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 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-earned wisdom on how our definition of success evolves, what separates great leaders from good performers, and why true impact starts with aligning your values, actions, and vision. Her approach blends strategic thinking with deep human understanding—making her a rare voice in today’s career and leadership space.

In this episode, we explore:

• Why success is personal (and not a one-size-fits-all formula)
• The key differences between early-career skills and executive presence
• What it means to lead with authenticity, vulnerability, and vision
• How to apply “design thinking” to your own career path
• The less talked about secret to professional growth

Whether you’re climbing the ladder or redefining the ladder entirely, this is an invitation to pause, reflect, and reimagine success — on your terms.

Lídia Bonet is an experienced global HR consultant with over 18 years of insight into leadership development, career growth, and organizational transformation. She has worked across industries and career stages—from guiding university graduates into their first roles to advising C-level executives on what it truly takes to lead with impact.

📲 Connect with Lidia Bonet

https://lidiabo.net/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/lidiabonet/

📲 Connect with us:

Sara Mobarhanfard: narosibcoaching.com

Anisa Zafar: treeoflifeguru.com

Pragati Siddhanti: myswissstory.com

🔗 Learn more about this podcast

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 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 demanding roles and home life

✨ Why authenticity isn't just a buzzword, it's a leadership imperative

✨ Practical tips for women navigating senior roles without waiting for permission

✨ Her personal blueprint for growing into each new role—and mentoring others to do the same

Whether you're leading global teams, planning your next strategic move, or redefining what success means to you—this conversation will inspire you to lead with both purpose and clarity.

Inbal Orbach is the Vice President and Global Head of FP&A at Lonza, leading financial strategy for a global pharma and biotech leader. With over 20 years in finance—including key roles at Takeda and PwC—she has driven growth through M&A, digital transformation, and strategic planning.

📲 Connect with Inbal Orbach

https://www.linkedin.com/in/inbalorbach/

📲 Connect with us:

Sara Mobarhanfard: narosibcoaching.com

Anisa Zafar: treeoflifeguru.com

Pragati Siddhanti: myswissstory.com

🔗 Learn more about this podcast

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 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 her leadership approach.
• What it really takes to lead global IT teams in pharma with empathy and purpose.
• The often-overlooked value of asking for help—especially for high-achieving women in STEM fields.
• Why inclusive leadership isn’t just a “soft skill,” but a business-critical superpower.
• The crucial role of support systems in long-term success and wellbeing.
• How Nadjia is driving real change through educational initiatives that bring equity and access to the forefront.

This is a must-listen for anyone navigating leadership in STEM, pharma, or any purpose-driven industries

With nearly 20 years of experience in the healthcare and biotechnology sector, Nadjia Drici is a senior global healthtech leader who drives business growth and enhanced patient outcomes through innovative and transformative technology, leveraging a uniquely positioned scientific, technical and business background. 

Her expertise spans technology and business strategies, with a focus on advancing diversity, access to medicine and enhancing patient experience. 

Nadjia is expert at leading large-scale, cross-functional, and multicultural teams. Her passion is about fostering a culture of collaboration, empowerment, and positivity, where technology and innovation are at the service of bringing fair, accessible health outcomes to patients and communities worldwide. 

📲 Connect with Nadjia Drici

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nadjia-d 

📲 Connect with us:

Sara Mobarhanfard: narosibcoaching.com

Anisa Zafar: treeoflifeguru.com

Pragati Siddhanti: myswissstory.com

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 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 sectors like pharma and HR

Expert-to-leader transitions: advice for mid- to senior-level professionals in Switzerland

✅Why even highly qualified candidates get overlooked—and how to shift that

✅The hidden hiring rules in the Swiss job market—and how to overcome the “invisible wall” as an expat

✅Getting hired in your 40s or 50s without being labeled “overqualified”

✅Career reinvention and return-to-work pathways for women professionals

✅The truth about talent acquisition—and how to collaborate with recruiters effectively

✅A people-first approach to networking that actually opens doors

✅A new model for career transition through strategic recruitment and talent acquisition skills

Whether you're navigating a mid-career shift, transitioning industries, or aiming to grow your leadership footprint—this episode offers practical tools, grounded insights, and an inspiring perspective on what career success looks like in today’s Swiss job market.

👤 About Our Guest

Vikrant Dongre is a Switzerland-based HR leader with over 20 years of experience in global compensation, talent management, and organizational development—primarily within the life sciences and pharmaceutical sectors.

