Shows
The Heart of the EquationEpisode 24: 2026 Goal Planning: Portfolio Careers, Leadership Positions ,Career Reinvention2026 is not about vague resolutions — it’s about intentional career decisions and truly owning your professional path. In this first episode of The Heart of the Equation for 2026, Sara Mobarhanfard and Pragati Siddhanti unpack what career goal planning really looks like for experienced professionals, especially those navigating:Career reinventionPortfolio careersLeadership transitionsMid-career and senior-level resetsUncertain job markets and organizational changeAfter a year marked by layoffs, restructurings, and major professional shifts, many highly skilled professionals are re-evaluating what they want next ,because they’ve outgrown their old path.In this episode, we talk...
2026-01-1620 min
The Heart of the EquationEpisode 23: What 2025 Taught Us About STEM Careers & How to Upgrade Your Career in 2026In our last episode of 2025, we unpack the year’s biggest shifts, the guest insights that changed how we work, and announce our live online Career Workshop on 26 January 2026.What we covered in this episodeHow can mid-career professionals navigate major career transitionsPractical lessons from episodes on psychological safety, delegation and moving from operations to leadershipWhy values, boundaries and rest drive long term performanceHow to transform your career in 2026Join Our Live Online Career Workshop on 26.01.26Date: 26 January 2026Format: Live online, recording includedDesigned for: Mid-career managers and senior professionals in STEM and adjacent fields wh...
2025-11-2832 min
The Heart of the EquationEpisode 22 -Too Sensitive for Corporate? Think Again — The Truth About Highly Sensitive Leaders with Anna MorettiAre you a Highly Sensitive Person working in a high-pressure environment like pharma, tech, or consulting? In this episode, Sara speaks with Anna Moretti (ex-pharma leader and coach for HSPs) about highly sensitive leadership, nervous system regulation, empathy at work, boundaries, and resilience without burnout.Who this is forManagers, senior professionals, and emerging leaders who identify as highly sensitive (HSP) or think they might be, and want practical ways to lead teams, protect energy, and perform sustainably.What you will learnHow to identify if you are a...
2025-10-3032 min
The Heart of the EquationEpisode 21 : Navigating the Swiss Job Market as a Mid-Career ExpatSwitzerland’s job market is attractive, but it plays by its own rules. In this conversation, Sara and Pragati talk frankly about what actually works here if you are an expat, a trailing spouse, a recent graduate, or a career changer.They cover: ✅ The reality of today’s market and why persistence matters ✅ Why relationships and referrals open doors in Switzerland ✅ How to make a strong application: tailoring your CV, keywords, and a clear cover letter ✅ When and how to use AI to speed up applications without losing your voice...
2025-10-0941 min
The Heart of the EquationEpisode 20 Resilience at Work: Training Your Nervous System for Sustainable PerformanceThe final quarter is busy. Expectations are high. Life outside work is not exactly quiet either. In this conversation, Sara and Anisa unpack what resilience really means and how managers can build capacity in intentional ways, so performance stays steady over time.You’ll hear: ✅ Why resilience is not “toughing it out,” but training your nervous system ✅ Windows of tolerance and why two people react differently to the same pressure ✅ Stress–recovery cycles from sport science and how to apply them to work ✅ Daily micro-practices that regulate you...
2025-10-0227 min
The Heart of the EquationEpisode 19: Thriving Under Pressure: Building Resilience and Capacity as a Manager in High-Performance WorkplacesWhy do so many managers feel like they’re always “on,” yet still worry it’s never enough? High-performance cultures reward results, but rarely teach you how to sustain them.In this conversation, Sara and Pragati unpack what it really takes to show up at your best over the long term — without falling into the trap of hustle culture or tying your self-worth to daily output.Drawing from lived experience across global consulting, supply chain, and coaching, they explore:✅ Why premium-performance environments can make self-worth feel conditional ✅ The hidden cost of living...
2025-09-2533 min
The Heart of the EquationEpisode 18: Finding Work That Energises You: A Manager’s Guide to the Zone of Genius💡Why Being Great at Your Job Might Still Leave You Drained? Let’s Talk About The Hidden Trap of High Performers That Keeps Them Stuck in the Wrong Role. In this conversation, Sara and Anisa explore the concept of the Zone of Genius, what it is, why it matters, and how you can start identifying it in your own life and career.Drawing from personal stories and years of both coaching and working as business professionals, they unpack: ✅ The difference between your zone of competence, excellence, and genius ✅ Why you don’t always need...
