The Heart of the Equation

Sara Mobarhanfard, Pragati Siddhanti, Anisa Zafar
  • 0.0 (0)
  • Careers
  • Updated Monthly

The Heart of the Equation A podcast for corporate professionals and managers navigating leadership, career growth, and the realities of the modern corporate workplace. If you are mid-career, working in Switzerland or across Europe, and asking harder questions about where you are heading — this is a good place to start. We have raw honest conversations about humans behind businesses: leadership, career transitions, company politics, and what it takes to move forward when the path is not obvious. As an English speaking podcast based in Switzerland we cover specific topics of interest for the expat community seeking professional growth and career advice. Our conversations draw from the worlds of pharma, life sciences, supply chain, STEM, and consulting — with guests and stories from inside some of the most demanding sectors in Europe. New episodes bi-weekly. We believe humans are at the heart of the business equation.  Let’s dive into the heart of what really matters. Hosts: Sara: Supply chain expert, system engineer , fashion entrepreneur and business consultant turned ICF PCC certified business and leadership coach for mid-senior corporate professionals Anisa: Chemical engineer, resilience coach, artist, and best-selling author helping professionals build well-being and adaptability. Pragati: IT engineer, university lecturer, senior consultant, and community builder, supporting expats and professionals navigating career changes.Founder or My Swiss Story Connect with us :  Sara Mobarhanfard : https://narosibcoaching.com/ Anisa Zafar : https://www.treeoflifeguru.com/ Pragati Siddhanti : https://myswissstory.com/

  1. Jun 1

    Bonus Episode for Coaches :IFS Parts Work Guided Journey

    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 coaches : https://www.instagram.com/thebusinessofcoaching/ www.narosib.com Connect with me on Instagram for leaders, managers and corporate professionals: https://www.instagram.com/sara_mobarhanfard/ www.narosibcoaching.com

    Bonus Episode for Coaches :IFS Parts Work Guided Journey

  2. May 4

    Bonus Episode: 7 HABITS THAT QUIETLY BLOCK YOUR LEADERSHIP GROWTH

    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 experience, and are wondering why the next level is not arriving. I also share a personal story from my own career and a client story from supply chain that illustrates exactly how this pattern plays out, and why the most painful career moments are rarely about performance. This episode connects directly to my live workshop series, Leading Off the Charts. Four workshops, each 90 minutes, online, in small groups. Each workshop is followed by a private 1:1 coaching session with me. The workshops go deep on the exact capabilities this episode introduces. They are designed for professionals who are not yet ready for a full private coaching engagement but want to work on these skills in a structured, live, small-group format. Workshops are not on a fixed schedule. When a new date is confirmed, waitlist members hear first and get access to flash sale pricing that is only offered live. ********************* → Join the waitlist and get early bird pricing: https://www.narosibcoaching.com/leadership-workshops ( When you join the waitlist you get the PDF version of the 7 habits) ************ FREE RESOURCES MENTIONED: → Make Time for Career Growth — free guide: https://www.narosibcoaching.com/time-management-free-guide  → Leadership Readiness Self-Assessment: https://www.narosibcoaching.com/leadership-promotion-freebie WORK WITH ME: → Book a Call: https://www.narosibcoaching.com/contact

  3. Apr 30

    Episode 27:Job Search & career transitions for expats in Switzerland: Staying Grounded When Rejection Keeps Coming

