Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Gaya Samarasingha. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Gaya, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today What’s the backstory behind how you came up with the idea for your business?

I decided to start my own business to fulfill my passion to empower women and to find a solution to an unmet need in the skincare industry. After building a successful career in the Direct Selling industry, I’ve found my passion in empowering and supporting other business owners, especially women. So I wanted to create a platform that allows women and men to build successful home-based businesses regardless of their education, experience, and skillset. So I quit my executive position with another company back in 2017 to start Kalaia.

That was also a time I was struggling with my skin – adult acne, skin discoloration, to some signs of aging. No matter how much money I’ve spent on premium skincare products, I couldn’t find anything that resolved all of my skin concerns with one simple regimen. It got me thinking, I’ve never had troubled skin growing up. So I decided to go back to my roots and learn about ancient Sri Lankan beauty rituals. I studied the skin and health benefits of the unique natural ingredients we used on our skin as well as in our daily diets. That’s when I realized how much I under appreciated the benefits of what mother nature has to offer. So I combined those natural ingredients with modern technology and delivery systems to create a skincare line, that is clean, simple and effective so even the busiest of women and men can enjoy healthy, glowing skin.

Combining our amazing products with our Brand Partner program that offers a lucrative home-based income opportunity, we are blessing so many lives across the United States and Australia. We are taking our mission to empower women one step further with our Kalaia Cares Micro Loan program that funds female owned businesses around the world. Within 5 years, we’ve funded nearly 60 female owned businesses from 31 countries.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

At Kalaia, we approach skin care differently! We believe in improving the overall health and wellness of the skin with our power-packed, multi-tasking products rather than treating different skin conditions using a whole lot of products no one can stay consistent with. We have combines unique natural ingredients from around the world with modern technology and delivery systems to create a 4-step regimen that will leave our customers with glowing, smooth, beautiful skin.

Whether someone is looking for $400-500 extra a month or a full-time income, we offer our Brand Partners an opportunity to partner with us to build our brand and in return we share our success with them. They receive the technology, training, and the support they need to succeed; and access to our community of like minded women and men. Together we are on a mission to empower women through our products, business opportunity and the giveback program.

What I am most proud of is the difference we were able to make in so many people’s lives over the past 5 years. Whether it is a customer finding her confidence because of our products; a Brand Partner being able to put their kids through dance lessons because of her side-hustle; or a female business owner across the world realizing her dreams because of our micro-loan program; I know we are making a positive change in this world.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

Growing up in a boarding school in Sri Lanka as a child to coming to the United States with two suitcases, love of my life, few hundred dollars, and full of dreams, my entire journey has been about facing adversity and being resilient. We’ve gone from working for $5:15 an hour, thinking we had the perfect plan laid out post-graduation, to losing it all. Back in 2008 we couldn’t even afford a roof over our heads and everything that belonged to us could fit inside an old Mitsubishi Galant. We didn’t give up because we were naive enough to believe our American Dream could still become a reality. The path wasn’t easy nor fast, but it was worth it. Today after nearly a decade long successful career, I started my own business that allows me to pay it forward by helping so many other women and men realize their own dreams.

Can you talk to us about how your funded your business?

I was naive to think financial resources for women in business would be much improved in the 21st century, especially in the United States and given my experience, education background, and the professional network. I couldn’t have been more wrong.

Initially I was looking for an angel investor/business partner with experience in the Direct Selling Industry. To my surprise, I was asked by an investor how I plan to build a business with a 5 year old daughter. That was the day I decided to fund Kalaia on my own and to create the Kalaia Cares – Charitable Program where 1% of all Kalaia sales go towards funding female owned businesses around the world through micro-loans.

Since I had already quit my job, no bank or lender would give me a business loan without a collateral. So I used most of our family savings and took a home equity line of credit to fund my business. I’m grateful for a husband who stood by me and supported me as I risked everything that we worked so hard to build.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.kalaiaproducts.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kalaiaproducts/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kalaiaproducts
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/kalaiaproducts/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/kalaiaproducts