Brillantes.

Money meant for the public good can change lives, or sit quietly on the sidelines. Who decides which ideas get a chance? Linda Sulzer has spent her career close to that decision: first in democracy and public governance, then at Migros and Stiftung Mercator, and now as the founder of Büro für Wagemut, where she helps foundations use their power with more clarity, trust and courage. Her perspective...

In this episode, Jeanne du Sartel meets Florence de Montfort, founder of FDM Fine Crafts, in her gallery tucked away in Zurich’s old town. After sixteen years in the corporate world, Florence chose a radically different path — building a hybrid gallery and agency dedicated to contemporary design and exceptional craftsmanship. Her work sits at the intersection of design, sourcing, and cultural medi...

In this episode, host Jeanne du Sartel meets Simone Züger — designer, artist, activist, entrepreneur, and founder of a Zurich-based design studio that just celebrated its 10-year anniversary. Her work moves fluidly between art and design, questioning norms, opening perspectives, and making a more conscious, more equal world visible. Together, they explore: What a decade of creative independence ha...

From climate science to politics— Nora Ernst reflects on trust, family policy, and building a liveable future. In this episode, Jeanne meets Nora Ernst — co-president of the Green Liberal Party in Zurich, member of the city parliament in Winterthur, environmental scientist, and Senior Sustainability Risk Manager at Swiss Re. Her path into politics began only a few years ago, during maternity leave...

In this episode, Jeanne meets Regula Bührer Fecker — a powerhouse of Swiss communication. Strategist, entrepreneur, board member, and author, Regula has built her career on fierce intuition, strategic depth, and an unapologetic voice for working women. Together, they unpack: How she broke into the industry without a degree — and without connections What it means to balance ethics, ambition, and cr...

In this episode, host Jeanne du Sartel meets Nora Kato , former Co-CEO of FREITAG and now co-founder of IPSUM ALII . Until early 2025, Nora was helping steer one of Zurich’s most iconic design companies — known for its circular products and holocratic structure. But behind the scenes, she was slowly building something more personal: a skincare brand rooted in friendship, cultural heritage, and a d...

“ All that I did in my career was always to enable culture.” From directing the Solothurn Film Festival to shaping cultural policy for the Canton of Zurich, Seraina Rohrer has dedicated her career to supporting the arts — not from center stage, but by building the frameworks that allow others to create, take risks, and grow. Today, she is one of the most influential figures in Swiss cultural polic...

In this powerful comeback episode of Brillantes, host Jeanne du Sartel welcomes Tanya Koenig, whose voice has shaped Swiss television, journalism, and live events for over a decade. As a journalist, moderator, and storyteller, Tanya opens up about navigating the evolving media landscape with authenticity at her core. From hosting G&G on Swiss TV to international events, she shares insights on...

After four years, Brillantes —the podcast with a French accent—returns, bolder, sharper, and more relevant than ever. Hosted by Jeanne du Sartel, Brillantes brings powerful conversations with brilliant women who challenge norms and redefine success on their own terms. Because success isn’t just about titles or headlines—it’s found in bold choices, resilience, and the impact that often goes unseen....

Nina Müller is the CEO of Jelmoli, Switzerland's oldest department store, and certainly one of Zurich's best-known institutions.  The native Austrian, who defines herself as a true European, took up her post in April 2020, right in the middle of the first Lockdown. A more than complicated timing, which did not, however, dampen her optimism and passion for retail.  Before taking the helm...

How about this week we talk about art and culture? Because yes, the nicest news this week is the reopening of cultural venues here in Switzerland - after long weeks of closure. So for the occasion, I have decided to republish the very first episode of Brillantes, with the founder of the Zurich Art Weekend, Charlotte von Stotzingen.  The Zurich organisation is organising three days this weeken...

Raphaela Pichler is a photographer, artist, consultant, musician ... Certainly one of the most creative Zurich women I know.  Her signature? natural, benevolent portraits, with plays of light, delicacy and harmony. Raphaela works for fashion and advertising, but her speciality lies in portraying women. In 2019, she got nominated as the best photograph of the year for her biggest artist projec...

[🇬🇧 English text / French under]  Hi everyone!   This week, I choose to only publish a small message, and not the usual Brillantes interviews, and this for several reasons.  First of all, I wanted to take some time to reflect on the discussion that I recorded (in French) with my last guest, Marion Roucheux, founder of the media dedicated to motherhood Les Louves.  In this very...

