The Guardians of Peace was created by Debbie Petry Artt, after reflecting on the dark forces that confront children in their daily lives. Wanting to speak to them about their inner energy and show them how to calm their minds with fun and interesting meditation, Debbie realized that the global platform of a video game would be the best way to reach them and teach them about love and kindness.
Debbie hopes that parents interacting with their children through playing the game will lead to discussions about purpose, gratitude, love, meditation, energy and kindness. She introduces the importance of Qigong, a millennia-old system of body-posture and movement, breathing and meditation that leads to improved mental and physical health. It is practiced as a beautiful art by people around the world.
Hi, I am Debbie Artt, CEO and creator of The Guardians of Peace video game. I am also a wife, mother and grandmother.
Before I start my work day I make sure to do the things that keep me healthy. I start each morning with qigong and meditation. Qigong is a thousand-year-old study of body posture and movement that integrates aspects of breathing and meditation as a comprehensive way to focus on and improve mental and physical health. I actually chose this as the meditation in my game.
I also focus on sending positive energy out into the world. Another lesson I have in the game is that we are all connected energetically. If we all collectively did this, we would make such an impact on each other’s lives.
Next my husband juices for both of us. After this, it’s off to the gym or I play tennis. It is so important for me to keep my body and mind both healthy and balanced! I find that you have to take care of yourself before you can take care of everyone else. Then the workday starts. I am very fortunate to have my daughters, Amanda and Jenna work with me. Amanda designs product and Jenna is a meditation teacher and qigong healer who consistently inspires me. She also is in charge of marketing.
The Guardians of Peace is highly entertaining without the typical violent actions of most games. I feel this is a very important message that the world needs right now. That is why I released it for free. I want children around the world to be able to benefit from it without having to worry about purchasing anything. The inspiration came from wanting to make a difference in the world. After seeing shootings and violence with children I thought enough is enough.
How do you look to have a positive impact on people and planet?
My ultimate goal is to make an impact on young children so they grow into adults that are in touch with their emotions. I believe when children are unable to calm their minds their emotions become out of control. If they never learn techniques to help them, these patterns and behaviors continue into adulthood.
I strive to create an environment where children can calmly express themselves before resorting to violence. I also think it will help with our drug epidemic. If you find your purpose you don’t have to numb your feelings.
What is your ultimate dream for the business?
My ultimate dream is to open up healing centers where children can go to learn Qigong (Meditation). I also want a place where adults can also go to learn Qigong and go back and be teachers in their home locations. I am going to work hard to get meditations into schools.
What are your strengths?
I don’t live in fear. I will do what it takes to fulfill my purpose. I am also very good at multitasking, a technique I mastered as a wife, business woman and mother!
What is the best advice you have ever received?
You have to change the way you think in order to change the way you feel.
What’s your favorite social network – Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn or Twitter? Why?
I actually like them all. I feel that they each separately hit a certain demographic. I don’t use twitter but I love TikTok. It has been very helpful in marketing.
What are your future goals?
This is more than a business. This is a movement. Everything I do is to spread the word of healing and love. We are designing clothing, sneakers and jewelry. I am speaking to people about making the game a TV series. We produced a very cool professional song for the TV series. The end goal is to have healing centers around the world.
What has been your greatest accomplishment so far?
My greatest accomplishments by far are my children. They make me want to be a better person every day. They have taught me how to love unconditionally, always and forever. After having them I know how to be the best cheerleader, teacher, protector, confidant and friend. I want to be an example to them that they can achieve anything they want to in this life and they can do it with kindness and love.
Tell me about what you’re working on now?
The game is centered around 9 words. Love, Kind, Meditation, Qigong, Blessing, Purpose, Energy, Soul, Gratitude. I’m working on products. Sneakers, T Shirts, Jewelry etc. I want to be these words on product because I want to open up the conversations between children and parents/teachers. If a child sees the word “blessing” he/she might be inclined to ask what it means.
Share two pieces of advice for female entrepreneurs.
