Mayura Davda (ME’13) is a dreamer. Growing up in India, she was continually inspired by her dad and his innovative approach to life. “Watching my father’s entrepreneurial journey in my formative years shaped me personally and professionally,” she says. “His tremendous grit and optimistic way of living imbued me with a strong sense of perseverance and compassion for others.” Davda believes in “doing well while doing good” — a mentality she refers to as her ikigai, a Japanese concept meaning “reason for being.”

A rigorous education in the United States was one of Davda’s childhood dreams. Accepted to Purdue, she majored in mechanical engineering with a minor in global engineering, entrepreneurship, and innovation and served as a leader in various honor societies and clubs, including the Purdue Mechanical Engineering Ambassadors. She also taught mechanical engineering design classes and completed internships in China, India, Germany, and the United States.

Her “journey of valuable learning” wasn’t complete after graduating from Purdue — Davda then went on to study general management with MBA faculty at Stanford University and received a master’s in management and entrepreneurial leadership from Babson College. At Babson, Davda cofounded a startup that offered artisanal accessories and home décor goods to conscious consumers and provided a glimpse into the lives of the product makers. “Storytelling is a tool that will advance humanity,” she says. “By sharing the stories of products — from conception to someone’s doorstep — we facilitate understanding of the nuances in different cultures.”

I’m taking the stories behind craft, culture, tradition, and artisans and weaving them into the story of my own life.

Cultural nuances had an eminent effect on Davda when she took a holiday to Iceland in 2015. “I was in awe of the ever-changing and out-of-this-world landscapes,” she says. “I found the people and history intriguing and enjoyed exploring the local markets and interacting with residents to learn about arts and crafts native to the region.” On one excursion, Davda found a set of small leather goods that were made sustainably from salmon and other types of fish skin. “I learned that fish leather has been part of the Nordic culture for centuries,” she says. “I began researching it and developed a business idea to make beautiful fish leather products accessible to people all over the world.”

Davda launched her company, MAYU, in 2017 and describes it as a “sustainable luxury lifestyle brand that promotes a conscious way of life.” The name is derived from Davda’s first name, which means “gentleness” and “superiority” in Japanese. The small accessories the company offers are handcrafted in India from Icelandic fish leather. “We referenced the essence of Iceland’s traditions, the colors of its landscapes, and the texture of its oceans in our debut collection called the Golden Circle,” she says. The primary colors in the collection are black and gold — a nod to Davda’s time at Purdue.

As Davda thinks about the future, she continues to dream up creative endeavors. “I see myself as a serial entrepreneur managing several diversified businesses catering to the needs of people through new and beautiful concepts, products, and services,” she says. “I’m taking the stories behind craft, culture, tradition, and artisans and weaving them into the story of my own life — taking it forward as a legacy that deserves to be continued.”