In 2013, Paiy Co-founded an international luxury home interior company partnering with leading manufactures from Italy. As the CEO she quickly grew the company to a $70 million valuation in just under three years. Shortly after, she decided to exit the business and moved back home to Los Angeles, she is currently the President of PermaTrends Inc. and works as an interior space and design consultant for celebrities and builds luxury homes. Her company manages and invests in multimillion-dollar real estate projects in Los Angeles.
What makes you an exceptional leader in design and space planning?
What sets me apart is my unique methods of developing a space specific to each client’s needs. I spend a lot of my time shadowing my clients, most of whom are celebrities. I learn their routines, their likes, and dislikes, and am able to better understand how they utilize their home spaces, all while being mindful of their privacy. Then, I take all the data I’ve gathered, and work with my team or the designer of their choice to create a home that suits their needs and lifestyle. I am very meticulous in my design process. As a Developer, I don’t build mega-mansion projects, my style is more modest and minimalistic living. I create luxury homes that are carefully thought out for celebrities, Fortune 500 executives, and CEOs alike.
Where do you get your inspiration from daily?
I gain much of my inspiration from the flora and fauna that define everything around us. This has allowed me to gain appreciation and respect for our environment. That is why the foundation of all my luxury projects begins with incorporating natural and environmentally conscious assets. I am mindful of how I use my creative power and aim to build homes that not only please clients but also give back to the Earth.
How do you stay motivated?
It is very easy to fall into the rabbit hole of procrastination. Especially when so many things are going on all around us. The world is constantly shifting and sometimes it is difficult to pull yourself back and focus on the task at hand. My biggest motivators are my two daughters. I want to show them, and so many other young women out there, that they are more than capable of succeeding in life, regardless of any setbacks they may face. That is all the nudge I need to get up and continue working. I allow myself to stay in the gloom for no more than 24 hours. This discipline of 24 hours to reset, is something that I have had since I was a teen and has proven to be useful.
What traits do you look for when building a team?
The most valuable traits anyone can have is a hunger for knowledge and a growth mindset. I always look for people who are eager to learn and even more eager to succeed. Additionally, I look for people who understand what being a team really means. You cannot build a business by yourself. You need a group of people who are equally as committed to your goal and want your success just as much, if not more than you do. This also shows that they know, your success is their success as well.
Any advice for entrepreneurs on moving beyond a failure?
”Fear can cripple us from living our true potential. If that energy from fear is channeled right, it can empower us.”
Paiy Hansra
The first thing to recover from a failure is to channel that energy of fear of failure and what if, into the potential. Every time I encounter a setback I give myself a 24-hour reboot to start all over again. Staying focused on my big picture goals and trying different things to make it work. You are going to fail so many times before you taste success. Take J.K. Rowling for example. It took Rowling six years to write the first Harry Potter novel. It was rejected over a dozen times. However, despite all the setbacks she faced, Rowling kept improving her book and continued to send it to publishers. After relentless perseverance, she went from being a jobless, single mother, to establishing an empire worth $9.1 billion. This is a fantastic example of how Failure is necessary for growth.
Share us some tips for women who are in doubt about leaving their secure job and starting their own business.
Anything is possible as long as you are walking into a field for the right reasons. Passion and drive are the basis for success. There is no easy way up the ladder but at least you will be happy doing it. You have to take a leap of faith, but above all, make sure you are willing to do the work. I firmly believe that hard work is the key to a successful business. It makes up for all the lack of experience, knowledge, or education. When I first started in this field, I was young, raising two children, with no professional experience, skills, or knowledge. But I knew this was my calling and that I have what it takes to build something of myself. So, to my fellow women who doubt themselves, it may feel like a shot in the dark, but if you have the means and the will to chase your dreams, this is your sign to do it.
“Research shows that female entrepreneurs get significantly less exposure compared to their male counterparts. When I started my own business, I realized there is much truth to those statistics. 90% of my time I spent competing and working with male-dominated companies and clients who undermined my skills and decision-making capabilities. I had to work much harder to prove I was more than capable.”
Paiy Hansra
You can learn more about Paiy Hansra at www.paiyhansra.com
![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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