The idea for The Happiness Tour was born from something simple: a hug. After one of her sessions, a participant embraced Nuthan and said, “I wish my doctor had prescribed this instead.” That moment stayed with her. It wasn’t just a compliment — it was a challenge to change how we think about burnout recovery.
Nuthan is a happiness researcher with published work in journals like JINS (Cambridge Press), a two-time TEDx speaker, and faculty at leading institutions in India. But her journey started in a very personal place — struggling with depression, anxiety, and insomnia. “You name it, I’ve had it,” she says. After years in high-level brand consulting, she stepped away from corporate life to focus on something deeper: helping individuals and communities build resilience and reconnect with meaning.
When she moved to Woerden to be with her partner after five years of long distance, she discovered a town with what she calls “a rustic soul.” She started inviting friends to explore it with her. They walked, reflected, and talked about happiness — and slowly, the idea of The Happiness Tour came to life.
The first tour was in August 2024. A small group, a handmade itinerary, and no big strategy — just trust in the power of meaningful experiences. The feedback was powerful, and the mission became clear: create science-backed experiences that fight burnout and strengthen connection. Today, each tour is rooted in happiness science and designed to support both individuals and the local community. And now, Nuthan is building the tech, growing her team, and working toward a future where doctors can actually prescribe her tours as part of a recovery plan.
From idea to impact
Getting started meant moving before she was ready. “The first tour was more of a calling than a business,” Nuthan explains. “I invited people I trusted and watched how they responded.” Every iteration was shaped by feedback. A single comment — “I wish my doctor had prescribed this” — became her guiding light.
She leaned into her strengths in emotional intelligence, group dynamics, and behavioural research. Her past in branding helped her see how to structure the experience, but it was her personal journey that gave it purpose. “The vision is bigger than me,” she says. “That’s what pushes me to stretch and grow.”
Though she identifies as a neurodivergent introvert, Nuthan pushed herself to network in the Netherlands — something she had never done in any of the other four countries she’s lived in. “I started with zero network. But every time I showed up, someone helped open a door.”
Lessons from the journey
Of course, mistakes were made — especially around language. “Once I casually asked a café if I could maybe host an event someday,” she recalls. A few days later, they were panicking — thinking a big group was about to arrive. “I was at home, completely unaware,” she laughs. It was a small moment, but one that reminded her to stay humble, double-check everything, and keep learning.
When asked about her proudest moment, she doesn’t talk about awards or recognition. She talks about her team. “My fledgling team is everything,” she says. “We lift each other up and learn together. That’s the real success.”
Advice for women founders
“Start messy. Start scared. Just start,” Nuthan advises. “You don’t need the perfect brand or a colour-coded plan. You just need a clear purpose, even if it’s just a whisper right now.”
Her biggest lesson? Focus on the people you serve. “That’s how you stay grounded. That’s how you grow.”
What’s next
In 2025–2026, The Happiness Tour will launch a clinical pilot study with 30 participants — using burnout measurement tools and biomarkers like heart rate variability and speech data. Nuthan’s team is also building a digital MVP with immersive VR, onboarding facilitators, and exploring two international locations.
And in the Netherlands, 20 new happiness tours are coming soon.
The vision is big — but deeply human: a future where wellbeing walks, reflective conversations, and community connection aren’t luxuries. They’re prescriptions.