2025-09-1829 min
The Heart of the EquationEpisode 17 So You Want to Be a Leader? What No One Tells You About Making It to the Top with HR Consultant Lídia BonetWhat does it really mean to have a successful career?In this reflective and deeply human conversation, we sit down with Lídia Bonet,a global HR consultant with over 18 years of experience — to explore how success evolves, what leadership really requires, and why your mind, body, and heart all belong in the conversation.From university graduates to senior executives, Lídia has worked with professionals at every stage — and she’s here to share what makes the difference between high-performers who burn out, and those who grow with purpose.Lídia shares hard-earn...
2025-07-3142 min
The Heart of the EquationEpisode 16: Authentic Leadership in Action – Inbal Orbach on Human-Centered Performance in FinanceIn this episode of The Heart of the Equation, we sit down with Inbal Orbach, Vice President and Global Head of FP&A at Lonza, to explore what it really means to lead high-performing finance teams in today’s complex business landscape—without losing your human touch.With over two decades of global experience in finance, M&A, and strategic transformation, Inbal shares:✨ How she consciously shaped her leadership style—balancing performance with empathy✨ The mindset shift that helped her transition from “fixer” to strategic leader✨ The importance of thinking long-term—even when juggling...
2025-07-2435 min
The Heart of the EquationEpisode 15: Leading Global Tech Teams with Heart: Nadjia Drici on Diversity, Education & Human-Centered Leadership in Pharma ITIn this heartfelt episode of The Heart of the Equation, Sara and Anisa sit down with Nadjia Drici, a senior global healthtech leader with nearly 20 years of experience in the pharmaceutical and biotech industry. From her path as a daughter of immigrants and scientist in tech to leading large-scale, multicultural IT teams, Nadjia offers a deeply human perspective on innovation, leadership, and equity in the healthcare sector.She also shares her passion for advancing education in under-resourced communities—particularly through her work in Africa.🎧 We explore:How Nadjia’s multicultural background and scientific training shaped...
2025-07-1743 min
The Heart of the EquationEpisode 14: How to Lead, Get Hired, and Rebuild a Career in Switzerland with Vikrant Dongre , HR leader in PharmaIn this episode of The Heart of the Equation, Sara sits down with Vikrant Dongre—HR Director, leadership consultant, and founder of Leadsource Consulting—to unpack what it really takes to build a successful career in Switzerland, especially for experienced professionals, expats, and career reinventors in STEM and life sciences.Vikrant brings two decades of global HR experience to the conversation and shares actionable strategies on:✅What’s unique about career paths and leadership in STEM, life sciences, and pharma industries✅Breaking through career barriers in highly regulated...
2025-07-1542 minThe Heart of the EquationEpisode 13: How Great Teams Learn and Grow Together with Manish Sharma, Pharmaceutical ExecutiveMutual Learning and Growth – How to Build a Thriving Team Where Everyone Learns from Each Other🎙️ Featuring Manish Sharma, Global Pharmaceutical Executive 💡 What if your next big innovation didn’t come from the top—but from a junior team member, a peer, or even a different department?In a world of cross-functional teams, remote collaboration, and rapid innovation in pharma and biotech, mutual learning isn't just a nice-to-have,it’s essential.In this insightful episode of The Heart of the Equation, we sit down with Manish Sharma, a...
2025-07-0341 min
The Heart of the EquationEpisode 12: Lead Without Waiting for Permission with Diana Lagalante, Senior Communication Manager at Roche💡 What does it really mean to lead without waiting for a title or formal authority?Have you ever found yourself in a situation where you are waiting for someone to approve you for leading an initiative?Have you found it challenging to take ownership of your ideas and step in power?In today’s fast-moving workplace,especially in STEM fields ,healthcare, pharma, and corporate settings ,many emerging leaders are waiting to be “ready.” But the truth? Leadership doesn’t require permission. It requires initiative, clarity, an...
2025-06-2637 min
The Heart of the EquationEpisode 11: Mastering the Change Mindset: Turn Uncertainty Into Your Competitive Edge with Tünde Lukacs🎙️ Episode 11: Mastering the Change Mindset: Turn Uncertainty Into Your Competitive Edge with Tünde LukacsIn a world where uncertainty is the new normal, your mindset isn’t just important — it’s everything.From AI disruption to economic shifts, today’s business career landscape demands more than just hard work. It demands adaptability, resilience, and the ability to lead yourself through change.In this powerful first episode of Season 2, we are joined by Tünde Lukacs, Partner at EY, Executive Coach and Founder & CEO of The Change Republic, for a deep conversati...
2025-05-1548 min
Sanity Daily - with Priyanka JoshiEmotional resilience and healing through art with Anise ZafarWelcome to the Sanity Daily’s Entrepreneurial Resilience series I am your friend Priyanka - I have an exciting announcement to make our podcast has been featured among the top 100 mental health podcasts by Feedspot so thank you for supporting me.Today I’m joined by Anisa, an Iranian-Italian-Swiss artist, entrepreneur, and bestselling author who’s transforming the way we heal through creativity.Founder of the Intuitive Painting method, Anisa blends art, meditation, somatic healing, and coaching into a powerful tool for emotional transformation.You can get in touch with Anise here -Websi...