    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 professionals isolated at the exact moment connection would help most. The vicious cycle of rejection, self-doubt, and diminishing confidence that makes even the strongest candidates perform below their own standard. Sara, Anisa, and Pragati speak from personal experience as professionals who have navigated career transitions in Switzerland.  This is not an instructional guide about how to write a cover letter. It is a conversation about the internal work that makes any external strategy actually land. What we cover: 🔹 Why job loss triggers a grief response in the body, not just the mind, and what that means for how you approach the search  🔹 The survival mode trap: how fear-based job searching produces the worst decisions at the worst moment  🔹 Switzerland's performance culture and the particular weight the word "unemployed" carries here  🔹 Why shame and guilt are the two emotions most likely to stall your search, and how isolation makes both worse  🔹 Practical strategies: scheduling, journaling, and building a community of people who actually get it  🔹 The difference between networking and connecting, and why the latter produces better results in the Swiss market  🔹 When job loss is a signal worth listening to, and how to read it without bypassing the practical reality  🔹 Why the skills that create friction in employment tend to follow people into self-employment. The pattern repeats.  🔹 How Anisa and Pragati are building structured support for professionals navigating this in Switzerland right now Upcoming events hosted by Anisa Zafar and Pragati Siddhanti:  📌 Free webinar: Find Your Next Job Move- With Clarity A free 45-minute webinar for women in Switzerland ready to restart, pivot, or grow their careers with a clear, structured plan. Feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or unsure what your next career move should be? You’re not alone—and you don’t need to figure it out on your own. 🗓️ LIVE | FREE | LIMITED SPOTS | 07 MAY 2026 https://programs.treeoflifeguru.com/search-job-switzerland-webinar/ 📌 BASEL 🇨🇭In-person event : Women's Career and Networking Brunch,  Sat, 30. May 202610:00 - 16:00Basel (Location Sent upon Registration) https://eventfrog.ch/en/p/courses-seminars/coaching/womens-career-networking-brunch-elevate-your-job-search-7447616745462885672.html ---- 📌 Free resource — 7 Barriers to Leadership Promotion: https://www.narosibcoaching.com/leadership-promotion-freebie  📌 Free resource: Finding time for growth (for overworked and overwhelmed managers): https://www.narosibcoaching.com/time-management-free-guide  📌 Book a Success Roadmap Call with Sara (for leaders and managers): https://www.narosibcoaching.com/contact  Watch this on Youtube: https://youtu.be/uySWVI9_cGM

    Episode 27:Job Search & career transitions for expats in Switzerland: Staying Grounded When Rejection Keeps Coming

  4. Apr 1

    Episode 26: Busy Calendar ≠ Effective Leader: Reclaiming Authority and Time in Pharma & Supply Chain with Viraj Mehta

    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 chronically over-scheduled  and who know, somewhere, that working harder is not the same as leading well. Sara Mobarhanfard is joined by Viraj Mehta, Global Procurement Head at DSM-Firmenich and a techno-commercial leader with 20+ years across pharma, life sciences, and global supply chain. Viraj manages a €900M+ spend portfolio and leads 85+ professionals across global geographies. She speaks from the inside — not as an observer of these dynamics, but as someone who has navigated them at the highest level. What we cover: 🔹 Why supply chain professionals burn out at a higher rate — and what resilience actually requires in this function 🔹 The difference between being seen and being effective — and why confusing the two keeps strong performers at mid-level 🔹 The meeting diet: how to audit your calendar and reclaim focus time without losing organisational visibility 🔹 The strategic no — how to decline meetings assertively and what it signals to senior leadership when you do 🔹 Why 10 people in a meeting is a trust problem, not a scheduling problem 🔹 Leading a team of 80+ across global geographies — what changes, what breaks, and what you have to do deliberately 🔹 The qualities Viraj looks for when identifying future leaders within her own team 🔹 The difference between performance (what you do) and leadership potential (how you do it) 🔹 Why the ability to unlearn is as critical as the ability to learn — especially in a function moving as fast as supply chain About Viraj Mehta  Viraj Mehta is a techno-commercial people leader in the life sciences industry with 20+ years across pharma, procurement, and global supply chain.  Viraj is a business centric techno-commercial leader in the Life Sciences industry with a passion to positively impact people driven transformation.  At her core, she is a playmaker, known for her decisive leadership style that inspires diverse and inclusive culture. Viraj acts as a coach, mentor and career sponsor in various networking forums. Viraj lives in Basel with her husband and a teenage daughter. Reading, music and long walks in nature are very close to her heart.  🔗 Connect with Viraj on LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/virajmehta-exec/ ----- 🔗 Podcast hub: https://the-heart-of-the-equation.carrd.co  🎧 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4su6RdGwygkkWJ0ceZe2g8  🎧 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-heart-of-the-equation/id1794644198  Helpful Resources 📌 Sara's LinkedIn article on types of bosses that block your career: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/five-types-bosses-who-block-your-career-advancement-1-mobarhanfard-tcyre 📌 Free resource — 7 Barriers to Leadership Promotion: https://www.narosibcoaching.com/leadership-promotion-freebie 📌 Free resource : Finding time for growth ( for overworked and overwhelmed managers)  https://www.narosibcoaching.com/time-management-free-guide 📌 Book a Success Roadmap Call with Sara ( for leaders and managers) : https://www.narosibcoaching.com/contact 📌 Grow your coaching business with Sara  www.narosib.com 🎙️ The Heart of the Equation is a podcast for STEM professionals navigating leadership, career growth, and the human dynamics of complex organisations. Hosted by Sara Mobarhanfard, Anisa Zafar, and Pragati Siddhanti. 🎙️ Listen & Subscribe:📲 Connect with us: Sara Mobarhanfard:   *Leadership Coaching for corporate professionals: narosibcoaching.com Anisa Zafar: treeoflifeguru.com Pragati Siddhanti: myswissstory.com 🔗 Learn more about this podcast : https://the-heart-of-the-equation.carrd.co 🎙️ 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 26: Busy Calendar ≠ Effective Leader: Reclaiming Authority and Time in Pharma & Supply Chain with Viraj Mehta

