Amrapali Gan is no stranger to bold moves. As former CEO of OnlyFans, she steered one of the world’s most talked-about platforms through rapid international growth, helping redefine what digital creator economies can look like. Before that, her career path cut through unconventional territory, from shaping brand culture at Red Bull to navigating the highly regulated cannabis industry.

This May, Gan headlines the Reflect Festival 2025 in Limassol, a gathering point for innovators and investors from Europe, MENA, and beyond. With Reflect Festival’s mission to bridge ecosystems and spotlight frontier tech and business trends, Gan’s experience in scaling disruptive platforms makes her a perfect fit for the conversation.

We caught up with her ahead of the festival to talk about scaling globally, community-building, and where she sees the next wave of disruption in the creator economy.

You’ve led a platform that reshaped digital creator economies worldwide. Looking back, what cultural or market differences most surprised you when scaling OnlyFans internationally?

Amrapali Gan: It’s not about the cultural differences, it’s about the similarities. No matter where you go, creators are craving autonomy and control while audiences all want authenticity. In markets like the US and Europe, there’s a growing market of creators being looked at more like entrepreneurs operating their own business across various platforms. 

Reflect Festival brings together voices from Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. What excites you about connecting with innovators from these diverse regions, especially as someone who has lived and worked across cultures?

Amrapali Gan: The future isn’t being built in just one place. Innovation is contextual and reflects local cultural nuances which can likely be applicable on a larger scale. I’m fascinated by how people in different regions solve similar issues but in different ways. When you’ve lived across cultures, you learn that flexibility and inclusivity are core assets.

Your career moves, from Red Bull to cannabis startups to OnlyFans, show you’re not afraid of bold, unconventional spaces. What draws you to industries that others might shy away from?

Amrapali Gan: I’ve always been drawn to disruptive categories because I like being on the forefront of something new. These industries that challenge the status quo are really just societal shifts. Red Bull taught me how to build brand culture. Cannabis showed me what happens when regulation, perception, and IRL collide. 

If you were to start a new company from scratch today, in 2025, what industry or problem would you personally want to tackle?

Amrapali Gan: There’s a lot of opportunity in the creator market because we’re still at the infancy of the creator economy and how that’ll shift in the coming years with AI and new technologies. While AI tends to be a buzz word in many circles, the evolution of AI capabilities is making it easier than ever to build and experiment with new ideas on the development front. 

Many people see OnlyFans through a narrow lens. What’s something most people misunderstand about the platform or about your role as its CEO?

Amrapali Gan: Most people don’t realize how entrepreneurial creators are and that goes for those on any platform. They’re not just posting generic content, they have full strategies, are engaging with fans personally, and tactfully growing their community.

For young founders, especially women and minorities, who want to enter spaces full of stigma or bias, what’s your no-BS advice for keeping their edge and resilience?

Amrapali Gan: Don’t think about the negatives, just push forward and embrace your own narrative and let that give you confidence. Have a network of friends or mentors who you can talk to when feeling frustrated. 

Reflect is about future-facing innovation. Where do you see the next wave of disruption in the creator economy or digital monetization?

Amrapali Gan: The creator economy’s next wave won’t be about building bigger platforms. It’ll be about niche communities and world building for engagement, all of which will be providing empowerment to creators. 

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