The Heart of the Equation

This is a short guided journey I use myself and with my clients to come over limiting beliefs and fears that get in the way of growth, taking action and moving on in the business. It is inspired by IFS ( Internal Family Systems) by Richard Schwartz. It is a compassionate method that helps you make peace with yourself and your emotions, and not just suppress them. Connect with me on Instagram : For...

In this bonus episode, I share the 7 habits that look like professional strengths but are quietly working against your leadership growth. These are not obvious weaknesses. They are the behaviours that made you excellent at your level and are now holding you at it. This episode is for professionals in pharma, supply chain, STEM, and engineering who have the credentials, the track record, and the ex...

Losing a job is classified as a grief event. Research places it in the same range as divorce, loss of a close relationship, or a major health disruption.  And yet, most job search resources focus entirely on CV optimisation, interview technique, and LinkedIn visibility. This episode is about what sits underneath all of that.  The nervous system response to uncertainty.  The shame that keeps profes...

Your calendar is not a measure of your impact. In complex organisations — pharma, life sciences, supply chain — it has quietly become a measure of your fear.  Fear of missing a decision.  Fear of losing visibility.  Fear of what happens if you're not in the room. This conversation is perfect for supply chain and procurement professionals who are technically strong, organisationally aware, and...

Navigating Difficult Managers & Hidden Career Blockers Your line manager has more influence over your career than most career advice ever addresses. They decide what meetings you're invited to, whose name gets mentioned in promotion conversations, and whether your work is visible to the people who matter. In complex organisations — especially in pharma, supply chain, and STEM — the relatio...

2026 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 reinvention Portfolio careers Leadership transitions Mid-ca...

In 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 episode How can mid-career professionals navigate major career transitions Practical lessons from episodes on psychological safety, delegation and moving from operations to leadership Why values, bou...

Are 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 for Managers, senior professionals, and emerging leaders who identify...

Switzerland’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 applicat...

The 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...

Why 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 exper...

💡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 a...

What 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 profess...

In 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 conscious...

In 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 eq...

In 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...

Mutual 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...

💡 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 emerg...

🎙️ Episode 11: Mastering the Change Mindset: Turn Uncertainty Into Your Competitive Edge with Tünde Lukacs In 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....

Episode 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...

🎙️ Episode 9: Assertive, Not Aggressive – Escaping the Likeability Trap at Work People-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...

💡 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...

💡 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...

💡 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 inte...

💡 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...