About Walter

Walter Bauwens – Shifting Fundamentals

Today, successful working people aren’t waiting until they retire to have memorable travel experiences. Rather, many are opting for experiential travel, and discovering that it satisfies a deep human need. It opens up new ways to explore a passion, shift a perspective and probe beneath the surface for deeper understanding.

When they return to work, they often find that their perspectives have changed in surprising and rewarding ways.

Travel encounters to India and Nepal made such an deep impression on Belgian business founder Walter Bauwens that he shifted his fundamental approach to work and life. The shift confused his two sons, who had always seen him as a hard-charging, purely business-focused role model.

Time to Meet Yourself

Seeking a stress antidote and a fresh vision, Walter Bauwens and his wife Vivian ventured far beyond their comfort zone. In 2009, they spent time in the south of India where they explored yoga, meditation and ayurvedic medicine. In March 2010, they trekked up to the 5,000-meter level into some of Nepal’s most spectacular mountains. They hired a traditional guide and also enlisted a yoga instructor for their journey. It was cold, the terrain was rugged, and luxuries were scarce. “A lot happens when you’re surrounded by nature,” Bauwens says. “You get time to meditate and truly ‘meet yourself.’”