AAPI Heritage Month Spotlight: How Shelley Gupta Turned Cultural Pride Into A Recipe For Success
May is AAPI Heritage Month — a time to celebrate the voices, cultures, and contributions of Asian American and Pacific Islander communities.
For Shelley Gupta, that celebration is personal. As a South Asian Canadian and first-generation immigrant, she grew up rarely seeing her culture reflected in the world around her — especially in something as universal as the baking aisle. That absence sparked a big idea: what if baking could become a gateway to global traditions?
Shelley founded BāKIT Box to change the narrative. Her mission? To help families explore world cultures through food — creating joyful, hands-on experiences that foster curiosity, connection, and cultural pride. In this AAPI Heritage Month spotlight, we speak with Shelley about how her identity shaped her path, and what advice she has for the next generation of AAPI entrepreneurs.
What inspired you to start your business, and how did your cultural background influence that decision?
Growing up as a South Asian/Canadian first generation immigrant in North America, I rarely saw my culture represented in school curricula or on store shelves—especially in something as universal as the baking aisle. That lack of visibility stayed with me. I started BāKIT Box to change that narrative and to inspire the next generation to be more curious about the cultures around them. My cultural background deeply influenced this decision; I wanted to build something that celebrates heritage, fosters connection, and makes learning about global traditions fun and accessible. Food is a universal language, and through BāKIT Box, I’m helping families explore the world together, one recipe at a time.
What message would you give to the next generation of AAPI entrepreneurs?
Be proud of your culture and heritage—it’s a strength, not a side note. If your identity influences your product or your vision, let that shine through unapologetically. The world needs more diverse perspectives, and your lived experience brings something fresh, necessary, and powerful to the table. Lean into what makes you different—because that’s exactly where your greatest opportunities will come from.
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