Episode 015: Follow Your Passion, No Matter Where It Takes You…

Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover. – Mark Twain

Oakland, California native Skyler Mapes truly personifies what it means to follow your passion.

With studies in architecture and a successful career in design, starting an olive oil company would seem like something that is only possible in the movies. But sometimes life, thankfully, imitates what we see on the screen and this is where Skyler's delicious adventure begins.

She developed a sincere interest in olive oil after meeting her husband Giuseppe and learning about olive trees. Giuseppe worked in the health industry for 15 years and is a 3rd generation olive oil producer from Calabria. In 2017, Skyler moved to Calabria (south Italy) with her husband to learn more about the industry. It was then when they founded EXAU Olive Oil.

EXAU is the marriage between the modern culinary needs of Americans and 75+ years of Calabrian craftsmanship. Skyler and her husband truly believe that they make some of the best olive oil in the world because of their experience, patience, and stubborn Calabrian dedication to amazing food.

The world agrees as EXAU has been recognized for producing 'One of the World's Best Olive Oils' (NYIOOC). In 2020, Skyler was also named to Forbes' prestigious 30 Under 30 List and EXAU was named to Oprah's Favorite's List.

Skyler is dedicated to educating the public about high-quality olive oil and fair representation for women of color in the olive oil industry. To this day she's only met one other Black female olive oil producer.