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

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

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