​SALUTE is excited to host its virtual SALUTE Power Players series, Behind the Shelf, featuring Michelle Ranavat, Founder & CEO of RANAVAT, and Akruti Babaria, Founder & CEO of Kulture Khazana.

​Join us for an exclusive conversation with two South Asian women founders building and scaling culturally rooted brands. The discussion will go behind the shelf to explore their journeys, the realities of scaling in today’s market, the decisions behind product, retail, and brand growth, and what it takes to build with cultural relevance and commercial momentum.

​Please note that registration will prioritize SALUTE current and former members first. If registration is approved, entry is free for SALUTE members, and non-members must pay $15 per ticket.

​About Michelle Ranavat

​Michelle Ranavat is the Founder and CEO of RANAVAT, a luxury Ayurvedic beauty brand reimagining South Asian rituals through modern science, sensorial formulations, and high-performance skincare and haircare. A first-generation Indian American and mother of two, Michelle founded the brand after experiencing severe postpartum hair loss and reconnecting with the Ayurvedic traditions she grew up around.

​Drawing on her science background and experience in her family’s pharmaceutical business, Michelle built RANAVAT to honor Ayurvedic ingredients and practices in a way that feels modern, inclusive, and clinically grounded. RANAVAT has become known for its saffron-powered skincare and hair rituals and was recognized as the first South Asian-founded Ayurvedic skincare brand to launch at Sephora.

​About Akruti Babaria

​Akruti Babaria is the Founder and CEO of Kulture Khazana, a South Asian-inspired children’s brand creating toys, games, puzzles, craft kits, and storytelling experiences that help families connect with culture through play. Inspired by her own experience as an immigrant mother looking for meaningful ways to pass down Indian heritage to her son, Akruti built Kulture Khazana to make cultural learning more accessible, joyful, and representative for the next generation.

​A trained Indian classical dancer, Akruti brings a deep appreciation for storytelling, tradition, and identity into her work. Under her leadership, Kulture Khazana has grown into one of the first South Asian-inspired toy companies to be listed on major retailers including Target.com, Nordstrom.com, Macy’s.com, and Walmart.com.