VATHIKA PAI
VATHIKA is a FIRST Rank and gold medal in B.Com under Mangalore University and also secured FIRST rank and gold medal from Manipal University on completing MBA.
Served as the COLLEGE PRESIDENT at both St. Agnes College and MIM.
A Second Generation entrepreneur, she is heading Operations at Nirmala Travels, a 50 year old travel company, which is into conducting coach tours, both domestic and internationally, handling about 20,000 passengers every year.
Nirmala Travels is IATA approved, member of TAAI, TAFI and also recognized by the Department of Tourism, Govt. of India and Karnataka.
Proprietor - Vathika International Travels established in 2007 into customizing holidays and experiences in India and abroad.
Youngest President in the history of Kanara Chamber of commerce and Industry (year 2017-18).
Trained to play the Tabla – she has completed Junior and Senior Exams in Hindusthani classical Tabla from Karnataka Secondary Education Board and secured 2nd rank in the same.
Married to Dr. Vishwas K Pai who is and ENT and Head and Neck Surgeon in AJ Institute of Medical Science and they are blessed with a son Vivaan Pai who is 3 years old.
Her greatest inspiration is her Mother, C. Nirmala Kamath, who is the founder and proprietor of Nirmala Travels.
Key to Success is patience, commitment to work and attention to detail. She has won several awards including FICCI Outstanding Contribution Award for being a Young Woman Leader of Industry and Commerce in Coastal Karnataka in 2021, FICCI Award for Outstanding Family Business In 2022, NITTE – KBL MSME Business Excellence Award 2022 for being an Outstanding Woman Entrepreneur, Spandana Awards for best woman entrepreneur, POWER awards for best family business and Proud Alumni Award from St. Agnes College.
The biggest achievement of her team in the recent times is Nirmala Travels winning the NATIONAL TOURISM AWARD under the “BEST DOMESTIC TOUR OPERATOR” category from Ministry of Tourism, Govt. of India, in September 2022. She enjoys reaching out to students and motivating them to become entrepreneurs. She has been invited by NITK Suratkal, Manipal University, District Industries Centre, and many other institutions to address students and budding entrepreneurs. And has been a part of many Talk Shows like Business Tonic, Women for Change, etc.
She is a member of the Governing Council as an industry representative at St. Agnes College and a member of the Governing Council at SDM College of Business Management. She is also a Member of the Governing Board of NITK – STEP. She was recently elected as a trustee to the board of Konkani Language and Cultural Foundation. She focuses on a personal philanthropic interest of women upliftment, development and welfare and is currently the founding member and the President of EVOLVE, a women entrepreneur association, which represents powerful and independent women entrepreneurs of Mangalore.