1) Ambition alone does not yield success. If the purpose is to make this a better world to live in for everyone, or to increase the safety, joy and beauty of life, everyone can subscribe to that.
2) If you TRULY come from the heart, you don’t have to worry about success. The world will love you, be loyal to you, support you and forgive you for all kinds of mistakes.
What have been some of your failures, and what have you learned from them?
Marketing is expensive and A LOT harder than it looks! Do research. People will promise things for quite a bit of money and not be able to deliver.
![From Music to Perfume: How did your background as a music teacher influence your transition into perfumery, and how do you incorporate your musical sensibilities into creating fragrances? I’ve always thought in terms of metaphors, and music has many that can be related to perfumery! Beyond just thinking in terms of top, middle and base notes [soprano/alto/tenor in choir], I approach each fragrant idea as a composition. When documenting my ideas, song structures often come to mind. As the scent brief is visited, I meditate on what the fragrance should convey - do I want to create an accord or a “chord” of fragrance note combinations? Do I want an a capella soloist (a particular ingredient to stand out more than others?) Many of my thoughts regarding song composition transfers to my scent formulation process, with me treating each note as an intentional soliloquy at some point.
Brand Origin: What inspired you to start Pink MahogHany in 2005, and how has your vision for the brand evolved since its inception?
An avid lover of all things pleasantly scented (with slight modesty), looking back in retrospect, it’s no huge surprise that I’ve created an indie perfume house with just an idea to provide unique options for those who may be sensitive to unnecessary pungency. Initially, I just wanted to evaluate various blends to note their aroma profiles when “played” together…it wasn’t until I had friends and family asking if I knew of brands that catered to those who may be on the more olfactory sensitive side, that I really began to take my research more seriously. In the almost 20 years that Pink MahogHany has been in existence, our micro visions for the brand have evolved to larger territory. Where Pink MahogHany used to only be a personal brand, we are now also a bespoke formulation service provider to other indie brands seeking unique fragrance offerings for their products. These products range from (but are not limited to) perfumes, candles, body butters and lip balms. Ingredient Transparency: You emphasize transparency and the use of desirable ingredients in your products. How do you select your ingredients, and what challenges have you faced in maintaining this standard?
Being an indie brand often comes with a set of assumptions and misconceptions - one of them being more negative than positive as it relates to ingredients used. There is a lot of “fluff” in the industry with labeling falsification. Because fragrance formulas are a trade secret, not every molecular breakdown of a material has to be noted on the ingredient label (it would be incredibly long), but we at Pink MahogHany™️ adhere strongly to the IFRA [International Fragrance Regulatory Association] regulations that state for common and potential allergens to be listed on our ingredient label. We’ve taken this a step further to also include these ingredients listed on our website to promote further transparency, all while protecting our intellectual property. Unfortunately, we’ve had companies to unethically sell lesser expensive “dupes” of our artisan perfumes, so as a way to create a better authenticity stamp, we make it our duty to be honest about our claims. If our perfume says “Rose Bulgaria”, it is in fact just that and not a component of rose being passed off as the source material. Collaborations and Custom Scents: Can you share more about your work with private label clients? What excites you most about creating custom scent solutions for other indie brands? I could easily sum this up in one word and say “Funding.” True, there is money out there, but I’m always thinking outside the box. Having a program that has an “Each One Fund One” mentality doesn’t exist (that I’ve been made aware of). Bootstrapping can be quite the challenge, even when you’ve reached the 6-figure mark annually. Competition to be seen and set apart is extremely high, so having quality packaging and branding is a must. There are lots of factors to consider, though when desiring to make upgrades. If there were a unique, tier-geared funding operation available, it would help perfume brands offset packaging and bulk material costs in the beginning stages.
