Today we’d like to introduce you to Valeria Sulliotti.
Hi Valeria, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
La Ruta del Té (in Spanish), which translates to The Tea Route in English, was born from a moment of personal exploration. I have over 16 years of professional experience and a broad education: industrial engineering, an MBA, studies in environmental and forestry management, and currently a master’s degree in Data Science. I’ve always been curious by nature, but one day, in the midst of a period of profound reflection, I walked into my favorite tea shop and realized I wanted to go beyond simply enjoying it: I wanted to understand it in all its dimensions.
That intuition led me to delve into its history, science, and philosophy, especially its connection to Zen Buddhism and mindfulness, while training as a Tea Specialist. At the same time, I’m leveraging my technical and data science background to create, in the future, a system that will allow the study of tea cultivation from a data-driven perspective, incorporating machine learning and artificial intelligence. I want technology to engage with an ancient field like tea, providing tools to better understand its ecology, quality, and future.
From all of this, La Ruta del Té was born: a publishing and sensory project that seeks to share rigorous knowledge, awaken curiosity, and create community. It’s not about selling tea, but about offering a space for calm, reflection, and discovery, where tea serves as a bridge between science, culture, technology, and consciousness.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
The journey hasn’t always been easy. One of the biggest challenges has been finding the time and energy to balance my professional life, my studies—both my Master’s in Data Science and my Tea Specialist certification—and the creation of a project that demands in-depth research and perseverance. Navigating the vast amount of scientific, historical, and technical information about tea, rigorously filtering it, and transforming it into accessible and reliable content has also been a challenge.
Another obstacle has been the technological aspect: integrating a data-driven and machine learning-based approach into an ancient field requires patience, testing, and a steep learning curve. Furthermore, building a community from scratch, focusing on education rather than sales, means progressing more slowly, but with purpose.
Despite everything, each challenge has strengthened the project, giving it greater clarity, authenticity, and depth.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am an international manager with more than eight years of experience leading digital transformation, financial control, and data analytics projects across Europe and Latin America. I specialize in KPI/OKR-driven management, business analytics and intelligence, and the design of executive dashboards that strengthen strategic alignment and decision-making.
Something I’m especially proud of is coming from a small country like Costa Rica and having built a global, multidisciplinary career that has shaped how I learn, lead, and understand organizations. Early in my career, I worked as a Project Manager in the aerospace sector, contributing to an R&D+i satellite project where technologies were applied that had never been used before in the field—an experience that broadened my analytical mindset and strengthened my ability to manage highly complex, innovative environments.
I’ve also had the opportunity to work in companies that exposed me to a wide business vision and a strong culture of innovation. Through these roles, I’ve led and supported innovation-driven projects, gaining a deep understanding of how essential applied innovation is today for organizational growth, competitiveness, and long-term impact.
What sets me apart is this combination of strategic thinking, hands-on technical expertise, and the adaptability that comes from navigating diverse industries, cultures, and innovation ecosystems.
We’d love to hear about how you think about risk taking?
I don’t see myself as someone who seeks extreme risks, but I do believe in taking meaningful risks when they involve growth, learning, or expanding my perspective. For me, risk is less about bold, impulsive decisions and more about making choices that challenge my comfort zone and reshape the way I live and work.
Some of the most important risks I’ve taken include moving from Costa Rica to Spain, stepping into industries and roles I never imagined myself in, and recently starting a personal project around tea, an area completely new to me. Each of these decisions involved uncertainty, but they also opened doors to experiences that have enriched my career and broadened my understanding of the world.
I believe that every decision, big or small, carries some level of risk. What makes the difference is our attitude, perseverance, and willingness to learn from mistakes. In my case, I’ve always worked to turn those risks into opportunities, using them to grow, adapt, and build a broader vision of both my professional path and my life.
So while I may not label myself as a natural risk-taker, I do embrace the kind of risks that lead to personal and professional evolution.
Pricing:
- Business & Process Consulting – €70–€120 per hour, depending on project complexity
- Data & Analytics Advisory – €80–€150 per hour.
- Tea Workshops & Experiences -€25–€45 per person (group workshops).
Contact Info:
- Website: https://rutadelte.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/larutadelte.cr/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/La-Ruta-del-T%C3%A9/61577568363984/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/valeria-sulliotti/
