HYDERABAD: Teaching lessons for corporates in the jungle

HYDERABAD: For Sai Kiran Bhagavathula, the avid wildlife photographer who loves to be out there in the lap of Mother Nature whenever free, one question keeps haunting him – Have we become so engrossed in the corporate ecosystem that we’ve forgotten to look outwards, to draw wisdom from the untamed beauty that surrounds us?

“Or when was the last time the scent of damp earth replaced the sterile air conditioning, the symphony of birdsong drowned out the incessant email notifications, and the intricate dance of a forest replaced the rigid structures of organizational charts?,” is the gentle poser of the 35-year-old Sai Kiran.

And, in an apparent bid to “bridge the seemingly disparate worlds of the corporate and the natural”, Sai Kiran along with a group of former corporate professionals founded ‘Wildlife Whisperers’ to tell the world that “nature is the greatest teacher”.

What exactly does this group do? “We take our conviction into unique, nature-immersive programs designed for both individuals and corporations. Forget trust falls and PowerPoint presentations. We at the Wildlife Whisperers offer experiences crafted from the very fabric of the natural world, aiming to unlock leadership potential, foster design thinking, cultivate mindfulness, and even enhance teamwork and customer centricity,” he explains in a chat with ‘Telangana Today’.

“Imagine learning about stakeholder management by observing the delicate balance within a food web, or understanding the power of swarm intelligence by witnessing the coordinated flight of a murmuration of starlings,” says the brilliant photographer known for freezing some of the best Sunset images from the wild, especially in the magical Masai Mara (Kenya).

“I believe we can learn many things from Nature like leadership, teamwork and bonding, stakeholder management, gapology, swarm intelligence and dysfunctional teams to trusting teams, move beyond abstract concepts, grounding them in tangible natural phenomena.

“We realised that the principles that govern successful ecosystems – adaptation, resilience, collaboration, and resourcefulness – are directly applicable to the challenges faced in the corporate world,” explains Sai Kiran who has already conducted many such trips. “Nature offers a living, breathing case study in effective strategies and sustainable growth,” he added.

“Their approach goes far beyond capturing fleeting moments through a camera lens. It’s about fostering a ‘mindful experience of the untamed’, engaging all senses to unlock deeper insights and foster a profound connection. It’s about stepping away from the screens and spreadsheets to witness the intricate beauty and interconnectedness of life, prompting a shift in perspective that can ripple through both personal and professional lives,” Sai Kiran said.