Avantha Arachchi's guest appearances

Avantha Arachchi

Minority Report Podcast

Illuminate HR

Diversity: Beyond the Checkbox

Arlan Hamilton

Nick Taylor

Ryan Miller

Bobby Herrera

David Kim

Beth Davies

Amir Talai

Suzanne Delbanco

Chris Bruce

Doug Robinson

Brian Lee

Sean Green

Stephen Bailey

Rebecca Ray

Kristen Carbone

OwlTail

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.Diversity Beyond the Checkbox is brought to you by The Diversity Movement, hosted by Head of Content Jackie Ferguson and is a production of Earfluence.

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.Diversity Beyond the Checkbox is brought to you by <a href="https://www.thediversitymovement.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Diversity Movement</a>, hosted by Head of Content <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/thejackieferguson/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Jackie Ferguson</a> and is a production of <a href="https://www.earfluence.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Earfluence</a>.

Rejection, renewal and representation: Avantha Arachchi's authentic leadership and trailblazing work 

In episode 136 Kerel and Erik talk with Avantha Arachchi, Chief Operating Officer at A-Frame Brands, about catering to marginalized markets and trailblazing for up and coming brands. Avantha describes herself as a perfect blend of her parents with her dad being an electrical engineer and her mom, a fashion designer which has helped her become multifaceted and dynamic in whatever situation. As a transgender woman, Avantha shares her unique perspective as to how equality and privilege work in the business world and how she still needs to be good allies to people whose experiences she doesn't understand.In the conversation, Avantha talks about her work at A-Frame of getting rid of the one-size-fits-all model and catering to specific markets and needs, how one’s skills developed in a certain market may be very useful and transferable to other markets, and the importance of building relationships with people you work with who support you and not only listen to you, but encourage your input.“There's this idea of a one-size-fits-all model and it doesn't help everyone equally. It's a very old way of doing things. And so our models [at A-Frame Brands] focus more on being able to create those products for the people who need them and the people who deserve them.”A-Frame BrandsAvantha Arachchi on LinkedInInstagram @beautynbulletsTimestamps:0:07: Minority Report Podcast introduction with Avantha Arachchi, Chief Operating Officer at A-Frame Brands0:55: Avantha shares her background growing up with her siblings and how that helped her become multifaceted and dynamic4:07: What is going on at A-Frame Brands and how they are helping launch brands who cater to mis- and underrepresented groups in the market5:41: Avantha’s unique career path starting in academia studying psychology, to a wedding planner, to a talent advisor, and now working in a start-up11:54: How Avantha’s journey as a trans woman has shaped her experiences and the way it has informed her about diversity and inclusion, specifically to how it works in the business world13:40: Advice for someone who feels like they don’t have resources available to them in the form of a mentor, how to find those who will encourage you to do your best, and help with any imposter syndrome17:17: Where Avantha draws inspiration from17:53: Advice Avantha would give her younger self as she was starting in the business world18:37: The top three apps Avantha uses on a daily basis, how they feed her curiosity and help her find the next new thingFollow Us:Newsletter: http://bitly.com/2QLEY8ULinkedin: http://bit.ly/2ZZUBxGTwitter: http://bit.ly/2Qp0SzK Instagram: http://bit.ly/2QLfEQc

In episode 136 Kerel and Erik talk with Avantha Arachchi, Chief Operating Officer at A-Frame Brands, about catering to marginalized markets and trailblazing for up and coming brands. Avantha describes herself as a perfect blend of her parents with her dad being an electrical engineer and her mom, a fashion designer which has helped her become multifaceted and dynamic in whatever situation. As a transgender woman, Avantha shares her unique perspective as to how equality and privilege work in the business world and how she still needs to be good allies to people whose experiences she doesn't understand. In the conversation, Avantha talks about her work at A-Frame of getting rid of the one-size-fits-all model and catering to specific markets and needs, how one’s skills developed in a certain market may be very useful and transferable to other markets, and the importance of building relationships with people you work with who support you and not only listen to you, but encourage your input. “There's this idea of a one-size-fits-all model and it doesn't help everyone equally. It's a very old way of doing things. And so our models [at A-Frame Brands] focus more on being able to create those products for the people who need them and the people who deserve them.” A-Frame Brands Avantha Arachchi on LinkedIn Instagram @beautynbullets Timestamps: 0:07: Minority Report Podcast introduction with Avantha Arachchi, Chief Operating Officer at A-Frame Brands 0:55: Avantha shares her background growing up with her siblings and how that helped her become multifaceted and dynamic 4:07: What is going on at A-Frame Brands and how they are helping launch brands who cater to mis- and underrepresented groups in the market 5:41: Avantha’s unique career path starting in academia studying psychology, to a wedding planner, to a talent advisor, and now working in a start-up 11:54: How Avantha’s journey as a trans woman has shaped her experiences and the way it has informed her about diversity and inclusion, specifically to how it works in the business world 13:40: Advice for someone who feels like they don’t have resources available to them in the form of a mentor, how to find those who will encourage you to do your best, and help with any imposter syndrome 17:17: Where Avantha draws inspiration from 17:53: Advice Avantha would give her younger self as she was starting in the business world 18:37: The top three apps Avantha uses on a daily basis, how they feed her curiosity and help her find the next new thing Follow Us: Newsletter: <a href="http://bitly.com/2QLEY8U" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://bitly.com/2QLEY8U</a> Linkedin: <a href="http://bit.ly/2ZZUBxG" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://bit.ly/2ZZUBxG</a> Twitter: <a href="http://bit.ly/2Qp0SzK" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://bit.ly/2Qp0SzK</a> Instagram: <a href="http://bit.ly/2QLfEQc" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://bit.ly/2QLfEQc</a>

Ep 136 - Avantha Arachchi, Chief Operating Officer at A-Frame Brands

Jessica Simmons

Guests Avantha Arachchi, Director of Talent and Operations at Gerber Technology, and Jessica Simmons of Onfido discuss the importance of community, people as a business function, and homegrown bootstrapped HR.To read the full show notes and transcript visit us at illuminatehrpodcast.comThis episode brought to you by Lumity, visit lumity.com to learn moreSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/illuminatehr)

Guests <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/anarachchi/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Avantha Arachchi</a>, Director of Talent and Operations at <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/gerber-technology/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Gerber Technology</a>, and <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/simmonsjessicasf/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Jessica Simmons</a> of <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/onfido/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Onfido</a> discuss the importance of community, people as a business function, and homegrown bootstrapped HR. To read the full show notes and transcript <a href="https://www.illuminatehrpodcast.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">visit us at illuminatehrpodcast.com</a> This episode brought to you by <a href="https://lumity.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Lumity, visit lumity.com</a> to learn more <a href="https://www.patreon.com/illuminatehr" rel="payment nofollow" target="_blank">Support the show</a> (<a href="https://www.patreon.com/illuminatehr" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.patreon.com/illuminatehr</a>)

We all have problems - Avantha Arachchi, Jessica Simmons