Who is
Simla Sooboodoo

Simla Sooboodoo is a Serial Social Entrepreneur, founder of the Empowerment Tourism concept, film producer, key-note speaker and innovator. As the founder of the Empowerment Tourism concept, she created Hands on Journeys, a tour operator specialising in social impact and cultural immersion tours. But more than any fancy title, she is a true advocate for empowerment – and a true believer in positive change at a grassroots level..

It’s her love and belief for the community, for forging connections, and for challenging any obstacle that arises which has made her a true trailblazer of change.

Alongside her work within the tourism industry, Simla is also a passionate and prominent keynote speaker, spreading the message of empowerment and inspiration to sessions around the globe.

In recent years, Sooboodoo has produced the award-winning documentary Dehlight, highlighting the empowerment concept in film, and most recently founded SLAK flowers in Sydney.

“You are on fire, and your passion and heart will lead you to more and more success. Thank you for being you.”

These were the words Susan Rockefeller used to describe Sooboodoo in 2019, shortly after the screening of the internationally award-winning Dehlight documentary was shown at New York Fashion Week. This is an important testament to just how far the empowerment tourism concept has grown. What started as bringing small group tours to India, and using funds from these tours to empower, upskill and inspire a local slum community, ended in that communities fashion designs and work appearing on the runway of New York Fashion Week, proudly watched on by Sonu, the inspiring local leader of the project in Delhi.

To say Sooboodoo is relentless in her goals is an understatement, and much of this comes from her own story.

Hailing from the small island of Mauritius and suffering her own share of hardships as a child, it was the chance to immigrate to Australia that allowed her to spread her wings and grow. In 2007 Simla was diagnosed with a brain haemorrhage. With only a 10% chance of survival, let alone regaining her memory, it was a miracle she made it through.

Following this life-changing journey, her appreciation and focus for life changed. “I had been given a second chance and I knew I had to find a way to give others that second chance too…”

READ SIMLAS STORY

KEYNOTE SPEAKING PDF

Keynote speaking

Speaking from the heart, Simla infects audiences with her positive attitude and belief that there is no reason to complain, just pick it up and move forward!

She knows how to motivate and inspire people like no other! With her ALL IS WELL mentality she reaches a wide audience and empowers them to go beyond their limits – making the impossible possible!

She loves getting teams in the winning mood so that set-back and negative experiences won’t influence their goals and well-being.

Simla takes you on a game of monopoly. She believes that for others to get ahead, they have to buckle up and enjoy the ride. She knows how to get them moving.

Simla offers three different keynotes and can be contacted here.

1. The power of second chances:

life on a monopoly board
an empowerment story to empower the audience to adapt to their circumstances
exploration of how adversity is part of life and how the common denominator between all humans is that we all have problems, and they will keep coming: being a victim is a matter of choice
how to access our natural inner talents, even the ones we thought we never had
creating a vision of what is possible for others

2. Empowerment Keynote: ALL IS WELL!

Simla’s thought-provoking story ‘ALL IS WELL’ is a powerful tool for empowering your team to grow.

It will inspire you to step outside your comfort zone and achieve a winning mindset!
It will leave you with a positive impact on your success
Simla Sooboodoo is convinced that you can achieve anything you want – and tells her personal story as proof of that
Simla firmly believes that even the ‘smallest’ personal hurdles are for a greater purpose
Simla talks about how we have everything it takes to take that hi frequency to empower someone, and you can influence your own success and well-being far more than you know

3. Follow your passion with a purpose and make a profit with a purpose

Why is it important to follow our purpose passionately!
Nothing great happens until we become passionate about something.
Have a greater understanding of the marketing mix essential elements in the current era
To be in love with our purpose
Know that Profits and purpose are inextricably linked
Profits are in no way inconsistent with the purpose
Take responsibility to motivate our teams and inspire others
Creating an emotional attachment with everything we do
It is important to harness our passion for a greater purpose

This is my story…

Growing up on a small island, Mauritius, I often waved to planes as they flew overhead and a hunger for new experiences and knowledge emerged within. Smiles were not common in the house I lived in but conflicts between my parents, broken plates and foul words were aplenty. With limited access to television and no internet, it was difficult for me to make sense of my family’s rapid destruction. Is splurging in the moment and not worrying about the next moment holds what life is about? These questions were the beginning of me putting things together. Feuds and economic woes continued to plague us as a family.

