Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Shurland Cooper. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Shurland, appreciate you joining us today. Let’s start with education – we’d love to hear your thoughts about how we can better prepare students for a more fulfilling life and career

If I were to change the education system to better prepare students for a more fulfilling life and career, I would focus on, incorporating more practical life skills into the curriculum, such as financial literacy, communication skills, problem-solving, critical thinking, and decision-making. These skills are essential for success in both personal and professional life. I would encourage a more holistic approach to education, promoting the development of a well-rounded individual. This would involve nurturing creativity, emotional intelligence, physical fitness, and social skills alongside academic learning. I would provide students with early exposure to different career paths and opportunities. This could be in the form of internships, mentorship programs, or career guidance sessions. By helping students understand their interests and strengths, they can make more informed decisions about their future career paths. Also, Given the increasing role of technology in our lives, I would also ensure that students are adequately prepared for the digital age. This includes teaching digital literacy, coding, and problem-solving using technology.

Overall, the goal would be to create an education system that goes beyond academic achievement and prepares students for a fulfilling life by equipping them with practical skills, fostering personal growth, promoting adaptability, and empowering them to pursue their passions and contribute meaningfully to society.

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 back background and context?

I like to think that getting into the industry of “Holistic care” has always been a path for me but I hadn’t figured out how I’d tap into it. Choosing herbal tea as my entry point was natural. I’ve grown up drinking “Bush” tea and in my Caribbean culture I understood that tea was and should be a staple in your home. If not for anything else but for when “yuh belly hurting you”. Lol. My goal is to reintroduce herbal tea in a way that not only gives you something warm/hot to drink in the winter, but something that becomes your go-to, that gives a sense of certainty that it will help with most symptoms when you aren’t feeling your best. Working in the healthcare setting has opened my eyes to many holes in our system. The lack of preventive care and promotion for healthier lifestyles, prior to having issues that need immediate attention is what brought me here. I strongly believe that nature has provided us with the tools we need in herb form, and through herbal medicine, holistic teachings, etc. we can start to create other options for ourselves and having traditional medications as backup.

Do you have any insights you can share related to maintaining high team morale?

Managing a team and maintaining high morale can be challenging in such uncertain times. It’s important to communicate clearly and openly with your team. Share information, set expectations, and provide feedback regularly. Being a positive role model for your team, Showing enthusiasm, professionalism, and a strong work ethic, can set the tone for a better work environment. Also, provide opportunities for growth to all employees. When people see that their career progression is valued, it boosts morale and encourages motivation.

Do you sell on your site, or do you use a platform like Amazon, Etsy, Cratejoy, etc?

I have an online store through Shopify, whom I chose because of its affordability & seamless setup. I chose this route oppose to using a larger platform because, I wanted to organically grow my base and market. Many of my customers are individuals attending outdoor markets, outdoor arts/music festivals and/or “pop-up shops”. Using a larger platform would attract those I can’t personally encounter but I feel that once I have solidified my base, I can then expand.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.theteamaven.com
• Instagram: _teamaven