We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Marijana Camovic Schwarte a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Marijana, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Let’s kick things off with a hypothetical question – if it were up to you, what would you change about the school or education system to better prepare students for a more fulfilling life and career?

As parents of a very active 3-year-old, we often ask ourselves this question.

We believe that there is no single long-term strategy for every child, so as our child develops, we apply the lessons we have learned here in the U.S. and from other educational systems around the globe. This teaching method has worked well for us so far.

We also look to the future of education to guide our strategy. For example, we know that our child will eventually end up in some form of standardized schooling that leads to a career path in life. As parents, we want to make sure that he is well-prepared. That means, an experiential education where there is a lot of freedom to learn and explore the world they live in. We found exactly that in the Montessori program, developed over a 100 years ago in Italy.

We are inspired by countries like Finland, where teachers are highly valued for their personal education and persistence in teaching young children how to become great adults. The early years of school in Finland include much more time playing outside and less time spent doing homework. As students finish their primary school, there is only one standardized test at the end of the their senior year. We believe that this educational strategy supports the development of a child’s individual strengths.

In contrast to the teachings of Northern Europe, we have also looked at the highly revered educational systems in Singapore and
Japan. They have a different approach to teaching children. In Singapore, schools follow a nationally accredited curriculum where discussion-based classes are almost non-existent. Teachers are the sole source of knowledge in this environment, and students are expected to learn by listening. In Japan, grades are looked upon with high regard.

One commonality between the European teachings and the Southeast Asian curriculum is the need for students to learn multiple languages. We believe that learning different languages provides children with the soft skills they can use to better understand cultural differences. This helps breakdown barriers that might otherwise block meaningful relationships from developing.
Of course, we wish we had more insight into the future of education and where teaching will be in 15-20 years. Here is what we know. Institutions of higher learning must continue to adapt in order to stay relevant in this world. Parents have been asking for this 100’s of years.

By applying principles from different teaching philosophies, we hope to prepare our son for his career in whatever field he chooses. We want him to follow his passion and express his creativity while also being a problem solver and an individual that can respond to the strict demands of a tough boss.
Above all, we hope that his education will lead him to a prosperous career and a fulfilling, meaningful life.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your background and context?

Of course! Let me start by saying that originally I am from Montenegro, a small and incredibly beautiful country on the Mediterranean sea. Before creating my company, Hera + Hermes, my education prepared me for a career in consulting. I spent 18+ years working for one of the “Big 4” accounting and advisory firms. I have been a permanent resident in six different countries before calling Miami my home.

Hera + Hermes is a kids’ luxury destination – a boutique specializing in fashionable clothing and accessories for babies and young children aged 0-6.  Our children are our clients. We pay special attention to their wants and needs, but mostly to their dreams! We are a great choice if you’re searching for an extra-special outfit or unique gift. We like to think of ourselves as a one-stop-shop for trendy brands and ‘one-of-a-kind finds’. We have oodles of hidden gems, brands and splurge – worthy clothes that will almost guarantee your kiddo won’t have the same style as anyone else.

Hera + Hermes is legally incorporated and headquartered in the State of Florida and has a Federal Employer Identification Number (FEIN) established with the United States Federal Government.

Can you tell us the story behind how you met your business partner?

I have a great team. My business partner is my husband Kevin. We met in The Bahamas while I was working there. Kevin was there on a fishing trip :-). Thinking back, I guess it was a successful fishing trip ;-). Our other business partner, Nina, directs our day-to-day operations. She also consults and provides strategy to our advertising team. I met Nina through a mutual friend and ever since it’s been a wonderful synergy.

How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?

I’d say that first and foremost we have remained true to the basic principles of fair business and great customer service.
1) Our clients see us as trustworthy and we have worked super hard to earn this. Trust in a brand is about the confidence that we will do what we say and whatever it takes to build loyal, not ‘just satisfied’ customers. In a world full of empty promises and hype, customers have learned that we are true to our word, and that we strive to provide the best quality products and shopping experience for the kids.  We also pride ourselves in giving back to the community by donating a portion of each sale to charity.
2) We offer value. We go direct to the source and find our products at a great price. We pass that along to each and every customer.
3) We provide great customer experience. We work relentlessly to give customers the most compelling shopping experience possible. Our customer service is what makes us stand out among other businesses. We strongly believe that creating loyal customers through excellent customer service builds unique long-term relationships. With that being said, Google recently awarded us with their “Trusted Store” badge. This badge help shoppers identify online merchants that offer a great shopping experience. For a seller to earn this badge, they must meet Google’s highest standards.

Our Mission is : To bring inspiration, fashion and innovation to every kid’s outfit and provide our customers with the most compelling shopping experience possible.

Our Vision is: To be the most customer-centric, luxury destination for kids clothing and gifts on the planet.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://heraandhermes.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heraandhermes.kid/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/heraandhermes.kid/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/herahermes/