Daily Inspiration: Meet Mae Chandran

Today we’d like to introduce you to Mae Chandran

Hi Mae, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I was born in Guangdong (Canton), China. At the age of 3, Mom and I along with thousands of Chinese who wanted to flee from China to escape Mao Zedong and his Communist party escaped to Hong Kong, a British colony at the time. Unfortunately for me, Mom was called to join my father in America when I was 4. I could not join her because my father had sold my birth documents when I was born because it fetched a lot of money and especially in those days, Chinese girls were considered disposable. My brother who was older than me by `17 years had already emigrated to America. I was not able to join my family until I was eight. (that is another story). My family operated an American-Chinese restaurant in Fall River, MA. So I grew up in the restaurant business where we all lived above our family restaurant with my parents, my brother, sister-in-law and their family. My childhood was unhappy where I never bonded with my father (I first met him when he along with my brother and mother picked me up at the airport). My parents’ marriage was unhappy and there was a lot of friction between my brother, his wife and my parents. My only solace was school where I excelled in. I could not wait until I attended college and wanted to escape from home as far as possible. With much difficulty I chose UCLA where I met my future husband, Bala, who is from Sri Lanka. In those days, people were much more provincial and both Bala’s and my parents totally disapproved of our marriage. With much difficulty we married and have two wonderful children, Prakash and Sashee. Although I received my BA from UCLA in Asian Languages, and a MBA from Loyola Marymount and worked in the financial field all my life, my greatest role was that of motherhood. Having had such an unhappy childhood, I vowed that I would create a happy family that I used to only dream about when I was young. I remember my daughter Sashee asked me once, “Mom, was that (creating a happy home and family) the only thing you ever wanted in life?” She probably meant I had no ambition. I replied-” I wanted to be a business tycoon too but I know you and your brother will achieve that”! Perhaps I am right in my prediction- Sashee is founder and CEO of Tea Drops and my son is co-founder and CEO of Xano, one of the fastest no code growing companies. Today – having a happy, harmonious closed knitted family is my proudest achievement.

Of course, along the way, I’ve had many interests, such as cooking and gardening. (My garden has been featured in the “Malibu Times” Home and Garden issue). For 18 years I was head of Hospitality at our temple where we served anywhere from 500 – 1000 congregants. I was in charge of a team that made everything from scratch – popovers, scones, chocolate cookies, award-winning apple pies, vegetarian shepherd pies, the best Mexican fare, and a whole lot more. We were one of the highest fundraisers. Every year we had the Ladies High Tea where we made everything from scratch and where much money was raised. During those days I entered into a number of food contests to add pizzazz to everything we sold. Among my accolades were
* Red ribbon from Pacific Palisades Chamber of Commerce for my homemade apple pie
*International Silver Marmalade Award given by Dalmain Marmalade Award Contest in England where over 3,000 marmalade entries are received from all over the world. I won the International Silver both in 2014, 2019.

Celebrity Chef Katie Chin this year referred a casting agent of “The Great American Recipe” to me and I am proud to have been chosen from across the country as one of the show’s eight contestants. The show airs on PBS every Monday from June 17 to its finale August 12.

I am in my golden years and I am grateful that my husband of almost 50 years is still by my side. My two grown children are very close and both are happily married. My son and daughter-in-law have blessed me with two adorable children, a boy and a girl and Sashee with her husband has a baby girl on the way. I feel truly blessed and am living the best years of my life and the best is yet to come!

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Racism and provincial thinking, especially growing up in the 1950s and 1960s in Fall River, MA, because of my childhood separation from Mom at the age of 4 and not reuniting with her until almost 9, along with an unhappy childhood I suffered a lot of depression, especially in my 30’s.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
Although I worked in the financial field as an accountant at Getty Oil Company, financial advisor at Morgan Stanley, Countrywide, real estate agent and investor it is motherhood that is my greatest role. While my husband & I were building our real estate portfolio, I quit my job at Getty Oil and purchased a space at a local swap meet selling crystal vases and bowls along with Italian Capodimonte so I could work the weekends and take care of my young children during the week. Although in the end the shop was not successful, the fact that my children were in that environment and started working at such a young age – my daughter was seven and my son was 12 and worked for another vendor. Unknown to me at the time, this made a huge impact on their development as entrepreneurs because if one can deal with selling, especially at the swapmeet where everyone is trying to get a bargain from you, one is on the way to becoming potentially a great entrepreneur! And that is what my children have grown into – they are now both founders and co-founders and ceos of their own companies.

Can you talk to us a bit about happiness and what makes you happy?
Cooking for my family and friends. It is my way of showing my love.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: maechandran