How a Goa Couple Created Unique Travel Brand That Empowers Local Communities

Leaving corporate careers and conventional jobs behind, Maria Victor and Murali Shankaran built Make It Happen, a community-led travel venture offering immersive heritage and cultural experiences. Today, the organisation supports local livelihoods, promotes storytelling, and has hosted over 65,000 travellers across India.

What began as a search for purpose during uncertain phases of life has today grown into one of India’s most unique experiential travel ventures. Through heritage walks, food trails, and immersive cultural experiences, Goa-based Make It Happen is redefining tourism by putting local communities and authentic storytelling at the centre of every journey.

Founded by Maria Victor and later joined by co-founder Murali Shankaran, the organisation has hosted over 65,000 travellers while creating sustainable opportunities for local residents across Goa, Bengaluru, and beyond.

From Corporate Life to Meaningful Travel

Maria Victor’s journey into travel entrepreneurship started long before Make It Happen became a recognised name. Despite having a stable corporate career, she often questioned whether her work truly fulfilled her.

In 2011, she stepped away from her job and began travelling slowly across India. From Ladakh and Spiti to Nagaland and Gujarat, her journeys focused less on sightseeing and more on understanding people, traditions, and local cultures.

As she started organising small group trips, she noticed travellers wanted deeper connections instead of checklist tourism. 

“Travel, for me, was never about ticking off places. It was about awakening and genuinely engaging with the world,” she says.

This idea led to the creation of Make It Happen, initially launched as a small travel club offering intimate, community-driven experiences.

A Village Encounter That Changed Everything

A turning point came during Maria’s visit to Dhampus village in Nepal. A local shawl seller requested her to take his photograph and said something that stayed with her forever: “Even if we cannot see the world, the world can see us.”

That single moment transformed her understanding of tourism. She realised travel could benefit not only visitors but also the communities hosting them.

Over time, Make It Happen evolved into a platform where locals became storytellers, hosts, and cultural ambassadors. The company began creating experiences rooted in heritage, food, music, farming, and everyday life.

When Two Paths Crossed in the Himalayas

Around the same period, Murali Shankaran, who had been working in the gaming industry, was also exploring India through long backpacking trips. The two met during a journey in Lahaul-Spiti and instantly connected over their shared vision for meaningful travel.

By 2017, Murali officially joined the company as co-founder, helping expand the idea into a structured experiential tourism venture.

Today, Make It Happen offers more than 50 curated experiences, including heritage walks in Goa’s Fontainhas, island explorations, food trails, and art-based workshops.

Building Livelihoods Through Storytelling

Beyond tourism, the organisation has created employment and pride within local communities. Around 50 to 55 percent of its revenue flows back to community partners, while more than 100 locals have become part of the ecosystem.

Associate storyteller Pawan Gorantla says the work transformed his life after the pandemic disrupted his earlier jobs. “Today, I lead tours and meet people from across the world. It never feels like work,” he shares.

Now aiming to expand to 20 locations across India over the next few years, the founders believe experiential travel can become a powerful tool for cultural preservation and sustainable livelihoods.