I was in the middle of my year 10 exams (S.C) during the time of grandmother’s incident and needed a place to live and study. My aunt and uncle provided me with a home during this critical point – two strong characters motivating me towards the right direction. Despite not having money myself, I was able to finish my exams through their support. They further helped me excel by allowing me to join them in their new home in Australia and avoid joining the workforce in my native country as tertiary studies were not then on the cards. My life seemed to be heading in the right direction as I finished my university studies, scored a great job within the travel industry and purchased my first house at the age of 24 (2006).

It all fell to pieces in 2007,

when I fainted and was diagnosed with a brain haemorrhage with only a 10% chance of survival, let alone regaining my memory.

I made it through…

but about 40 to 42 days of my life were erased from my memory and despite brief memories of walking out of church where I fainted initially, I did not have any recollection of the past 42 days. Today, I still don’t, but I have built my story based on what my family members have told me. Miraculously, after a full recovery, I made it back to work but a few months down the track, I started getting headaches again. An angiogram determined that I had a brain aneurysm and I was admitted to the neurological ICU in Royal Prince Alfred for surgery.

My time there was bleak; no television, no music and absolutely nothing to do. Armed with my Bible and a few women’s magazines, I lived my day watching machines flicker as patients around me fought for life. It was an overwhelmingly heartbreaking experience that had me questioning my current state. “What is happening and why am I here,” I thought every moment of each day. I used this opportunity to reflect upon the things that were happening in my life. My mantra became “I have a second chance to live so I am here for a greater purpose”. With these words flowing strongly through my head, I miraculously resumed my life after an 11-hour brain operation. After a quick four weeks of recovery, I went back to work and resumed my normal routine.

Something had changed however,

my appreciation for life; an increased alertness and willingness to take anything on. An extra boost of energy, optimistic fits of compulsion that allowed me to take risks and be adventurous.

As the years went by…

I began dedicating my personal vacation time to help children abroad, particularly in developing countries. Holidays weren’t just about visiting the countries but also opportunities to give back to local schools, orphanages, hospitals, crèche, local villages, slums and beyond. From 2008 to 2013, I had the chance to volunteer in Fiji, India, Cape Town’s townships, Johannesburg, New Zealand, Cambodia, and of course the beautiful country of Australia. Through my travels, I built loving connections with people who were begging and fighting for life on the streets. Despite education being free on many occasions, children were encouraged to perform parental duties in lieu of attending classes. Children were commonly used for begging. Tattered clothing and teary eyes were able to raise more money in one month than the family could in an entire year. The sorrowful truth I found, was education is a vital luxury.

“Through my travels,

I built loving connections with people who were begging and fighting for life upon the streets. Despite education being free on many occasions, children were encouraged to perform parental duties in lieu of attending classes.”

In June 2014…

after nine and a half years of working for one of the top small group operators in the U.S., my position was made redundant. I went home that day knowing that I needed a change. Abandoning the previous idea of becoming a wedding planner, I committed myself to becoming a tour operator that could transform peoples’ lives. It was almost as if my calling in life was knocking at the door once again.

Here I am; my name is Simla Sooboodoo. Combining my passion for making a difference and years of experience in the travel industry, I set upon an exciting new journey. The launch of my small group tours in 2015 enabled me to send people on amazing journeys of discovery to lend a helping hand in a sustainable manner such as creating job opportunities and teaching the basic skills of life. Hands on Journeys is an opportunity to create meaning in this otherwise chaotic world and above all, to discover oneself. When I walk into villages we are currently empowering, I see a bit of myself in a lot of these children in need. I look into the beautiful smiles and eyes filled with unspoken words to see a familiar face. My life required the intervention of a supportive force, thankfully, I was eventually provided with just that.

I bring together my library of experiences in one package with Hands on Journeys. The aim is to build a tribe with travellers who are willing and able to make an authentic difference while travelling the world and essentially understanding the identity of each destination while giving back. We will open the doors of opportunity for people as it comes from a very special place in the heart.

The concept of integrating volunteering into development and tourism is extremely dynamic and that’s how it should be; offering one inspired trip that will make a difference in everyone’s life – yours and the people you will meet along the journey.

I’ve fulfilled my dream of travelling by receiving opportunities from others. Only through my Aunty (mum) and Uncle (dad) was I able to excel; now it is my turn to give back! As human beings, we need to have more faith in ourselves, believe in who we are and what we do, the rest will unfold itself.

Yours in travel,

Simla

A second chance saved me

Now it’s time to pay it forward…

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KEYNOTE SPEAKING

Who is Simla Sooboodoo