We were lucky to catch up with Brandy Clay recently and have shared our conversation below.
Brandy, so good to have you with us today. We’ve always been impressed with folks who have a very clear sense of purpose and so maybe we can jump right in and talk about how you found your purpose?
In every pivot, there’s a purpose, and I discovered mine within such a change. Prior to COVID-19, I was immersed in QC management, serving as a Metallurgist at an aluminum plant in Saint Louis, Missouri. My leadership and expertise were recognized, leading to an offer to serve as Interim EHS Manager in addition to my existing responsibilities. The trust my company placed in me was exhilarating, and I consistently delivered outstanding performance. Soon after, I was approached to transition into Human Resource management, where I would recruit metallurgists, QC technicians, engineers, and plant operations staff, while also providing leadership for a team of 500. I was not only selected for this role but was also equipped with the necessary tools for success and received generous compensation. I attributed such incredible opportunities to my prayers. However, everything shifted in 2019 when the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in the shutdown of my workplace. The loss was profound; I had envisioned a future of growth and retirement with this company, but those dreams abruptly ended. This, coupled with personal challenges, including a failed relationship and the loneliness of being an empty nester as my only child attended college in Texas, left me feeling isolated and bereft of purpose. Despite receiving a severance package and additional funds for overseeing the closure of regulated facility areas, once completed, I found myself jobless and uncertain of the future. It was then that I returned to my passion for baking, beginning to make treats I reignited my passion for baking, creating treats for special events, and decided it was time to invest in myself. I used all of my severance and seventy-five percent of my 401k to open a restaurant in Brentwood, MO, named Funnel Cake Factory Saint Louis. Believing this was my new calling, I invested all my energy and remaining finances to ensure its success. However, three months after opening, the world was gripped by the fear of the unknown. The global shutdown included my restaurant, leaving me devastated, financially strained, and uncertain about my purpose. Was it really what I was doing now, or something else? How could this be happening? During this time, I was adjusting to life as an entrepreneur on pause and a newly single woman, a combination that was overwhelming. With the National Pandemic causing universities to send students home, my son’s return brought some normalcy amidst the uncertainty. When the government declared restaurants essential, hope resurfaced. My son and I worked tirelessly to keep the restaurant open, and fortune smiled on us when a post about one of our desserts went viral. I was overjoyed, feeling that perhaps this was my true purpose, and that everything in my life had led to this moment. As normalcy returned, business thrived, and there was a demand for our restaurant in other cities. Local news and publications turned us into a local sensation, and I was thankful. When the owner of the building I leased decided to sell, I planned a move to downtown Saint Louis to contribute to its revitalization. Moving from the suburbs to the city during a national pandemic required significant adjustments for me, my team, and my customers. The unhoused population was vast, and my newly relocated business somehow became a hub for their drop-ins, with requests for donations, toiletries, and access to restroom facilities and food. The immediate pull on my conscience was profound. How could I assist them without jeopardizing my finances? Where should I begin, and how can I make a change while operating my for-profit business? I recalled the challenging beginnings of my enterprise, the personal and financial struggles, which paled in comparison to the needs of those seeking aid at my downtown Saint Louis restaurant. Nights of severe depression followed, pondering the scant resources at my disposal and the limited help I could offer. I remembered the times of not having enough supplies or funds for the restaurant, yet still giving away money, reassuring my son that it would return to us tenfold. I started requesting that visitors, especially out-of-town guests, donate their hotel hygiene miniatures. In exchange, I would distribute them to the unhoused. I also encouraged our regular customers to contribute hygiene items and cooler bags, which could help the unhoused protect their drinks, medicine, and perishables from pests. As donations grew, I ran out of storage space and resorted to using locker storage beneath the restaurant. Often, those seeking assistance would offer to perform tasks in return.When I inquired why they were jobless, they cited the lack of an address or ID. I realized there was more I could do to help, but the question was how? By 2021, I had launched 1st Meal Saint Louis, my initiative to feed the unhoused on New Year’s Day. My reasoning was that while everyone might be nursing a New Year’s Eve hangover or fretting over their resolutions just one day in, some individuals and families were uncertain about where their first meal would come from. Helping in this manner brought me immense satisfaction. Despite struggling through the pandemic and depleting my 401k to keep our doors open, I understood that greatness isn’t always possible, but service is, and that became my focus. During the pandemic and at the New Year’s event, we distributed hygiene products, but we were frequently asked for feminine hygiene products by unhoused women. This made me ponder where they might get them from or what they used. The lack of necessities overwhelmed me, but the incredible support I received to aid those in need uplifted me. Self-pity was no longer an option. I grasped my role