2025-05-0823 min
The Heart of the EquationEpisode 10: Leading Without Authority & Titles—Navigating Influence in Matrix Organizations & Project teamsEpisode 10: Leading Without Authority—How to Motivate, Influence, and Deliver Results in Matrix Organizations💡 What does it really take to lead when no one reports directly to you?Whether you're a project manager, functional lead, or cross-functional collaborator in a STEM environment, you're probably expected to lead without authority—and it's one of the toughest (and least talked about) challenges in corporate life.Matrix organizations are the norm in science, tech, and engineering. You're working across functions, juggling priorities, and trying to align people who don’t report to you—while still delive...
2025-04-2334 min
The Heart of the EquationEpisode 9: Assertive, Not Aggressive – Escaping the Likeability Trap at Work🎙️ Episode 9: Assertive, Not Aggressive – Escaping the Likeability Trap at WorkPeople-pleasing, power plays and the hidden cost of being the nice one.💡 Everyone wants to be seen as competent and kind—but what happens when the pressure to be “likeable” starts holding you back?From corporate teams to coaching businesses, many professionals feel caught in a silent dilemma: say yes to be liked, or speak up and risk being seen as “the trouble maker” or “drama queen”But always being the helpful one comes at a cost—resentment, burnout, and a slow erosio...
2025-04-2333 min
The Heart of the EquationEpisode 8: Creativity & Innovation at Work—Genuine Need or Corporate Buzzword?💡 Everyone talks about creativity and innovation in the workplace—but is it truly encouraged?In many companies, "innovation" is a core value, a KPI, or even a department. But when employees actually try to think outside the box, they often face roadblocks: rigid processes, risk-averse leadership, or a lack of real ownership.So, do companies really want innovation? Or is it just another corporate buzzword?🔹 “We say we want innovation, but we don’t tolerate failure—how does that work?”🔹 “Creativity thrives in a relaxed state… so wh...
2025-03-1231 min
The Heart of the EquationEpisode 7: Women in STEM & Imposter Syndrome – Why Smart Women Doubt Themselves💡 Women in STEM are some of the most brilliant minds in the world—yet so many struggle with self-doubt, perfectionism, and imposter syndrome.Despite holding advanced degrees, leading complex projects, and solving global challenges, many women in science, tech, and engineering still feel like they’re not “good enough.”🔹 “Am I really qualified for this role? Maybe I just got lucky”🔹 “What if they notice I am not as smart as I look like”🔹 “I don’t know enough yet to speak up.”🔹 “I am qualified in my field, but I don’t know enough about business...
2025-03-0721 min
The Heart of the EquationEpisode 6:From Tech Expert to People Leader: Navigating Middle Management with Confidence💡 There’s plenty of content online for high-level executives and CEOs, and just as much for entry-level professionals trying to build their careers. But what about middle managers? The reality is, you can’t just leap into an executive role—you have to navigate this critical stage first. Balancing your own ambitions with your team’s success isn’t something handed to you; it’s a skill you must intentionally develop.In this episode, Sara Mobarhanfard sits down with Pragati Siddhanti, a senior IT professional and team leader at Accenture, to discuss the unspoken challenges of mid-level management in t...
2025-02-2739 min
The Heart of the EquationEpisode 5:Navigating Uncertainty – Finding Peace in an Ever-Changing World💡 Uncertainty, fear, and anxiety—these emotions have been on the rise, especially in recent years. Whether it’s job instability, global crises, or personal challenges, the feeling of not knowing what’s next can be overwhelming.This topic is very close to our heart as so many of our clients or friends in STEM are experiencing job losses, lay offs and reorganisations. The world is changing and the corporations are trying to keep up.So many have to go on job interviews, show up with high energy despite all the emotions and anxieties caused by their sit...
2025-02-2729 min
The Heart of the EquationEpisode 4: Career Reinvention From Engineer to Business Coach & Myths & Misconceptions in the Coaching Industry- A conversation with Sara Mobarhanfard💡 The coaching industry is booming, but is it really what it seems? And how do you transition from a structured STEM career into something completely different?In this episode of The Heart of the Equation, we turn the spotlight on Sara Mobarhanfard—a business coach, former engineer, and corporate leader turned entrepreneur—to explore what it really takes to reinvent your career, navigate the coaching industry, and create meaningful work on your own terms.🚀 Inside This Episode:✅ The journey from engineer to business coach—what career reinvention actually looks like✅ The myths and miscon...
