We recently connected with Amy Tarkington and have shared our conversation below.

Amy, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. What sort of legacy are you hoping to build. What do you think people will say about you after you are gone, what do you hope to be remembered for?

I hope my legacy is inspiring other marketers to carve their own paths and redefine what success looks like in this industry. I want them to see that work doesn’t have to be about climbing corporate ladders or just checking off tasks to impress someone higher up. Instead, marketing can be a powerful creative outlet—a way to express ideas, solve problems, and connect with people authentically, all while building a career that supports a fulfilling life.

I want other marketers to realize they can prioritize their own well-being and still succeed. Work-life balance isn’t a luxury; it’s a foundation for doing great work without burning out. If I can help even a handful of people believe that they can thrive professionally while staying true to themselves, I’ll consider that a legacy worth leaving.

Amy, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

Can you please tell our readers about yourself?
Hi, I’m Amy Tarkington, founder of Chien Industries. Marketing is my obsession because it’s both my creative outlet and my livelihood. I’ve always been drawn to problem-solving, and marketing lets me do that in ways that are both practical and creative. I love helping businesses figure out how to connect with their audiences while making their lives easier—and more profitable—in the process.

How did you get into your industry/business/discipline/craft?
I come from a math-and-science family, so creativity wasn’t always front and center in my upbringing. That said, my family has always been supportive, even when I chose paths that were far from traditional. As a kid, I wanted to be a cartoonist, which eventually led me to study architecture. After six years in one of the toughest programs out there, I worked in architecture for a few years before realizing it wasn’t for me. By chance, I fell into marketing after a mentor gave me a shot. That leap turned out to be exactly what I needed—I found a career where I could use both my analytical side and my creative side, and I haven’t looked back since.

What type of products/services/creative works do you provide?
I specialize in transforming blogs into revenue-generating resource centers. Think of it as taking what’s essentially a journal or diary experience and turning it into a set of tools that people can actually apply to their lives or businesses. It’s about making content not just useful, but actionable and easy to use—so it works for both the business and its audience.

What problems do you solve for your clients, and what sets you apart?
I take something that feels amorphous and overwhelming—like the endless possibilities of marketing—and break it down into simple, effective tactics. My approach is all about helping clients make money without overcomplicating their marketing or burning themselves out. What sets me apart is my ability to streamline the process and focus on what truly matters, delivering results without unnecessary fluff or drama.

What are you most proud of?
I’m incredibly proud that I left corporate after 10 years and started my own business. It was a big leap, but it was absolutely the right one. For the first time, I’m genuinely happy. I get to take all the valuable lessons I learned in corporate—what works, what doesn’t—and apply them to help companies that need no-fuss, no-drama, fast, and high-performing marketing support.

What are the main things you want potential clients/followers/fans to know about you, your brand, and your work?
I’m unapologetically myself, and that authenticity carries over into everything I do. When I work with clients, I focus on helping their content connect with their audience in a real and meaningful way. My goal is to cut through the noise, focus on what matters, and deliver work that truly makes an impact.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

When I was nine, my family moved from Taiwan to the U.S. I didn’t speak English, and we didn’t have much money. I remember sitting in class, completely lost, trying to piece things together one word at a time. It was tough, but it taught me something early: if you don’t know the way, you figure it out.
That lesson stayed with me. Life hasn’t exactly followed a straight path—there have been divorces, career changes, and plenty of moments where I felt like I was starting over. Each time, I had to learn how to adapt. But I also had to learn something even harder: asking for help. My parents raised me to be independent, which gave me a strong foundation, but leaning on others turned out to be just as important.
That mix of independence and support is what gave me the confidence to start Chien Industries. By the time I got there, I wasn’t afraid of the unknown anymore. I’d faced enough challenges to know I could figure things out, even if it wasn’t perfect. Starting a business felt big, but not impossible. So I went for it, trusting in the lessons life had already taught me.

Have you ever had to pivot?

One of the biggest pivots in my life was realizing I needed to leave architecture after spending six years in school and three years working in the field. I had put so much time and effort into it that walking away felt like admitting failure, but I just couldn’t see myself doing it for the rest of my life. My parents weren’t thrilled—understandably, since they had paid for my education—but I knew staying in a career I hated wasn’t sustainable.

That decision led me down an unexpected path. I worked in a museum for seven years, which was fine but didn’t feel like a challenge. Then life threw me a curveball: a divorce. I started bartending to make ends meet, working 12-hour days, and just trying to stay afloat. That was when one of my regulars helped me land a job as a project coordinator. It wasn’t a perfect fit—scheduling isn’t my thing—but it gave me a chance to explore new opportunities.

Eventually, I noticed a marketing position at the same company and asked to learn more about it. I didn’t know what marketing even was at the time, but something about it intrigued me. A mentor explained the basics—funnels, conversion rates, leads—and I thought, “I have no idea what this means, but it sounds better than my current job.” That’s how I pivoted into marketing, and it turned out to be a perfect blend of creativity and problem-solving.

That leap of faith set the stage for my biggest pivot yet: leaving corporate after 10 years to start my own business, Chien Industries. Each pivot taught me something valuable about resilience, adaptability, and trusting my gut, even when the path ahead wasn’t clear. Those lessons are the foundation of everything I do today.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://chienindustries.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chienindustries/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amytarkington/