We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Ianthe Mauro a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Ianthe thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Parents can play a significant role in affecting how our lives and careers turn out – and so we think it’s important to look back and have conversations about what our parents did that affected us positive (or negatively) so that we can learn from the billions of experiences in each generation. What’s something you feel your parents did right that impacted you positively.

My parents had the most loving relationship I’ve ever witnessed in real life. They valued loving each other over material things, and had an open door policy, (with a comfy couch and home made vegetarian food on stand by), for anyone that came to the door. What they modeled wasn’t conventional. It didn’t look like the typical Southern California, matching furniture, weekend sports, TV always on, family life. Our house looked like chaos. No curfew, no chores, no calendar on the fridge with boxes for each day dictating the week. My parents had bumper stickers, buttons and lapel pins that said things like,
“Question authority” and “imagination is more important than knowledge” on hats, walls and clothes.
They led from their hearts.
They often asked themselves and each other, (and a pendulum and the I Ching), “what can we do to encourage world peace?” And they weren’t joking.
I was never punished with threats or acts of violence. Do you know what this home life gave me? No excuses. Anything is possible. I learned, through observation, that living each day authentically, leading from my heart, and greeting everyone from a place of curiosity, kindness and generosity, would create possibilities beyond imagining.
My parents love for each other, people, and the earth itself, gave me a super power of self acceptance and love, and the permission to be scared, and do it anyway. The freedom to ask myself what I truly wanted to do in this world, and the ability to make quick decisions, knowing that if I changed my mind or regretted the choice, I could course correct with grace.
These were lessons that took decades to fully integrate, and there were years, of self doubt, wearing masks, pretending to be someone I wasn’t, wishing we could just go to Disneyland like everyone else, that were all part of the messy beautiful process of growing up.
And through it all, looking back now, taking an inventory of where and when and what and who influenced my life, I see my parents, our seemingly untamed and untidy home and realize
It was an incubator for becoming a creative entrepreneur that thought-leaders would pay anything to experience, and they didn’t even realize they were doing it.

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?

“Love is all you need, and candles.” -ianthe
Known as a fairy godmother of mentoring. I illuminate your super powers and often say
“This is your ruby slipper moment”.

With a background in theatre, film, design, merchandising, creative writing and product development, I consult on curating ethical products, and encourage brands to exemplify their core values.
It’s not just about looking good, it’s about sharing light.

I created objects with purpose,
In ‘09, an eco luxury candle brand, featured in the Oscar Swag bag, The Today Show, and over 200 stores across the country, with articles in HGTV Frontdoor, USA Today, and New York Times Magazine.

Ianthe Mauro is an actress, writer, teacher, candle designer, product curator turned mentor.
After discovering scented candles can be toxic, Ianthe found clean burning coconut wax and objects with purpose the wearable candle was born in 2009.
He expertise in product design and development has lead her to creating custom candles for other ethical brands and entrepreneurs including Mindy Kaling, Tyler Henry The Hollywood Medium and FOX studios.

And more recently,
She co-created ROAR, radical original and real, with Maria Tan and Brooke Casanovas. A high touch mastermind, membership for leaders who aren’t afraid of their own, or anyone else’s light.
She designs candles, fragrances and consults brands on adding purposeful merchandise, to their offerings.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

Resilience is critical for entrepreneurs, but what does that actually mean?!

After selling $125k in candles in 48 hours from a Today Show appearance, I realized I’d made a mistake.
The shipping fee, a reduced rate I agreed to in order to make the offer more appealing to customers, was unrealistic and added an average of $11 to my bottom line, on each order. I was left with almost no profit, and instead of giving up, I turned 4K new customers into raving fans and saw the set back as an opportunity to grow my retail sales. Thats resilience, and it’s not comfortable or cute, but it’s what makes us believe in ourselves and our brands!

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

In March of 2020, the 200 stores that sold my brand closed their doors.
It was a gut punch at first, and a panic.
How would I survive this?
And that fear lasted about a day, until I centered myself, with the reminder to ask the question:

“How is this happening for me and not to me?”

So I pivoted, and started to coach women who wanted to create home based candle brands. I coached for free for 3 years, regularly, on social audio, and through that work, found coaching and mentoring to be a calling!

Contact Info:

• Website: objectswithpurpose.com, ianthemauro.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ianthemauro
• Facebook: ianthemauro
• Linkedin: Ianthemauro
• Other: objectswithpurpose.comClapperapp.com/ianthemauro