Shinara Sunderlal is the education outreach manager at the Billion Oyster Project, a nonprofit organization with a goal of reseeding New York Harbor with a billion Oysters by 2035. The organization aims to restore the vibrancy of New York Harbor’s oyster population and connect with New Yorkers to raise awareness about the cause.

Sunderlal studied at Pitzer College, majoring in environmental analysis with a focus on environmental policy and minoring in biology. After completing her undergraduate studies, she attended graduate school at New York University’s Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development. Her first job after graduate school was at the Wildlife Conservation Society, a global nonprofit, which was followed by a position at the New York Aquarium in Brooklyn, a role she calls her “lucky break.”

Sunderlal recently spoke with Britain’s Prince William about the Billion Oyster Project’s work in the harbor, a memorable encounter that underscores the value of connecting with others. This brief walk-and-talk was a reminder to take the time to connect with others. “We all get caught up in life and sometimes forget to take pauses,” she said. “Just taking a 20-minute walk outside can affect decisions you might subsequently make for the betterment of our natural world.”