We’re looking forward to introducing you to Dr. Brandy A. Clay. Check out our conversation below.
Good morning Brandy A., we’re so happy to have you here with us and we’d love to explore your story and how you think about life and legacy and so much more. So let’s start with a question we often ask: When have you felt most loved—and did you believe you deserved it?
I’ve always been the person who shows up for others whether it’s lending a hand, listening, or making sure someone feels cared for. Giving is second nature to me, and I rarely expect anything in return. Because of that, it’s rare that someone does something for me without me asking.
Recently, I had a night where I couldn’t sleep. My mind was racing, and I felt completely drained. Out of the blue, a friend reached out just to check on me. We ended up talking, and as a joke, I rattled off a to-do list of things I needed to get done the next day tasks I figured I’d tackle no matter how tired I was. Before I could even get dressed that morning, they had already taken care of it.
I was stunned. I don’t think they understood why I was beaming and elated. They probably thought, “This is so small,” but to me, it was huge. They’re busier than I am most days, so I know it was a selfless act. I rarely get the things money can’t buy thoughtfulness, time, someone anticipating my needs without me asking. In that moment, I felt truly loved.
Did I believe I deserved it? Honestly, no. I’m so used to being the giver that receiving feels foreign. But that experience reminded me that love isn’t about keeping score it’s about being seen and cared for when you least expect it. And sometimes, the smallest gestures mean the most.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
“I believe resilience isn’t just about surviving it’s about transforming challenges into opportunities”. “That’s been the story of my life and my work”.
I’m Dr. Brandy A. Clay entrepreneur, author, public speaker, and advocate for community empowerment. Before stepping into entrepreneurship, I built a strong foundation in science and compliance. I earned advanced degrees culminating in my doctorate and spent years in corporate roles as a QC Chemist, Metallurgist and later in Corporate Manufacturing Compliance. Those experiences taught me precision, accountability, and the importance of systems skills I now apply to everything I do.
Today, I wear many hats. I co-founded The Carousel Foundation of Greater St. Louis, a 501(c)(3) with Alisha Phillips-Jones a nonprofit dedicated to serving our forgotten neighbors: unhoused veterans, seniors, LGBTQ+ youth, and individuals in transition. Our mission is to restore dignity and provide resources where they’re needed most.
On the business side, I’m the founder of Carousel Group American Eateries, which I launched with my son Khairi in 2018. Under that umbrella, we’ve built brands like Funnel Cake Factory STL, Turkey Leg Factory STL, Ring Masters Pizza Pasta & Wings, The Battered Bird Chicken & Waffles, STL Parkchuterie Cart, and Beignet & Co. After surviving the challenges of COVID-19 as a restaurateur, I pivoted three concepts into ghost kitchens and transitioned the rest into a franchise model a move that turned out to be one of the smartest decisions I’ve ever made.
Interestingly, my nonprofit journey grew out of my restaurant work. During the pandemic, one of my locations became a hub for the unhoused in downtown St. Louis, sparking the vision for The Carousel Foundation and even a virtual mail house to support those in transition.
I’m also the author of A is for Alpha, a book that explores the interpersonal and intrapersonal dynamics of the Alpha Woman and the people who love her. The second edition now includes a workbook and a redesigned cover celebrating my doctorate achievement.
At the heart of everything I do whether it’s building businesses, writing, or serving the community is the belief that resilience and purpose can change lives.
Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. What breaks the bonds between people—and what restores them?
“I think what breaks the bonds between people most often is silence when we stop communicating, stop listening, or stop showing up for each other. Misunderstandings, unmet expectations, and pride can create distance that feels impossible to close.
But what restores those bonds is intentionality. It’s the small, consistent acts of care checking in, apologizing when we’re wrong, and choosing empathy over ego. Sometimes it’s as simple as saying, ‘I see you, and you matter.’ Relationships thrive when people feel heard and valued, and that doesn’t require grand gestures just genuine effort.” But what do I know?
Is there something you miss that no one else knows about?
“What I miss most and hardly anyone knows this is simplicity. Life has become so layered with responsibilities, goals, and expectations that those quiet, uncomplicated moments feel like a distant memory. I miss the days when joy was as simple as sitting on a porch with a cool breeze, laughing without checking the time, or sharing a meal without a phone buzzing in the background.
There’s a quote I love: ‘Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.’* For me, simplicity isn’t about having less it’s about feeling more. It’s about presence, peace, and connection without all the noise. That’s something I long for, even if I rarely say it out loud.”
Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. What would your closest friends say really matters to you?
“My closest friends would probably say what really matters to me is impact making a difference that outlives the moment. They know I care fiercely about family, community, and purpose. And they’d tell you my son, Khairi, is at the center of it all. He’s not just my son; he’s my partner, my sounding board, and the reason I keep building when the road gets steep. Every decision business or life is filtered through the lens of what will serve him and the people we’re called to help.
Is the public version of me the real me? Yes, but it’s not the whole picture. People see the entrepreneur, the author, the speaker and philanthropist. All of that is true. But there’s also the me who loves quiet mornings, who needs time to breathe, who finds joy in laughing with Khairi over something silly. The me that won’t hug but, will cuddle.
And here’s the vulnerable part: recently, I had two strokes in one day from a clot in my carotid artery. I was told I should not be alive. It came without warning. labs and health on paper immaculate. I was temporarily blind, my speech was impeded, and I couldn’t fully move my right side. Even now, they don’t fully understand why it happened or how I recovered so miraculously, especially when the scans showed significant damage. In those hours, I felt the ground shift beneath me. But I also felt a quiet resolve: I needed me and others needed me, so I kept pushing. I only know how to push for me and others.
I remember sitting in my car after closing, hands sticky with sugar and flour, texting Khairi, ‘I’m tired. I don’t know if I’ve got it today.’ And he replied, ‘We’ve got it together.’ That’s the heartbeat of my life: not perfection, but persistence. Not certainty, but courage.”
There’s a quote I live by: ‘Authenticity isn’t about showing everything it’s about making sure what you do show is true.’ The public me is real. And the private me the one who doubts, prays, heals, and keeps going is the reason the public me exists.”
Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: What do you understand deeply that most people don’t?
“What I understand deeply and what most people don’t is that time is the most valuable currency we have. We spend so much of it chasing success, possessions, and validation, but none of those things matter if we lose the moments that truly count.
Time teaches you that presence is priceless. You can rebuild businesses, recover from losses, even reinvent yourself but you can’t reclaim a missed moment with someone you love. That’s why I guard my time fiercely now and invest it where it creates meaning, not just motion. *
Contact Info:
- Website: www.thecarouselfoundation.org, www.brandyclay.com
- Instagram: thecarouselfoundationstl
- Linkedin: TheCarouselFoundation
- Facebook: The Carousel Foundation