As founder of Leadsource Consulting, he supports both corporate clients and career returners with tailored leadership development, HR consulting, and strategic recruitment programs.

His latest initiative focuses on empowering women returning to the workforce by training them in talent acquisition and HR business partnering.

**Disclaimer : all the comments shared by our Guests are his personal opinion and does not have anything to do with Leadersource or Menarini Stemline.

📲 Connect with Vikrant Dongre

LinkedIn:  / vikrantdongre  

Learn more about Vikrant's programs and projects:

www.leadersources.com

https://leadersources.com/courses/

https://www.karriere.ch/karriere-corn...

🎙️ Listen & Subscribe:

📲 Connect with us:

Sara Mobarhanfard: narosibcoaching.com

Anisa Zafar: treeoflifeguru.com

Pragati Siddhanti: myswissstory.com

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 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 seasoned pharma executive with 20+ years of experience leading global teams across life sciences. 

With expertise in external manufacturing, CMC strategy, and technical operations, Manish shares the real-world practices behind building teams where everyone is both a teacher and a learner.

We explore:

🔹 “Why the best leaders never stop learning—from anyone, at any level.”

🔹 “How to lead with humility, humanity, and results.”

🔹 “What most line managers forget about performance management”

🔑 What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

✅ How to foster peer-to-peer learning in high-performing global teams

✅ Why emotional intelligence and vulnerability drive innovation

✅ The biggest obstacles to team learning—and how to overcome them

✅ How cultural differences shape learning styles and collaboration

✅ Practical steps for building a learning culture from scratch

✅ The future of team learning in the age of AI and remote work

💡 Whether you're a team lead, new manager, or senior executive—this episode will give you a grounded, practical perspective on leadership in action.

📲 Connect with Manish Sharma:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/manish-sharma-rph/

Sara Mobarhanfard: narosibcoaching.com

Anisa Zafar: treeoflifeguru.com

Pragati Siddhanti: myswissstory.com

💡 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, and courage.

In this powerful episode of The Heart of the Equation, we sit down with Diana Lagalante, a senior change leader  @roche  and founder and former Board Director of the Healthcare Businesswomen’s Association, HBA.

Diana shares how to build influence with purpose, no matter your role or title. She shares from her own journey of growth and lived experience as a leader.

We cover:

🔹 “What if no one gives you permission—but you lead anyway?”

🔹 “Real leadership isn’t about hierarchy—it’s about service and momentum.”

🔹 “Take the lead on what you care about. That’s where impact begins.”

🔑 What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

✅ How to build credibility and influence in cross-functional teams

✅ What stops high-potential professionals from stepping up—and how to move past it

✅ Why leading without authority is a must-have skill in today’s corporate world

✅ Practical tips to lead with confidence, even when self-doubt shows up

✅ The role of mentorship, community, and storytelling in career growth

💡 Whether you're early in your career, pivoting to something new, or looking to make an impact in your organization,this conversation will leave you empowered to act now, not later.

📲 Connect with Diana:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dianalagalante/

🎙️ Listen & Subscribe:

📲 Connect with us:

Sara Mobarhanfard: narosibcoaching.com

Anisa Zafar: treeoflifeguru.com

Pragati Siddhanti: myswissstory.com

🎙️ 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.

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 conversation about embracing uncertainty, leading change, and building a future-proof mindset.

🔹 “You can’t control what’s coming, but you can control your mindset.”

🔹 “The environment is moving faster than ever — and mindset is your edge.”

🔹 “Real leadership starts with how you face the unknown, not just how you perform in certainty.”

Together with your hosts — Sara Mobarhanfard and Pragati Siddhanti — Tünde shares candid insights from her career in global leadership, entrepreneurship, and executive coaching.

🔑 What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

✅ Why the old model of "just work hard" no longer guarantees success

✅ How to develop a Change Mindset to thrive in today’s unpredictable world

✅ Why resistance to change is human — and how to navigate it (in yourself and others)

✅ The real reason many corporate transformations fail (and how to do it differently)

✅ How curiosity, emotional safety, and small experiments build true resilience

✅ Why human connection will matter more — not less — in the AI era

✅ How to build your visibility and voice in a fast-changing professional world

✅ Inspiration for career pivots, personal branding, and leading with authenticity

💡 Whether you're navigating a leadership role, building a coaching business, or simply facing major change, this conversation will leave you with clarity, courage, and grounded strategies.