  5. Mar 5

    Episode 25 How Your Line Manager Can Block Your Career:The Boss Who Holds You Back

    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 relationship with your direct manager can accelerate your career or quietly stall it for years. In this episode of The Heart of the Equation, Sara and Pragati get honest about the types of managers who block career growth — not always through malice, but sometimes through insecurity, overprotection, or their own limitations within the hierarchy. What we cover: 🔹 The insecure manager — how to recognise the pattern and navigate it without becoming collateral damage 🔹 Gaslighting in corporate environments — why you often can't see it until you're already deep in it 🔹 The "good boss" trap — when a supportive, well-meaning manager is quietly holding you back 🔹 Managing up — how to build safety for a difficult manager while protecting your own positioning 🔹 Why being "the composed one" matters more than being right — especially in European corporate culture 🔹 Taking ownership of your career rather than waiting for someone to champion it 🔹 The danger of absorbing feedback as permanent truth — leadership skills are learnable This is not a conversation about blaming your manager.  It's about understanding the system you're operating in and making smarter decisions within it. CHAPTERS  00:00 Introduction  02:00 Why your line manager matters more than career advice admits  04:50 The insecure manager — real examples and what's actually happening  09:00 Gaslighting in corporate settings  11:30 When to stay, when to leave  16:00 Composure as a strategic asset (not silence)  20:00 The well-meaning manager who is blocking your growth  25:00 Spoon-feeding vs. developing your team — a leadership reflection  29:00 Taking ownership of your own career trajectory  31:30 Why leadership material is not a personality trait MENTIONED & RELATED  📌 Sara's LinkedIn article on types of bosses that block your career: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/five-types-bosses-who-block-your-career-advancement-1-mobarhanfard-tcyre 📌 Free resource — 7 Barriers to Leadership Promotion: https://www.narosibcoaching.com/leadership-promotion-freebie 📌 Free resource : Finding time for growth ( for overworked and overwhelmed managers)  https://www.narosibcoaching.com/time-management-free-guide 📌 Book a Success Roadmap Call with Sara ( for leaders and managers) : https://www.narosibcoaching.com/contact 📌 Grow your coaching business with Sara  www.narosib.com 🎙️ The Heart of the Equation is a podcast for STEM professionals navigating leadership, career growth, and the human dynamics of complex organisations. Hosted by Sara Mobarhanfard, Anisa Zafar, and Pragati Siddhanti. 🎙️ Listen & Subscribe:📲 Connect with us: Sara Mobarhanfard:   *Leadership Coaching for corporate professionals: narosibcoaching.com Anisa Zafar: treeoflifeguru.com Pragati Siddhanti: myswissstory.com

    Episode 25 How Your Line Manager Can Block Your Career:The Boss Who Holds You Back

  6. Jan 16

    Episode 24: 2026 Goal Planning: Portfolio Careers, Leadership Positions ,Career Reinvention

