Meet Amanda Chay | Author and Entrepreneur

We had the good fortune of connecting with Amanda Chay and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Amanda, what role has risk played in your life or career?
I consider myself quite a brave person, but my husband takes it to a whole new level, so it kind of evens things out. I’m all about pushing my boundaries and not sticking to the usual rules. Take “The Girlfriend’s Guide to Lupus” book that I wrote – I never sought guidance on the process of writing a book. My concern was that this would alter my writing pattern and style. I was willing to risk doing it my way and, thankfully, it turned out.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I’m no stranger to wearing many hats in my career—a counselor, sales rep, physician liaison, national sales manager, author, and, of course, the important roles of mom and wife. I’ve got a feeling I’ll be taking on at least ten more because I’m all about exploring the endless possibilities in this big world. This does not mean that it hasn’t been challenging, but it all has been impactful.

For the past five years, I’ve been diving into the business realm with my company, Wonderment. Here, I’ve been helping numerous businesses and teams prioritize their day, and in the grander scheme of things, their health. Wonderment is all about providing stress reduction training programs to guide employees towards living less stressed, healthier, and more energized lives.

Now, here’s the real kicker—I’ve been doing all of this while navigating my own challenging battle with lupus. And you know what? It only strengthened my commitment to empowering women dealing with this condition, as evidenced in my book, “The Girlfriend’s Guide to Lupus.” This book is my way of helping women unravel the complexities of their lupus journey and themselves, offering practical, health-focused steps that put their well-being front and center. Because life’s journey is complicated, but we’ve got the power to navigate it with grace and strength.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
What a fun question! Living in Raleigh is the best and I love traveling around the state! Here’s my suggestion for when my bestie visits:

Start with a day at Duke Gardens – tranquil and beautiful. Have lunch at Mother & Sons with a dish like cacio a pepe. Explore some favorite thrift and consignment shops, like Dress and Cheshire Cat, and maybe pick up some new tea at Tin Roof Teas. For dinner, try Saap, the new Laotian restaurant in downtown Cary, and take a walk around Fenton afterward.

The next day, head to the Blue Ridge mountains, staying in a cozy cottage. Explore the shops in Blowing Rock and Boone, and take a hike on the Summit Calloway Peak trail in Grandfather Mountain State Park. Dinner at The Speckled Trout Restaurant & Bottle Shop is a good choice. Another day, introduce your bestie to pimento cheese dip and North Carolina’s tangy BBQ.

Wrap up the visit with a long weekend on Bald Head Island. Cruise around on a golf cart, read the same book, discuss it constantly, and catch sunsets with an ice cream cone in hand.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Thankfully, I’ve surrounded by a bunch of amazing people that are supportive, kind, and push me to be the best version of myself. I’ve carefully crafted this group after being diagnosed with lupus, a chronic autoimmune disease. This illness limited my energy and resources, thus pushed me to became very choosey with who I allow in my life.

I want to shine a spotlight on someone truly impactful to me: Cindy Grande. She was one of my biggest life supporters. Sadly, Cindy’s life was cut short by cancer. We crossed paths in college when she was a single mom raising a toddler with special needs and caring for her ailing mother.

Despite facing many tragedies over the years, Cindy’s positive outlook never wavered. Bitterness never seeped into her voice. Cindy refused to be a victim, firmly believing that good things were on their way. And she was 100% correct on this. Cindy crafted the life she deserved – a loving husband, three amazing children, and both the home and career of her dreams.

The lessons of strength, love, and resilience Cindy imparted are ingrained in me.

Website: amandachay.com and wondermentltd.com

Instagram: @amandaechay

Linkedin: linkedin.com/amanda-trupp-chay

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgzaxgSckksVgchAiQDnmVg

Other: Link to buy my book: https://www.amazon.com/Girlfriends-Guide-Lupus-Control-Diagnosis/dp/B0CK3M4VVZ/ref=sr_1_6?crid=N5Y9SRVHULQ5&keywords=lupus+book&qid=1704734705&sprefix=%2Caps%2C101&sr=8-6

Image Credits
Photographer of professional photos: Rishelle Barber