to innovator in the travel and creative arts industry. Discover how her unique approach to immersive experiences with master artists is creating a new category in travel that fosters human connection and creativity.
keywords
Travel, Creativity, Artisans, Immersive Experiences, Entrepreneurship, New Category, Human Connection, Artistic Skills, Personal Growth, Innovation
key topics
The origin story of VAWA and its mission
The role of artists as teachers and cultural ambassadors
The impact of immersive experiences on personal growth
Challenges in building a new category and remote onboarding
The broad range of artistic skills and experiences offered by VAWA
The importance of human connection in a technology-driven world
How travel broadens perspectives and fosters curiosity
The future of human-centered travel and creativity
Sound Bites
"Artists teach us about creativity and being human"
"Creativity feeds our soul and brings us alive"
"The world is a beautiful place, no matter the stories we hear"
Chapters
00:00Introduction to Gitika and VAWA
01:58Gitika's relationship with travel from childhood
04:00The idea behind VAWA and her year-long sabbatical
07:58The impact of immersive travel on worldview
12:00First experiences with master artists in Prague and Slovenia
15:54The story of the first booking and validation of VAWA
19:56What is a vacation with an artist and how it differs from classes
23:08Who benefits most from VAWA experiences
26:04The broad range of artistic skills and stories from participants
32:00Challenges in onboarding artists and building the business
35:12The transformation into a founder and building a new category
40:08The role of curiosity, creativity, and human connection in today’s world
42:50The future of human connection and technology
44:10Final thoughts and how to connect with Gitika