About our Guest:

Tünde is a Partner at EY, leading transformation and innovation projects across Europe and India. She is also the Founder & CEO of The Change Republic, democratizing access to career growth through coaching and learning. When she’s not advising on change and leadership, you might find her running up a mountain near Zurich, where she lives with her husband, son, and dog."

Connect with Tünde:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/tuende-lukacs-change/

https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-change-republic

🎙️ Listen & Subscribe:

📲 Connect with us:

Sara Mobarhanfard: narosibcoaching.com

Anisa Zafar: treeoflifeguru.com

Pragati Siddhanti: myswissstory.com

🔗 Learn more about this podcast

🎙️ Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4su6RdGwygkkWJ0ceZe2g8

🎙️ Listen on Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-heart-of-the-equation/id1794644198

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 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 delivering results.

So how do you build trust, influence without control, and create a safe and productive team culture?

In this episode of The Heart of the Equation, Sara Mobarhanfard, Anisa Zafar, and Pragati Siddhanti reflect on their own experiences and share what it really takes to lead without formal authority—inside corporations and beyond.

🔑 What You’ll Learn in This Episode: 

✅ What it means to lead in matrix teams without formal authority

✅ Why influence, trust, and appreciation matter more than control

✅ The underestimated power of recognition and honest communication

✅ How to motivate people whose KPIs or career paths don’t align with your project

✅ How to lead cross-functional teams without micromanaging or people-pleasing

✅ What to do when silence, resistance, or power dynamics get in the way

✅ Why emotional safety, transparency, and reliability build long-term impact

✅ Real talk on blame culture, failure, and creating psychologically safe teams

💡 Whether you’re a team lead, project manager, or just someone navigating complex work relationships—this episode will give you real, human strategies to lead better (no title required).

📲 Connect with us:

Sara Mobarhanfard: narosibcoaching.com

Anisa Zafar: treeoflifeguru.com

Pragati Siddhanti: myswissstory.com

🔗 Learn more about this podcast & apply to be a guest

🎙️ 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 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 erosion of self-trust.

So how do you lead, collaborate, and protect your energy… without turning into someone you’re not?

🔹 “I was so scared of being called aggressive—I went too far the other way.”

🔹 “Saying no isn’t rude. It’s what protects both you and the project.”

🔹 “Kindness without boundaries isn’t kind to you. It’s exhausting.”

In this episode of The Heart of the Equation, Sara Mobarhanfard and Pragati Siddhanti explore the deep-rooted tension between likeability and leadership—especially for women in high-performing environments like STEM, tech, and corporate consulting.

🔑 What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

✅ Why the likeability trap affects so many women (and how it shows up at work)

✅ The difference between being kind , being nice and being a people-pleaser

✅ How boundaries create safety—not distance—in professional relationships

✅ What true assertiveness looks like (and why it’s often misunderstood)

✅ Small mindset shifts to build your leadership style without burning out

💡 If you’ve ever felt torn between being a good teammate and standing your ground, this episode will help you find your voice—without losing your values.

📲 Connect with us:

Sara Mobarhanfard: narosibcoaching.com

Anisa Zafar: treeoflifeguru.com

Pragati Siddhanti: myswissstory.com

🔗 Learn more about this podcast : Apply to be a guest

💡 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 why are employees overloaded with work?”

🔹 “If everyone is too busy following processes, where’s the room for thinking differently?”

In this episode of The Heart of the Equation, Sara Mobarhanfard and Anisa Zafar dive into the realities of workplace creativity, sharing insights from their own corporate experience and the professionals they work with.

🔑 What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

✅ The real definition of creativity at work (hint: it’s not just for artists)

✅ Why creativity and stress don’t work so wellt—and how to create space for innovation

✅ The biggest blockers to innovation inside corporations (and how to navigate them)

✅ How fear of failure, perfectionism, and micromanagement kills new ideas

✅ Simple strategies to boost creativity without waiting for corporate culture to change

💡 Whether you're a leader, team manager, or professional who wants to bring more creativity into your work, this episode will get you thinking.

📲 Connect with us:

Sara Mobarhanfard: narosibcoaching.com

Anisa Zafar: treeoflifeguru.com

Pragati Siddhanti: myswissstory.com

🔗 Learn more about this podcast