Gouthami is a social development consultant with over three decades of experience, working with both international organisations and grassroots NGOs in India, Timor Leste and the Philippines. She has an MA in Gender & Development from IDS, Sussex, UK and a post graduate degree in Rural Management from IRMA, India. She is trained in and is a trainer of participatory methods and approaches. These form the foundation for all her work and her life.

She was a social entrepreneur for a decade running a responsible tourism company called Travel Another India. She took the initiative in setting up, strategising and running a widely recognised and awarded responsible travel company. She quickly learnt new ways of working, with a range of stakeholders, stretching her limits and becoming self-reliant, creative and adaptive. Most importantly, she knew when to call it a day and close the company. 

She is a feminist and considers herself to be a citizen of planet earth who currently lives in Pomburpha in North Goa. She is interested in writing, number crunching, reading, travel, crochet, embroidery, astronomy and many more things! To indulge in all these, she consults on Gender Issues, Strategic Management and Livelihoods.