From Doctor to full time baker, Kasturi’s journey is of passion and purpose- a journey many women inspire to take.
In 2008, she had everything lined up for a traditional career in medicine, a degree in Dentistry, an MBA in Hospital Administration, and even a course in Nutrition. She worked in hospitals where she saw children living with Type 1 Diabetes, and later managed a gym as a dietitian, where she got firsthand experience of healthy eating and clean living. But when her daughter was born, she made a decision that would change her life: to provide preservative-free food at home. That’s when Kasturi’s love for baking began.
What started in her own kitchen soon found fans outside. During mother-toddler classes, the healthy snacks she brought for her daughter were quickly noticed; children loved them, and soon, so did parents. “They began placing orders, and that’s how my commercial journey began in 2016,” Kasturi recalls. By 2019, she was a full-time baker.
But it wasn’t easy. “Back then, awareness about healthy eating barely existed. People didn’t even read labels. They would say, ‘If you’re not using maida or sugar, how can it even be a cake?’” Kasturi took it upon herself to educate. She participated in every organic market she could, handing out samples, answering questions, and teaching people about healthy ingredients. Slowly but surely, her efforts built trust. Many of the customers who tasted her products back then still buy from her today.
Yet, more than selling, Kasturi found her deepest passion in teaching. In 2019, she launched her online academy, which today has students from across the globe. “After teaching thousands of students, it’s a different kind of satisfaction. So many of them are now established bakers. Seeing them succeed is incredibly fulfilling.”
That passion has also led her to author a book- India’s first in-depth exploration of sourdough. “I wish back then I had someone to guide me with sourdough. I spent years experimenting, failing, and learning. Today, I make sourdough easy for my students.”
The decision to walk away from medicine was not without judgment. “Leaving a reputable career raised a lot of eyebrows. Even my parents questioned me,” she says. For many, not practising as a doctor was considered a failure. But Kasturi stood firm. She also learned to ignore the sceptics. “Even today, there are people who don’t want to understand healthy eating. But the majority love what I do, and that keeps me going.”
Her social media presence has helped, too. One of her most loved projects was “100 Healthy Ideas for Kids’ Tiffins,” which parents still reference. “When moms from my daughter’s school told me those posts made their lives easier, that’s the kind of impact that makes this journey worth it.”
Kasturi dreams of a future where “there’s at least one healthy baker in every house.” Her advice? “Slow and steady wins the race. Do not give up, come what may.” There is so much to learn from Sourdough above all patience and perseverance.”
