Firsts & Fearless TheGlitz Super Woman 2026 Deepti Kulkarni, Founder, KASS

This Women’s Day, TheGlitz Super Woman 2026 through our powerful theme “Firsts & Fearless“, is a tribute to women who dare to start anew, challenge long-held norms, and transform setbacks into stepping stones. Women who lead with quiet conviction rather than noise. Women who choose progress over perfection, and who continue building even when the journey demands patience, resilience, and faith in their own vision.

Among these remarkable trailblazers is Deepti Kulkarni, founder of KASS, a modern luxury skincare brand pioneering what she calls Science-Backed Bio-Intelligence Skincare — an approach designed to restore, respect, and strengthen the skin’s natural biological balance.

At a time when the beauty industry often leans heavily on trends and marketing narratives, Deepti is championing a very different philosophy: skincare rooted in science, credibility, and long-term skin health. Her mission is ambitious yet deeply purposeful — to place Indian skincare on the global stage through scientific integrity, innovation, and efficacy.

Through KASS, she is challenging the long-standing perception that cutting-edge skincare innovation belongs only to Western laboratories. Instead, she is proving that world-class formulations can be researched, developed, and perfected in India.

But Deepti’s journey to entrepreneurship was not linear. Before founding KASS, she built a strong professional foundation at L’Oréal, where she gained invaluable experience in market research, consumer insights, and premium beauty product launches. Those early years offered her a front-row view into global beauty standards and the intricate ecosystem that shapes successful brands.

Her entrepreneurial instincts continued to evolve when she later played a pivotal role in developing OPAL, which has grown into one of India’s leading clock brands. The experience strengthened her expertise in branding, retail strategy, and business operations — skills that would eventually prove crucial when she decided to build a brand of her own.

Yet perhaps the boldest chapter of her story began after a 15-year sabbatical dedicated to raising her children. Re-entering the professional world through entrepreneurship is daunting for anyone. Choosing to build a science-led skincare brand from scratch after such a long pause required extraordinary courage.

But Deepti believed that credible knowledge must guide beauty innovation. Determined to build her expertise, she invested deeply in formal education and technical training, earning a Diploma in Organic Skincare Formulations from Formula Botanica and completing advanced studies in cosmetic skincare ingredients at the Concepts Institute of Advanced Esthetics. She continues to upskill globally, ensuring that KASS remains aligned with the latest advancements in skin biology, cosmetic chemistry, and formulation science.

Today, that relentless pursuit of knowledge defines the heart of the KASS philosophy — skincare that respects the skin’s biological intelligence rather than overwhelming it.

Yet like many founders, Deepti’s journey has been shaped by moments that tested her resilience. Building a formulation-led brand requires patience; sometimes the science takes longer than the market expects. That same quiet courage recently led her to step onto a large industry stage and openly discuss the realities of building a science-led skincare brand in India — a moment that pushed her beyond her comfort zone.

It reinforced a powerful lesson: sometimes readiness doesn’t arrive before the opportunity.

Sometimes, you become ready simply by showing up.

…And that philosophy captures the essence of Firsts & Fearless. …Because women like Deepti Kulkarni are not just building brands — they are reshaping industries, redefining leadership, and proving that conviction, when paired with courage, can create something truly transformative.

“I hope more women feel encouraged to build businesses rooted in conviction, not just opportunity. The goal is not just representation but influence. When more women lead companies, create products, and shape industries, the ecosystem itself becomes more balanced and thoughtful.”

– Deepti Kulkarni

Firsts & Fearless: Over To Deepti Kulkarni, Founder, KASS

When was the last time you did something for the first time — and how did it shift your perspective?Recently, I stood on a large industry stage and spoke openly about the realities of building a science-led skincare brand in India. Public speaking was never something I was naturally comfortable with, despite being very clear about my vision for Kass. That moment reminded me that growth often sits just outside our comfort zones. It shifted my perspective from asking “Am I ready?” to realizing that sometimes you become ready by simply showing up.

What is one truth about being a woman in your industry that deserves more honest conversation?
There is still a quiet tendency to underestimate women founders in business conversations, especially in sectors like skincare where people often assume it is purely aesthetic or trend driven. The truth is that building a credible skincare brand involves rigorous science, long term formulation research, regulatory understanding, and strategic business decisions. Women are not just participating in this industry, we are shaping it.

Tell us about a challenge that tested you deeply — and what rebuilding taught you about yourself.
Building a brand from scratch tests every part of you. There are moments when the market moves slower than your ambition, when a formulation takes longer than expected, or when you question whether people truly understand the vision you are building toward. Those moments taught me resilience. Rebuilding, again and again, showed me that persistence is often more powerful than perfection.

What does power mean to you today, and how has that definition evolved over time?
Earlier, I believed power was about achieving milestones quickly. Today, I see it differently. Power is clarity. It is the ability to make decisions that stay true to your values, even when shortcuts are available. It is also the confidence to build something meaningful without rushing the process.

Beyond titles and milestones, what change do you hope your journey inspires for the next generation of women?
I hope more women feel encouraged to build businesses rooted in conviction, not just opportunity. The goal is not just representation but influence. When more women lead companies, create products, and shape industries, the ecosystem itself becomes more balanced and thoughtful.

Rapid Fire: Deepti Kulkarni “Her Firsts”

First bold risk you took:
Starting a business after a 15 year sabbatical that was entirely devoted to raising my children. Reentering the professional world through entrepreneurship, and choosing to build a skincare brand from scratch, felt like stepping into unfamiliar territory. It was both exciting and intimidating, but it was a leap I knew I had to take.

First time you chose yourself without guilt:
 When I decided to give Kass the time and attention it truly needed. In the early days there is always pressure to treat a new venture like a side project until it proves itself. Choosing to commit fully to building the brand and trusting my instincts was the first time I consciously chose my own path without second guessing it.

First failure that became a lesson:
One of our early formulations looked perfect on paper but did not deliver the results we expected during testing. We had already invested time and resources into it, but I chose to pause and go back to the lab instead of launching something I did not fully believe in. It reinforced that in skincare, integrity matters more than speed.

First big win that felt surreal:
The first time someone I did not know personally reordered a Kass product and wrote to us about the results. It was the moment the brand moved beyond friends and early supporters and became something people were choosing on their own. That shift from encouragement to genuine consumer trust felt surreal.

First time you felt fearless:
The moment I realized that the fear of not trying was greater than the fear of failing.

First woman who shaped your ambition:
My mother. She showed me what quiet strength and persistence look like in everyday life.