[Episode en français] 🇫🇷 Marion Roucheux est l’une des fondatrices des Louves, le média qui inspire les mamans contemporaines.  En 2014, lorsqu’elle décide avec sa rédactrice en chef de l’époque, Marine Deffrennes, de lancer sa propre plateforme, Marion veut créer le média qui lui a manqué pendant toute sa grossesse. Un format esthétique, moderne et sans tabou, qui transformera la façon dont...

Alisée de Tonnac is the Co-Founder and the CEO of Seedstars World, a global start-up competition which aim is to identify and support the most promising entrepreneurial initiatives in emerging markets.  At just 32 years old, she has already travelled around the world, she has been recognised by the biggest international medias, including Forbes and Wired, and she is one of Europe's 50 most in...

Aysha van de Paer has one mission: to empower women through investment.  Her theory? In order to overcome the inequalities and economic vulnerability that all women may face during their lives, investment is the safe, easy and time-saving way to guarantee a certain economic security. In this interview, Aysha takes her personal exemple and explains how the loss of her husband, at just 35 years...

Nadia Damaso is one of the most popular cookbook author in Switzerland.  At only 25, the young woman from Pontresina has already published 3 bestsellers, with a motto: “ Eat better, not less ”.  The success story started on Instagram. 9 years ago, she came back from a 6 months stay in Canada with a bad surprise: +15kg more on her hips. The cooking enthusiast then decided to change to a m...

 [🇫🇷 Episode in French] Alors que les soldes battent leur plein, j’ai choisi de débuter 2021 en parlant de mode éthique et durable, avec la pétillante Marguerite Dorangeon. En septembre 2019, Marguerite a fondé avec son associé Rym Trabelsi Clear Fashion, une de ces applications qui révolutionnent le secteur de la mode et le font évoluer vers des pratiques plus responsables. Basée sur la...

This week, I have the pleasure to receive on my podcast a woman with an exceptional background.  Sarah Springman has been rector of one of the world's best universities, ETH, since 2015.  But that's not all. The number 2 at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich is also a top athlete and multiple European Triathlon Champion. For her career-long service to her sport at intern...

Barbara Lax had one ambition: to have a long-term positive impact on people's lives.  Some time after the birth of her first daughter, while searching for the best childcare system, the civil engineer found out how she could contribute to a better future: by creating a childcare concept adapted to the modern world.   Against all odds, despite the reluctance of her surroundings, Barbara l...

**** Special Collaboration: Viollaz Giftbox x Brillantes This week, Brillantes is receiving the support of Viollaz Giftbox. And a few weeks away from Christmas, I'm sure it can be very useful for you... Viollaz Giftbox creates and prepares for you beautiful gift boxes, filled with love and tastefully selected products, for newborns, mothers or young parents. And you will even find the excellent ch...

Anna Stünzi is the president of Foraus, the Swiss think tank dedicated to foreign policy and a researcher at the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research... But that's not all. At barely 30, the young woman is also the founder of a solar energy start up, and a member of the board of Gemeinsam Znacht , an association that looks after the integration of migrants. If I had to define Anna in...

With her beautiful woven baskets, colourful chairs and benches or exclusive printed clothing, the Swiss designer Kathrin Eckhardt mixes the craftsmanship of her adopted country, Ghana, with European tastes and standards. In this interview, Kathrin tells me what inspired her, one day in 2015, to give up her career as a journalist and fashion stylist to settle in Ghana out of love. The Swiss woman l...

Madelyne Meyer, the blogger behind Edvin Uncorked, columnist and author of the best seller "Endlich Wein Verstehen" (“Welcome to Wine” in English ) has a mission: to make the wine world clear and accessible to all. Because we have all already been impressed by a wine connoisseur... the one who notices the note of redcurrant in his glass, or recognises each grape variety. We have all already been d...

Anna Gracia Herbst has always wanted to find in her professional life a way to help others.  So when she first hears about Khalil Radi’s new project in 2018, she is immediately convinced. In Nicaragua, her friend has launched an action to encourage people collect and bring back the polluting plastic bottles in exchange for a hot meal. The project tackles two major problems at the same ti...