Meet Mary Ellen Sheehan | Teacher

We had the good fortune of connecting with Mary Ellen Sheehan and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Mary Ellen, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
We decided to start Royal Thanaka for several reasons. Our combined story is the story of migration. Htwe and Myo came to the US from Myanmar to escape violence and to raise their family in peace. Mary Ellen’s parents came to the US from Ireland to escape poverty and build a good life. With this common thread we envision a business that shares the dream of living and working according to our dreams and empowering others to live their dreams. Our plan is to collaborate with other businesses, while paying a living wage to all who work with us.

In addition to this we want to share the ancient tradition and benefit of Thanaka. It has been used in Myanmar for over 2,000 years and continues today. Thanaka is the ground bark of the Thanaka tree. Thanaka provides multiple benefits to the skin. It is hydrating and protective. It is high in Antioxidants and vitamin E and has astringent properties. We are excited to introduce this ancient ingredient to the US.

We are committed to natural and sustainable products. Our products do not contain synthetic ingredients and we use glass, recycled plastic, and sugar cane containers. The historical tradition of Thanaka embraces living close to and caring for earth.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I have been a teacher for most of my professional life. Shortly after college I completed my Master’s of Divinity at Notre Dame. Given that Notre Dame was a Catholic institution that did not recognize the leadership of women in the church, it was controversial when I was ordained. I was ordained as part of the Roman Catholic Women Priests with a valid ordination though not recognized by the Vatican.

I have spent many years admiring and training in the pedagogy of Dr. Maria Montessori. Her pedagogy needs to have the legendary recognition comparable to that of Darwin. Over 100 years ago she created a curriculum that spans East and West and truly meets the neurological and developmental needs of children. My goal is to fund the opening of Montessori charter schools across the country for children who would otherwise not have access to this excellent education.

With the creation of our business, Royal Thanaka, I am providing an excellent skincare ingredient and product along with my business partners. We want to provide not only an excellent product but the means to fund schools and other small women-owned businesses. We believe that it is possible for all to live out their dreams and to thrive. We want to use our business to fund these possibilities and make living the dream a reality.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
If my best friend was visiting the area for a week and I wanted to show them around I would begin with Refuge Coffee in Clarkston. Refuge Coffee is a dream-come-true. It provides training and employment at a living wage for newcomers to the US. I would also treat them to some pastries from Just Bakery. This is another Atlanta institution that gives a strong foundation, along with delicious food, to people striving for a thriving life. We would visit the International Community School and some businesses along Buford Highway. Then we would proceed along the creeks and rivers to the coast. Georgia has an amazingly diverse geography with waterways leading to the Atlantic Ocean as well as the Gulf of Mexico. There are also the mountains, the Okefenokee Swamp and the plains. The geography and the people are wonderfully diverse.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
We would like to recognize StartME: Atlanta, our incubator from Emory and the Goizuetta Business School. And, Sushma Barakoti of StartME and Sunavworld. We would also like to recognize the US Botanical Safety Lab in Candler South Carolina. And we would like to recognize Cindy Farrar of Massage Associates of Atlanta, our business coach.

At this time we want to recognize the generous and brave people of Myanmar who helped us find and source the finest Thanaka in Myanmar. We are especially concerned at this time because of the military takeover of Myanmar and the spread of Covid. U Saw Sein Aung helped us find the best tree farm and he recently passed away due to Covid.

Website: https://www.royalthanaka.com

Instagram: @royal_thanaka

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/royalthanaka