We’re looking forward to introducing you to Sriramya Prathi. Check out our conversation below.
Sriramya, it’s always a pleasure to learn from you and your journey. Let’s start with a bit of a warmup: What’s more important to you—intelligence, energy, or integrity?
Integrity is the most important quality I bring to my work.
For me, integrity isn’t just a nice-to-have—it’s the foundation of everything I do. Integrity is about consistency between values and actions, and this provides a solid foundation to build lasting success.
Whether it’s helping clients find the right itinerary at the best price point, ensuring they get the best possible experience, or partnering with vendors who support me and my clients’ needs, every decision should come from a place of honesty and sincerity.
Integrity is what keeps me grounded and pushes me to do right by my clients, to be transparent, and to always make choices that align with my values. While intelligence and energy are valuable, integrity is what ensures they’re channeled productively and makes success meaningful.”
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
“My name is Sriramya Prathi, and I’m a Certified Travel Advisor and Certified Cruise Counsellor with Cruise Planners – TidesandTravels, passionate about helping families create memories that last a lifetime.
I’ve been a traveler at heart long before starting my business. Over the years, I’ve experienced travel through many lenses: as a couple, while pregnant, with multigenerational family, and coordinating trips for a family of six. As an immigrant, I also deeply understand the complexities of visas and documentation — challenges many travel advisors haven’t personally navigated.
These experiences allow me to craft itineraries that are truly personal and thoughtful. I love adding unexpected touches — like arranging breakfast in the Vatican, coordinating a private photoshoot for couples in exotic locations, setting up a beach picnic for girlfriends, or booking a golf course for an enthusiast — moments clients never knew they wanted but remember forever.
Helping families travel with ease, joy, and confidence isn’t just my job — it’s what drives everything I do.”
Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. What was your earliest memory of feeling powerful?
When I was 10, I moved to a bigger city and had to change schools. I joined one of the most prestigious schools in the area, and I still remember how nervous I was on my first day. The building felt enormous compared to what I was used to, and the sheer number of students was overwhelming.
What made it even harder was the language barrier. Everyone around me spoke fluent English, while I only knew the basics. I quickly realized I couldn’t communicate effectively, and most students already had their established friend groups. Fitting in felt nearly impossible. I spent years feeling like an outsider, struggling to find my place.
But I refused to stay stuck. I had a neighbor who was excellent at English but struggled with our local language. I reached out to her, and we became study partners — I helped her learn the local language, and she helped me master English. That decision to take control of my situation, to actively seek out a solution rather than accept my circumstances, changed everything.
By the time I reached college, I had transformed. For the first time, everyone was new, and we all started on equal footing — but this time, I was ready. I built my own circle of friends, people who genuinely understood and accepted me. Interestingly, a few classmates from my old school joined the same college, and when they saw me surrounded by a large group of friends, confidently navigating conversations, I suddenly became someone they wanted to know.
That moment has always stayed with me — not because I needed their validation, but because it showed me the power of taking initiative. From the shy girl who couldn’t speak up to someone who found her voice by refusing to be held back, I learned that real power comes from deciding you won’t let obstacles define you.
What have been the defining wounds of your life—and how have you healed them?
When I lost my mother at 10 years old, my world changed completely. I didn’t realize at the time how much of my confidence and sense of self had been tied to her. Without her, I began to doubt myself. I underestimated my abilities and spent my growing years feeling unsure of who I was or what I could become.
Things started to shift when I met my best friend in college. She saw something in me that I couldn’t see in myself. She believed in me and reminded me that I was enough — just as I was. Her support helped me rebuild my confidence, and I’m grateful she came into my life when I needed her most.
That friendship became the beginning of my healing and helped me reclaim who I truly was.
Now, when my daughter asks for my advice or tells me I’m good at what I do, I feel proud of how far I’ve come. The girl who once doubted herself has grown into someone her daughter trusts and looks up to. That feels like coming full circle.
Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. What’s a cultural value you protect at all costs?
Staying connected to our South Asian roots is something I hold deeply important. I want my children to understand where we come from and the values that have guided our family for generations — respect for elders, the importance of community, our faith, and the traditions that bind us together.
To make this real for them, I enrolled my children in a Bhagavad Gita program that teaches the way of life and the importance of always doing the right thing. It requires a lot of active involvement from parents, and I’m committed to that work. I teach alongside the program so my children can truly understand the teachings and how they apply to their lives. It’s not always easy, but seeing them grasp these timeless principles makes it worthwhile.
I don’t expect them to follow everything exactly as I did, but I want them to carry these values and adapt them in ways that feel authentic to their own lives. Passing this on isn’t about rigid preservation — it’s about making sure they always know who they are, have that foundation to draw from, and understand the strength and resilience that comes from our heritage.
Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
Honestly, I think it’s a bit early for me to define my full legacy — I’m still building it. But I do think about the kind of person I want to be and the impact I hope to have.
I want to be someone who lives with strong values — someone who holds integrity close and chooses to do the right thing even when it’s not the easiest path. I want to be known for compassion, for showing up for people, and for trying to make their lives a little brighter. And I want to build something meaningful as an entrepreneur — to take risks, work with purpose, and create something that truly matters.
Right now, I’m focused on living those values every day and building that story one decision at a time. The legacy I leave behind will simply be a reflection of how I choose to show up today — with kindness, authenticity, and integrity.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.tidesandtravels.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tidesandtravels/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sriramya-prathi-064b57191/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tidesandtravels
Image Credits
Personal Pictures
