Gabriela Augusto’s story is, in many ways, a story about refusing to accept the limits that other people place around a life. Born in São Paulo in 1993, she grew up fascinated by the internet and by the possibilities of the digital world, while privately carrying an understanding of herself that would take years to fully articulate. During her law studies at PUC-SP, at 21, she found the courage to say her name was Gabriela and to begin living openly as the woman she knew herself to be. The transition brought not only freedom, but also encounters with prejudice and discrimination. One particularly painful experience, when she was refused entry to a bar, became part of the chain of events that pushed her to turn personal frustration into something larger. In 2017, she created the Manual Empresa de Respeito, initially written, designed, printed and distributed with her own resources, as a practical response to intolerance in professional environments. What began almost as a one-woman mission eventually became Transcendemos, the diversity and inclusion consultancy she founded and today leads as CEO. Gabriela’s work has since moved far beyond simply asking companies to be more inclusive. Her focus is increasingly on access, development and power, on making sure trans people are not merely hired into entry-level positions but are able to develop careers and reach leadership. In 2024, she wrote about what she learned as the first trans woman on the board of a major national organization, the CIEE, bringing questions of representation and decision-making into the heart of corporate Brazil. And in a recent 2026 interview, she emphasized that genuine inclusion requires hiring, developing and promoting trans people into leadership rather than stopping at visibility alone.
Her influence has been recognized well beyond the companies she advises. She has been named a Forbes Brasil Under 30, a Bloomberg Línea Woman of Impact in Latin America, a LinkedIn Top Voice, and a recipient of the McKinsey LGBTQ+ Achievement Award. She has also taught and spoken widely about diversity, bringing together her legal background, corporate experience and lived experience as a trans woman.
But perhaps the most compelling part of Gabriela’s story is the distance between the young woman who once wondered whether someone like her could ever occupy a position of prominence and the leader she has become. She has spoken about looking around the professional world and not seeing people like herself in positions of authority, then turning that absence into a reason to build something different. Her career has become not simply an argument for representation, but an attempt to make representation ordinary, visible and powerful.
And so, behind the titles, awards and boardrooms, there is a more intimate story about identity, courage, belonging, love, ambition and the decision to make space for others while making space for oneself. It is that woman, as much as the advocate and entrepreneur, that makes Gabriela Augusto’s journey worth listening to.
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| "I am very proud of what we have built so far." |
Gabriela: Monika, thank you so much for your kind words. I feel emotional and happy about the invitation. It’s a pleasure to have this conversation with another trans sister who shares the same challenges as I do. We are in this together, and we can achieve everything we deserve and desire. I believe that it is precisely through exchanges like this that we can build bridges and strengthen our community. =)
Gabriela: I think that, like many of us, we become entrepreneurs out of necessity. I started this work in 2017 without any ambition that it could turn into a business or that I would create Transcendemos. I was in university, studying Law at PUC-SP, thinking about my future, looking for an internship, and figuring out what to do with my professional life. I didn’t see people like me in the places where I wanted to work.
I once talked to a cis friend who worked at a law firm, and she told me about the challenges women faced in those environments. I started wondering what other challenges I would face as a trans woman. That’s when I decided to take action and began offering a best practices guide for inclusion, free of charge, to some places. Little by little, I started gaining recognition. But I never imagined any of this, nor did I have a strategy to build a business.
Monika: Women, including transgender women, excel as leaders and business professionals, often bringing unique perspectives that surpass traditional norms. In your experience, what qualities do women bring to leadership roles that make them particularly effective? And let’s be honest, do you ever sit in a boardroom, look around at the men in suits, and think, ‘Wow, if I ran this place, things would actually get done?’
Gabriela: Absolutely! Women, in general, are taught to have a more empathetic and sensitive approach to listening. Due to the construction of gender roles, they are taught to look out for others.
Trans women, specifically, carry immense resilience and an ability to adapt, both of which are essential in leadership. I’ve found myself in many situations where I thought, 'If we had more women in leadership, decisions would be much more strategic and humane.'
Fortunately, this is changing, and we are gaining more and more space.
Monika: Shifting to your activism, Transcendemos has played a huge role in advancing diversity and inclusion across Latin America. Are you proud of what the organization has accomplished so far, or do you ever have those "we could have done this even better" moments?
Gabriela: I am very proud of what we have built so far. Transcendemos was born from a dream, and today, we are able to impact various companies and people. But of course, there is always room for improvement. I am quite critical and always think about how we could have gone further, reached more people, and created even deeper changes. This desire for improvement is what drives us.
Monika: From my own experience, it’s often easier to reach those in need in larger cities. But Brazil is such a vast country, and reaching transgender women in smaller towns and villages must come with its own unique challenges. How does your organization tackle this issue and ensure that support reaches even the most remote areas?
Gabriela: This is one of the challenges that concerns me the most. Access to information and opportunities is still very unequal in Brazil. To reach people in smaller cities, we strive to create accessible content and try to impact companies in other regions. The internet has been a powerful ally in this regard, but we know there is still much to be done to ensure the impact reaches those who need it most. But I am just one piece of this machinery, many other trans people have played a fundamental role, such as Antra, Erika Hilton, Transempregos led by Maite Schneider, and so many others.
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| "I prefer to focus on the impact we can create. Even when change starts superficially, there is potential for real transformation." |
Monika: You organize events for some of the biggest companies in Brazil, where you emphasize the importance of inclusion for transgender women in the workplace. Do you feel that these companies genuinely recognize the need for change, or is it sometimes more about projecting an image of inclusivity without any real shift happening behind the scenes?
