Megan: Our format today is a little bit different for She Boss, which I’m really excited about. We’re joined by Amanda Gunville, who has a lot of exciting things to share. It also happens to be her birthday—so happy birthday to you!
Amanda: Thank you! Lucky 21.
Megan: That’s right—you’re finally legal. Amanda and I have had the absolute honor of getting to know each other over the past couple of weeks, and the timing of us connecting could not be more perfect. She has a hilarious and powerful new book that actually comes out today, which we’ll talk about in a moment. But Amanda also has an incredible story—her career, her background, and the courage she’s shown along the way.
Before we dive in, you may have noticed our Flourish logo has turned pink this month in recognition of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Anyone who follows Flourish knows we are strong advocates for being your own health advocate. We even have a series called Empowering Wellness, where we share health journeys—including my own. Last year, after discovering a gene mutation, I made the decision to undergo a prophylactic double mastectomy. Best decision I ever made. I don’t live with the fear of waking up one day in the position that Amanda once faced.
This month, we’re being very intentional about what we’re talking about, and we’re kicking it off with Amanda. Thank you so much for joining us on She Boss!
Amanda: Thank you for having me, Megan. It’s an absolute honor.
From Montana to Sports Management
Megan: I know a little bit about your background, but it’s amazing. You’re originally from Montana and now live in Denver. Tell us about your journey.
Amanda: Absolutely. I grew up in Montana, went to college across the country, and knew I had a passion for two things: sports and business. At the University of Arizona, I saw men working as production assistants at a basketball game and thought, I could do that. I tracked down the broadcast truck after the game, asked who was hiring, and offered to do anything—even hold cables. That was my start.
I worked hard, became a stage manager, and on my very first job I ended up in the booth with legendary quarterback Warren Moon. At the end of the game, he handed me a business card. I later realized it belonged to the most famous sports agent in the world—the inspiration for Jerry Maguire. That led to an internship and eventually a job, which launched my career in sports management.
Megan: What was it like being a woman in such a male-dominated space?
Amanda: In the beginning, I felt I had to “man up.” If the men were harsh, I was harsher. If they were crass, I tried to outdo them. But that wasn’t authentic to me. Eventually, a mentor told me I’d be more powerful if I embraced my feminine energy—my softer, authentic side. That advice changed everything. I realized that leading with compassion and authenticity was actually a strength.
Pivoting Into Private Equity and Wine
Megan: You later shifted into private equity and then the wine business. How did that transition happen?
Amanda: After working in sports, I pursued my MBA in finance at Notre Dame and focused on venture capital. That led to a career in private equity, but the 2008 market crash changed everything. When deals dried up, I was let go. Fortunately, portfolio companies I had worked with reached out and asked me to consult. That launched my consulting career.
Fast forward to COVID—I joined a group supporting female entrepreneurs. That’s when I met the founder of a wine company. She was nearly nine months pregnant and came to pitch us in a snowstorm. I loved her grit. With my background and a sommelier certification, I volunteered to help. Soon after, I invested and became the CMO and COO.
We grew quickly by leaning into influencer marketing—perfect timing during COVID. The niche was single-serve premium organic wine. It resonated with women who wanted quality without opening a full bottle. Influencers helped us break through, and it was powerful.
A Life-Changing Diagnosis
Megan: Around this time, your life took a major turn. You were diagnosed with cancer. Can you share how you discovered it?
Amanda: I was 41, newly married, and the mom of a toddler. I was juggling everything—my career, motherhood, consulting—and putting myself last. My OB-GYN recommended a routine mammogram. A few days later, I got the call: they needed more imaging. I wasn’t too worried until I read the report online and, yes, consulted Dr. Google. The terms almost always pointed to malignancy.
A biopsy confirmed it. The unknown was the hardest part. Once I heard “you have breast cancer,” I thought: This is my reality—now what are we going to do?
Megan: That must have been overwhelming.
Amanda: It was. I felt guilty about possibly leaving my daughter motherless. My brother, a physician, gave me life-changing advice: “Give yourself grace. You’ve been dealt the worst hand—let yourself feel it.” That permission helped me move through grief and find the strength to fight.
Finding Hope and Joy
Megan: You were diagnosed with triple-positive breast cancer, a very serious diagnosis. What did your treatment journey look like?
Amanda: I went through six rounds of intense chemotherapy, a double mastectomy, additional targeted therapy for a year, and eventually had my ovaries and fallopian tubes removed. In total, it was a two-and-a-half-year journey.
But I found tools that changed everything. A therapist recommended The Obstacle is the Way by Ryan Holiday, which reframed my diagnosis as an opportunity for transformation. I also immersed myself in meditation through Dr. Joe Dispenza’s teachings. Meditation gave me joy—even in chemo. I’d come out of sessions feeling lighter, more hopeful, and ready to face each day.
Megan: That mindset shift is powerful.
Amanda: Absolutely. You can’t always control what happens to you, but you can control your thoughts. Choosing joy changed my experience.
Writing Finding Hope and Joy in Cancer
Megan: This experience led to your book, which comes out today: Finding Hope and Joy in Cancer. Tell us about it.
Amanda: I never planned to write a book. But at 3 a.m. one morning, words just poured out of me. Over time, I kept writing—outside, alone, in quiet moments. It became both a cathartic release and a guide I wished I’d had.
The book is part memoir, part guide. It shares practical tools for patients and caregivers, from choosing a medical team to navigating side effects. It’s approachable, honest, and at times humorous—because laughter is healing, too.
Megan: I love that. And you’re also paying it forward with a book drive.
Amanda: Yes! For every $10 donated, a copy of the book is given to a cancer patient. When you’re diagnosed, you usually get a big binder full of medical jargon. My dream is for patients to also receive something uplifting—something that offers practical help and hope.
Closing Thoughts
Megan: Amanda, thank you for sharing your story with us. Flourish is proud to donate $100 to your book drive, funding 10 books for patients. We encourage our community to join us—whether by buying your book or donating.
Amanda: Thank you, Megan. I’m so grateful.
Megan: Friends, you can find Amanda’s book at hopeandjoy.net If you don’t need a copy yourself, consider supporting the book drive to brighten someone else’s journey. Amanda, congratulations—we’re honored to share your story.
Amanda: Thank you so much.