2025-02-1439 min
The Heart of the EquationEpisode 3: Thriving in High-Pressure Environments with Mindfulness & Resilience—A Conversation with Anisa Zafar💡 Success isn’t just about doing more—it’s about creating balance, clarity, and space for what truly matters.In this episode of The Heart of the Equation, we sit down with Anisa Zafar—a best-selling author, certified meditation teacher, resilience coach, and project manager in the pharmaceutical industry—to talk about how professionals can navigate stress, uncertainty, and career demands while staying grounded and fulfilled.🚀 Inside This Episode:✅ The reality of high-pressure careers—how Anisa thrives in the fast-paced world of pharma project management✅ The role of mindfulness and emotional resilience in leadersh...
2025-02-1432 min
The Heart of the EquationEpisode 2: Life Beyond Work as an Expat Tech Leader: Building a Side Hustle & Thriving Community (Conversation with Pragati Siddhanti)💡 Your career is just one part of your story—what if you could create something that reflects your values, creativity, and impact?In this episode of The Heart of the Equation, we sit down with Pragati Siddhanti—a tech leader, expat, and founder of My Swiss Story—to talk about how she built a side business and thriving community while leading a high-pressure corporate career.🚀 Inside This Episode:✅ The expat experience: building a meaningful career and business in a new country✅ How Pragati balances leading a large consultancy team with running My Swiss Story
2025-02-1450 min
The Heart of the EquationEpisode 1: Meet the Hosts of The Heart of the Equation — Engineers, Coaches & Change-MakersWelcome to the first episode of The Heart of the Equation, the podcast where analytical minds explore leadership, growth, and the human side of success. Hosted by three professionals who have successfully navigated career pivots from STEM to coaching, leadership, and beyond, this episode introduces you to:Anisa: From chemical engineering to resilience coachingPragati: From IT consulting to community building and personal growthSara: From systems engineering to business coaching✨ Why This Episode Matters:We discuss why work, identity, and personal fulfillment are deeply connected for professionals in STEM fields—and why finding your unique edge is t...
2025-02-0534 min
The Working Mums Show08| Building Resilience: A Path to Improved Mental Health for Busy mums, with Anisa ZafarIn this episode, I'm thrilled to welcome Anisa Zafar, a certified meditation teacher, resilience mentor, and intuitive painter. Anisa's passion lies in guiding women toward inner peace and clarity amid life's hustle. With her expertise in meditation, resilience, and creative expression, she's dedicated herself to helping busy moms find balance and well-being in their lives.
During our conversation, we talked about how mums can learn to slow down and become aware of repeating patterns in their life that create stress. Anisa shared her definition of resilience and how to build it on a daily basis. She shared...
2023-11-2228 min
Footprints of an ExpatAnisa - On Being Hero at Our Lives🌍Journey: Iran -> France, Italy -> SwitzerlandIn today's episode, we have a heartful and spiritually calming guest for you - Anisa Zafar. Through our talk, I was surrounded by her wise energy and gratitude for life.Anisa, who introduces herself as Iranian-Italian, is a coach and meditation teacher. She has published meditation cards that you can find on her website. She also organizes meditative intuitive painting seminars and is working on publishing her book!We talked about creativity, physical and inner movements through different countries, the power of changing perspective from...
2023-04-1834 min
LIVING WITHOUT FEARLiving Without Fear & Being Patient With Healing | With Anisa Zafar & Esther BuerkiAnisa Zafar is one of the 31 authors of the Amazon bestseller “Inspired Journeys”. She was born in Iran where she lived for the first 17 years of her life and where she studied fine art. Later, she moved to Europe and obtained her Bachelor’s degree along with a Masters in Chemical Engineering. She began a practice of meditation with Deepak Chopra and studied Heart Math in the US. Today, she teaches meditation and intuitive painting in her business, TreeOfLife. Using spiritual practices and coaching techniques, her participants enjoy meditation, relaxation, and a process of creation that allows self-healing and inner...
2023-02-1626 min
SwissCast Shows: Where Swiss Life Meets English VoicesPricing Learnings for Coaches & HealersSend us a textWhen healers and coaches approach pricing often their goal or intention is not fully aligned yet with running a business. This lack of alignment leads to fear and conflict and ultimately under pricing.Conflict often shows up as "I can't charge that much." "I should charge as little as possible." "If I price high then some people won't join." While your price needs to be aligned with who you're targeting, it also has to lead to a viable business. People who operate in this space are often missing the courage and...
2023-02-0628 minThe Pricing LadyPricing Learnings for Coaches & HealersSend us a textWhen healers and coaches approach pricing often their goal or intention is not fully aligned yet with running a business. This lack of alignment leads to fear and conflict and ultimately under pricing.Conflict often shows up as "I can't charge that much." "I should charge as little as possible." "If I price high then some people won't join." While your price needs to be aligned with who you're targeting, it also has to lead to a viable business. People who operate in this space are often missing the courage and...
2023-02-0628 min