Chanda began her career as a middle school English teacher. In 2005, she co-founded the business with her mother, Carol Aebersold, and twin sister, Christa Pitts. After publishers passed on their idea, they published “The Elf on the Shelf: A Christmas Tradition” themselves. Co-authored by Chanda and her mother, the book became the foundation for a family enterprise built on storytelling and creating joyful family moments.

Over more than two decades, Chanda has helped expand that original idea into Santaverse, the story world behind The Elf on the Shelf, Elf Pets, Elf Mates and other North Pole characters. The company’s work includes animated specials, a Netflix partnership, a traveling holiday musical, appearances in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and more. 

Chanda has authored books published by both HarperCollins and The Lumistella Company. Her writing includes Elf Pets stories, “How Old Is Santa Claus?” and “The Rise of Nicholas the Noble,” a fantasy novel for young readers exploring Santa’s origins. Most recently, her creative work also includes “Scout Elf Squad,” an animated preschool series currently airing on Netflix. 

She has been featured in PEOPLE and has appeared on TODAY, CNN, Fox News and the BBC. Her honors include the 2023 EY Entrepreneur Of The Year Southeast Award, Inc.’s Female Founders 500 in 2025 and 2026, and Forbes 50 Over 50: Lifestyle in 2026. 

As a speaker, Chanda is passionate about vision, mission, purpose and values, and how they shape the businesses and lives we build. Drawing on her experience as an educator, storyteller and business leader, she explores how to turn a vision into action, give teams a shared sense of purpose and keep values at the center of growth.