Navigating Life Pivot: Natasha Masand On Turning Grief Into Purpose

In this deeply personal episode of Uncomfortable Pivots, host Madhuri Murlikrishnan speaks with Natasha Masand, a Principal Scientist at Gilead, about a life pivot that reshaped everything - grief.Natasha grew up in Mumbai, India, before moving to the US to pursue her master’s degree in Los Angeles. While building a demanding scientific career, she and her family faced one of life’s most difficult moments: losing her father to cancer. In this conversation, Natasha opens up about navigating loss, supporting her family through uncertainty, and learning to carry grief without letting it define her.This episode explores how profound loss can become a turning point, not by erasing pain, but by transforming it into purpose. Natasha shares how she chose to channel grief into something meaningful, finding strength, resilience, and clarity in the midst of heartbreak.Subscribe to Uncomfortable Pivots for honest conversations about life’s hardest transitions, identity, and becoming who we are through change.0:00 - Introduction to the episode2:46 - Natasha's life journey 5:45 - The turning point in her life10:33 - Hitting rock bottom in life13:40 - Evolving and changing from grief 18:30 - How Natasha mapped her career and professional journey 22:10 - Why grieving is important 28:50 - New generation dealing with changes32:00 - Advice to someone who's supporting a grieving person40:33 - One lesson on courage and change 43:00 - End of the episode___Follow for more:IG: https://www.instagram.com/flutetheory?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qrTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@flutetheory?_r=1&_t=ZP-91koiypxKznLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/flutetheory/___✅ About Flute Theory.The Uncomfortable Pivots is a podcast about the moments that change us — the pauses, the doubts, and the decisions we make when staying comfortable no longer feels right.Hosted by Madhuri Murlikrishnan and inspired by her book The Prize in the Price of Getting Uncomfortable, this channel features honest conversations around career pivots, identity shifts, purpose, and personal reinvention. Each episode dives into real stories of people who chose growth over familiarity and clarity over comfort.If you’re navigating change, questioning what’s next, or quietly feeling stuck in the middle, this space is for you. Subscribe for thoughtful, human conversations that help you move forward — even when the path feels uncertain.