Rejection, Renewal and Representation: Avantha Arachchi’s Authentic Leadership and Trailblazing Work

Avantha Arachchi had done everything right, and she was one clearance away from achieving her life-long dream of joining the CIA when she was rejected because of her transgender identity. In response, she built her career around encouraging others to be their authentic selves. As COO of A-Frame Brands, Avantha works with celebrities—including Gabrielle Union, Dwayne Wade, John Legend and Naomi Osaka—to develop personal care brands like PROUDLY and Kinló that create products for culturally diverse consumers. In this episode, hear why representation matters and why you don’t have to compromise who you are for your work.