Gabriela: It's a bit of both. Some companies are truly committed to transformation and do serious work to make their environments more inclusive. There are companies that focus on hiring, on how to support their employees, provide decent working conditions, and offer basic benefits such as the use of a chosen name, therapy assistance, and more. Others, unfortunately, still see diversity as a matter of image. But I prefer to focus on the impact we can create. Even when change starts superficially, there is potential for real transformation. Our role is to ensure that it happens.
Monika: Many of us have concerns about “passing” and how society perceives us. Did you face similar worries during your transition, and how did you address them? I know for me, there were moments when I felt like I was in a never-ending game of "Is she or isn’t she?" played by strangers in grocery stores.
Gabriela: Yes, I’ve been through that. 'Passing' is still a very present issue for many trans women because we live in a society that constantly puts us in a game of validation. At the beginning of my transition, I was more concerned about it. Over time, I realized that my identity isn’t based on how others perceive me, but on how I see and feel about myself. It’s a constant process of self-construction and liberation. We are always questioning ourselves and learning how to navigate this.
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| "My transition was also a transition for the people around me." |
Gabriela: Absolutely, my transition was also a transition for the people around me. Some handled it better than others, and it wasn’t always easy. While my mother, my wife, and some friends gave me their full support and stood by my side, others distanced themselves completely because they didn’t know how to deal with it. I lost many friends I had before transitioning. But I learned that the most important thing is to surround ourselves with those who truly support us and want to see us happy. Today, I feel much stronger and more confident in the relationships I’ve built along this journey.
Monika: I finally felt free after my transition. How about you? Is there a specific moment that made you feel like you could truly take a deep breath and say, ‘This is the real me now’? Or was it just a slow realization over time?
Gabriela: I think it was a gradual process, but there was a specific moment when I looked in the mirror and felt that I was exactly where I was meant to be. That feeling of belonging to myself was transformative. The freedom to live my truth without fear or hesitation has been the greatest achievement of my life. I feel so happy that even today, I can hardly believe I’ve become the woman I always dreamed of. Sometimes, I look in the mirror in disbelief.
Monika: I’ve always been fascinated by Roberta Close - her story really resonated with me. Are there any Brazilian transgender women who have inspired you and shown you that there’s light at the end of the tunnel?
Gabriela: The trans woman who inspires me the most is Erika Hilton. Both for her oratory, ideals, and strategy, she represents an incredible force in the fight for rights and visibility. Erika is a figure who not only broke barriers by becoming the first trans woman elected as a councilor in São Paulo, but also showed that it’s possible to occupy positions of power and transform them into tools for change for our community. Besides her, other Brazilian trans women have also inspired me throughout my journey, like Keila Simpson, president of ANTRA (National Association of Transvestites and Transsexuals), who has been an unwavering voice in defending the rights of trans people, and Maite Schneider, co-founder of TransEmpregos, an initiative that changed the lives of many by facilitating access to the job market. Each of them, in their own way, has shown that there is light at the end of the tunnel and that, together, we can build a more just and inclusive future.
Monika: What do you think about the present situation of transgender women in Brazil? If you could change one thing with a snap of your fingers, what would it be?
Gabriela: Brazil is still one of the countries where the most trans people are killed in the world. If I could change something with the snap of my fingers, I would ensure safety, dignity, and real opportunities for all trans women. We need effective public policies, inclusion in the job market, and respect in all areas of society.
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| "The freedom to live my truth without fear or hesitation has been the greatest achievement of my life." |
Monika: On a lighter note, you always present yourself with such elegance. Where do you draw inspiration for your fashion and makeup choices? And be honest, do you have a secret Pinterest board titled "How to Look Effortlessly Stunning While Running the World”?
Gabriela: How nice of you to say that. Thank you so much, I’m flattered. I actually never really cared much about fashion and makeup, although I always wanted to have things from the feminine universe for myself. But as I went through the transition, I started learning a bit about discovering my style, the things I liked, and recognizing myself as a woman. But even today, I still have a lot of difficulty. I got help from my wife, from a friend who is a style consultant, but even so, it’s still an individual learning process.
Monika: A lot of trans women are writing their memoirs. Have you ever thought about writing your own book?
Gabriela: Wow, I’ve never stopped to think about that. But maybe in a few years, right? I think all of us have many things to share and talk about. I believe there are great writers and people who have already done and are still doing that, like João W. Nery, Amara Moira, Danielle Torres, among so many others.
Monika: If you could tell your younger self one thing about being a transgender woman, what would it be? And if she didn’t believe you, what would you say to convince her?
Gabriela: I would tell her that everything will be okay. That she doesn't need to hide or try to fit into standards that were not made for her. I would tell her that the future is hers, and that despite the challenges, she will find her place and be happy.
Monika: Gabriela, it’s been an absolute pleasure speaking with you. Your insights and experiences are truly inspiring. Thank you for sharing them with me today! And if we ever start a support group for trans women who have outperformed everyone who doubted them, I’ll nominate you as our president!
Gabriela: The pleasure was all mine. I loved this conversation. I’m truly grateful for the space and kindness. I hope we can meet in person soon. And you can count on me for that group, together, we are unstoppable!
All the photos: courtesy of Gabriela Augusto.
© 2025 - Monika Kowalska
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