Meet Adriana Chaux

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Adriana Chaux a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Adriana , we’re thrilled to have you sharing your thoughts and lessons with our community. So, for folks who are at a stage in their life or career where they are trying to be more resilient, can you share where you get your resilience from?

I get my resilience from my family, which has always been strong and determined. They had to build businesses from scratch, facing all the challenges that come with it. From a very young age, I learned that everything is earned through effort and dedication, and that not everything always goes as planned.

I also come from a country with significant social and political difficulties, where doing business was sometimes complicated. This reality pushed me to develop a problem-solving mindset, learning to adapt, create alternatives, and find opportunities even in challenging situations. Navigating uncertainty and overcoming bureaucratic or economic obstacles became part of everyday life, shaping my ability to think creatively and persist despite difficulties.

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?

My Autobiography

I believe my journey as a soap maker specializing in soap design began in my childhood, influenced by a highly creative mother and a protective, organized father and two beloved sisters. This combination shaped my mindset, making me believe that everything is possible and that creating is one of the most beautiful things a human being can do.

At a young age, I decided to study dentistry in my home country, Colombia, and later pursued a Master’s degree in Orthodontics in Mexico. Working with my hands was clearly my passion. During my master’s program, I was the one my classmates relied on to make their patients’ teeth look perfect for final presentations. They would ask me to do resin work and other aesthetic details to ensure their cases looked incredible.

My mind never stopped exploring new things. Whether it was gardening, embroidery, or growing my own vegetables, I always dedicated long months to learning hands-on skills that deeply relaxed me. I loved my career, but there was always something more I felt drawn to.

Everything changed when I had my children. I started thinking about healthier alternatives for them—growing my own vegetables, making more homemade products, and reducing processed goods in our home. Then, 15 years ago, I said to myself: Why not make soap for my family?

It was such an exciting yet complex journey that I spent the next two years experimenting nonstop, researching until late at night, and diving deep into every aspect of soap making—from the chemistry behind it to different techniques. Throughout it all, my husband, a wonderful and supportive man, encouraged every crazy idea I had. My children were the first to test my early creations, clapping for me even when I knew the results weren’t perfect.

It wasn’t until two years later that I finally developed a formula that fascinated me—one with 60% olive oil. That was the true beginning of everything. I started in a small space at home, but by the third year, my house was completely filled with soap. That’s when I knew it was time to move into a real factory.

This was also when the real challenges of being an entrepreneur began—challenges that evolve and become more complex each year. My personal motto is: Every year, you learn what not to do the next year.

Now, almost 12 years later, my company Oliva60—named after the percentage of olive oil in our soaps—has grown into much more than just soap-making. Over time, we have developed solid shampoo and conditioner bars, exfoliants, body creams, and liquid soaps, all with one key ingredient: olive oil.

Our factory is in a truly magical setting—an old 1836 building in Querétaro, once home to the city’s historic textile industry.

We have also created exclusive, luxury hospitality collections, designing custom soap bars for high-end hotels, each tailored to match their unique style and ambiance. Our clients include Waldorf Astoria Los Cabos, Chileno Bay Resort Los Cabos, Mateo’s Tavern California, LeBlanc Spa Resort Los Cabos & Cancún, Viceroy Los Cabos, and many more.

Additionally, we have expanded to Amazon USA and Amazon México, making our products available to an even wider audience.

What started as a personal quest for healthier alternatives has become a lifelong passion and a thriving business—one that continues to challenge, inspire, and excite me every single day.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

For those starting their journey, my biggest piece of advice is to be patient, stay consistent, and never forget why you started. Success is built one disciplined step at a time, and true fulfillment comes from balancing what you love with the people you love—while enjoying every moment along the way.

Alright so to wrap up, who deserves credit for helping you overcome challenges or build some of the essential skills you’ve needed?

My husband

Contact Info:

• Website: www.oliva60.com.mx
• Instagram: Oliva60savon
• Facebook: Oliva60
• Youtube: Oliva60
• Other: TikTok : Oliva60mx