as a parent to a young adult, the new boundaries it entailed, and most importantly, I recognized that my purpose lay in service. My passion had ignited, and through an unexpected shift, I discovered that this passion would drive my purpose. I had always prioritized family first, career second, believing these were my sole purposes in life. Indeed, I have always been a giver, yet this experience was unique. My business weathered the storm of COVID-19, but my heart struggled with the feeling that I wasn’t doing enough, despite knowing I could do more. This feeling mirrored the one I had when my company shut down four years prior. In 2022, I initiated the Carousel Foundation of Greater Saint Louis, serving as its founder alongside Co-Founding Director Alisha Phillips-Jones. After lending support to numerous initiatives and aiding other local nonprofits, we recognized the need for proactive, results-driven nonprofit work in the STL area. Our organization was established not just to claim or seem to do the work but to actively provide sensible solutions to underserved communities and address marked disparities. Thanks to the helping hands of our incredible community of givers, who share our belief in the power and purpose of pivoting, we have seen consistent growth. We believe that working within your passions not only defines your purpose but also leads to profits.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I am a successful entrepreneur, philanthropist, and author. I co-run The Carousel Foundation of Great Saint Louis, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to helping others. We transform our convictions into action and encourage others to become Actionaries for the community. My business, Carousel Confections, includes three American eateries and virtual kitchens, such as Funnel Cake Factory and Turkey Leg Factory in Saint Louis, ventures I started in 2018 with my son, Khairi Ahmir. Before my entrepreneurial career, I worked as a quality and R&D bench chemist, which fuels my passion as a STEM advocate. In my free time, I enjoy cooking, baking, visiting coffee shops, indulging in anything stationery, and all things planner-related, reading books, and supporting community initiatives and fellow non-profits. I hold a Bachelor’s degree in Science with a chemistry minor from Saint Louis University and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from Columbia College. I possess a Master of Science degree from Maryville University and am currently pursuing my doctorate from Purdue University, with plans to complete it by February 2025. My study focuses on Behavioral Economics, Behavioral Biases, and decision-making. Behavioral science reveals that the human brain uses various heuristics to expedite information processing. These heuristics are shortcuts that help us deal with information efficiently, enabling us to make quicker decisions, which was crucial for the survival of early humans. However, these shortcuts often sacrifice accuracy. This trade-off has been carried forward in our DNA to modern times. I aim to apply my findings to my non-profit community initiatives.
The Carousel Foundation of Greater Saint Louis has two major giving events coming up to support the community.
Point Blank Period – During Period Poverty Awareness Week, May 20-28, 2024
Generosity is essential for advancing period poverty awareness. We are dedicated to promoting menstrual equity and ending period poverty. Menstrual equity ensures that everyone has access to the necessary resources and education to manage their periods safely and with dignity. Regrettably, period poverty, which is the lack of access to menstrual products, education, and facilities, affects millions of women and girls globally. This issue not only affects their physical health but also their ability to attend school, work, and participate in their communities. Help us raise awareness and advocate for menstrual equity to ensure that every woman and girl can realize their full potential through the eradication of and awareness for menstrual equity.
M.I.L.K.S.H.A.K.E stands for “Mankind Intentionally Living Kindly, Showing Humanitarian Acts of Kindness for Everyone.”
Join us for a Carousel Giving Hour, a *Happy Hour* event featuring spirit-infused dairy delights. Our inaugural foundation event, “Giving Hour
M.I.L.K.S.H.A.K.E,” will be held at Union Station Soda Fountain in July 2024.
This event supports the unhoused by collecting cooler bags, hygiene supplies, and duffle bags for displaced and foster youth. It’s more than a party; it’s a party with a purpose! Visit our website for more information and become an Actionaire!
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
Communication encompasses listening, writing, and speaking. Problem-solving is essential, as challenges will arise in every job or initiative you undertake. Teamwork is crucial, as many jobs require you to work effectively and respectfully with others, be they coworkers, clients, or those in need. Initiative is also important because it’s all it takes to start anything. The best advice for those early in their journey is to remain flexible, stay encouraged, and understand that it’s okay to start over or switch gears multiple times. There is purpose and power in pivoting.
Okay, so before we go we always love to ask if you are looking for folks to partner or collaborate with?
We are constantly seeking individuals and corporations who share our passion for community service and wish to provide underserved populations with better opportunities and lifelong support. We encourage anyone with a service-oriented heart to become an Actionaire in your community or ours! To learn more about The Carousel Foundation of Greater Saint Louis, please visit our website.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.thecarouselfoundation.org
- Instagram: thecarouselfoundationstl
- Facebook: The Carousel Foundation
- Linkedin: The Carousel Foundation of Greater Saint Louis/ Brandy Clay
- Twitter: @carousel_stl