Industry Challenges: What are some of the biggest challenges you've faced as an independent fragrance house, and how have you overcome them to grow your brand? As the brand continues on the path of organic growth, I would like to expand our reach into schools, offering perfumery as an arts elective for middle and high school. I’d love to partner with botanists, farmers and horticulturists directly to grow and source raw materials for the students to work with in the creation of tinctures. My passion is getting back to nature as best as possible, as nature was my first “scent experience” as a child. We would also love to witness our fragrance creations being used to scent model homes, our focus diffuser blends being used in automobile dealerships as well as partner with Air Bnb and boutique hotels that specialize in highlighting minority, indie brands. Personal Journey: How has your personal experience, particularly as a divorced mother and someone who has experienced the loss of a child, shaped your approach to life and your work in perfumery?
Because I homeschool my twin sons, we are together a lot more than most, so one thing we all do is have moments of sharing where a neutral “floor” is laid to converse about anything. Though they are quite communicative by nature, I realize that sometimes I can be in work mode so much that it spills over into what should be our quality time. My sons see the authentic me and learn how to communicate through seeing authenticity. I’ve learned not to feel as if I have to be the epitome of perfection but allow them to see my imperfections vulnerably but with discernment. Having had two traumatic experiences pretty close together has taught me how to truly slow down and enjoy the simplicities of life - igniting a spiritual aspect that I’ve always carried but never fully explored…until Kenji’s sudden passing (2018.) Grief has a way of catapulting us into a quest for more meaningfulness in both life and business. After Kenji’s passing and my processing through the initial stages of grief, I was able to incorporate our spiritual bond into Pink MahogHany by way of essential oil diffuser blends for both focus and sleep and most recently aromatic perfume elixirs. It’s been quite the process channeling the void of his physical presence, but I also have peace knowing he can be honored in a great way through scent. I noticed once I began to be more open and receptive to spiritual signs, synchs and “winks”, more ideas began to flow. It’s been this way since his transition. Emotional Expression: Fragrance is often tied to memories and emotions. How does your personal life influence the fragrances you create, and do you have a particular scent that holds special meaning to you? My creative process is much more alchemic now, and I include Kenji by talking out loud to him, believe it or not. I’m a firm believer that when our loved ones transition from the physical plane, they are still present - just in another form. I choose to keep his memory alive by not pretending he never existed (even if for a brief period of time). I am working (slowly) on a book and accompanying fragrance, but I know it will require me to revisit some memories I’m not quite ready for, so until then, his big brothers will launch their debut fragrance, The Peaceful Tiger (they chose the name.) I’ve learned that even in what we consider “small things”, our transitioned loved ones want to be recognized and acknowledged. When the twins and I designed their fragrance label (with a designer out of the country that didn’t know anything about me personally), we had issues with the graphic - so much so that the designer asked if they could rework the design. When they sent the proof for approval, the Tiger was not only younger but sleeping, with an uncanny, angelic resemblance to baby Kenji! Becoming more aware and being more sensitive to my intention for launching a fragrance has definitely made room for more divine situations like these to occur. Healing Through Scent: In what ways has creating fragrances been a form of healing or expression for you, especially after the loss of your son, Kenji Mwamba? I know my sons may not necessarily want to be perfumers, but they definitely have an entrepreneurial heart. My desire is that whatever they decide to pursue (acting, script-writing, music or architecture), they know that anything is possible with the right amount of determination, grit, belief and immersion. One reason I chose to homeschool is so they could enjoy learning without restraint and have ample time to devote to their own separate passions and it still be fun. They know Pink MahogHany is theirs if they want it (many, many years from now - lol), and we are already discussing business structures for whatever they choose their role to be once I retire. Work-Life Balance: How do you find balance between your professional responsibilities and personal well-being, and what self-care practices do you prioritize? I’m not just a perfumer; I’m also a consumer, and self-care is huge for me. I often take salt baths to reset my energy and clear my mind after being around large groups of people or free a long day. I’m a habitual perfume sampler, and I have so many to choose from to wear as my “nightcap.” Even if just for 10-15 minutes, I cherish each moment I’m able to have some “me-time.” When time and co-parenting schedules permit, I’m definitely on a flight somewhere to indulge in some delicious food and mouth-watering mocktails!](https://www.womenontopp.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/IMG_3812-1200x720.jpeg)
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