    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 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 honestly about: Why so many mid-career and senior professionals are pressing “reset” in 2026The difference between escaping a career and redesigning oneWhy mindset alone is not enough — and what actually moves careers forwardHow portfolio careers are becoming a strategic response to instabilityWhy sponsorship, visibility, and relationships still matter (in corporate and entrepreneurship)How to plan a career that supports purpose, impact, and sustainabilityWe also share why we’re hosting a live online career planning workshop on January 26th, 2026, designed specifically for: Career professionals in science, tech, engineering, and regulated industriesLeaders navigating promotion, reinvention, or career transitionsProfessionals considering portfolio careers or multiple income streams🎯 About the January 26 WorkshopThis is not a vision board or surface-level goal-setting session. In the workshop, we’ll work on: Strategic career direction for 2026Identity shifts required for leadership and reinventionNervous system regulation during career transitionsCareer systems: sponsorship, visibility, decision-making, and influenceTurning goals into concrete, realistic action plansParticipants will leave with: A clear career direction for 2026A personalised action planStrategic clarity (not overwhelm)Tools to navigate career uncertainty with confidence📌 Link to join the workshop : https://narosib.thrivecart.com/career-strategy-2026/ 📅 Date: January 26, 2026 🌍 Format: Live online (recorded) If 2026 feels like a year where you want to own your career instead of reacting to it, this episode — and the workshop — are for you.

    Episode 24: 2026 Goal Planning: Portfolio Careers, Leadership Positions ,Career Reinvention

  7. 11/28/2025

    Episode 23: What 2025 Taught Us About STEM Careers & How to Upgrade Your Career in 2026

    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 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 26.01.26 Date: 26 January 2026Format: Live online, recording includedDesigned for: Mid-career managers and senior professionals in STEM and adjacent fields who want a clear, practical plan for 2026Registration: https://narosib.thrivecart.com/career-strategy-2026/🎙️ Listen & Subscribe:📲 Connect with us: Sara Mobarhanfard: narosibcoaching.com Anisa Zafar: treeoflifeguru.com Pragati Siddhanti: myswissstory.com

  8. 10/30/2025

    Episode 22 -Too Sensitive for Corporate? Think Again — The Truth About Highly Sensitive Leaders with Anna Moretti

    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 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 Highly Sensitive Person (HSP)Why sensitivity is a leadership strength in complex, people-centric rolesCommon HSP challenges at work: overstimulation, emotional overload, people-pleasingPractical tools for nervous system regulation, energy management, and restUsing empathy without absorbing others’ emotionsSetting boundaries and communicating needs as a managerBuilding resilience for long-term performance and avoiding burnoutA simple framework for self-leadership and team leadership as an HSP About Our Guest: Anna Moretti  is a seasoned regulatory leader with 20+ years in the Pharma industry, leading diverse teams across global organizations. Based in Switzerland, she’s recognised for her passion about personal development, people leadership, and cultural transformation. Anna is an ICF Certified Coach. Passionate about empowering women, she supports heart-centered leaders in embracing their sensitivity as a strength to lead authentically and sustainably, both in and beyond corporate life. Connect with Anna:  Website: https://thehighlysensitivecoach.com/ LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/anna-moretti-7a934b9 🎙️ 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 22 -Too Sensitive for Corporate? Think Again — The Truth About Highly Sensitive Leaders with Anna Moretti
See All (29)

About

The Heart of the Equation A podcast for corporate professionals and managers navigating leadership, career growth, and the realities of the modern corporate workplace. If you are mid-career, working in Switzerland or across Europe, and asking harder questions about where you are heading — this is a good place to start. We have raw honest conversations about humans behind businesses: leadership, career transitions, company politics, and what it takes to move forward when the path is not obvious. As an English speaking podcast based in Switzerland we cover specific topics of interest for the expat community seeking professional growth and career advice. Our conversations draw from the worlds of pharma, life sciences, supply chain, STEM, and consulting — with guests and stories from inside some of the most demanding sectors in Europe. New episodes bi-weekly. We believe humans are at the heart of the business equation.  Let’s dive into the heart of what really matters. Hosts: Sara: Supply chain expert, system engineer , fashion entrepreneur and business consultant turned ICF PCC certified business and leadership coach for mid-senior corporate professionals Anisa: Chemical engineer, resilience coach, artist, and best-selling author helping professionals build well-being and adaptability. Pragati: IT engineer, university lecturer, senior consultant, and community builder, supporting expats and professionals navigating career changes.Founder or My Swiss Story Connect with us :  Sara Mobarhanfard : https://narosibcoaching.com/ Anisa Zafar : https://www.treeoflifeguru.com/ Pragati Siddhanti : https://myswissstory.com/

Information

  • Creator
    Sara Mobarhanfard, Pragati Siddhanti, Anisa Zafar
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    29
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    The Heart of the Equation