The Heart of the Equation

The Heart of the EquationLeadership, Growth, and the Human Side of Success at WorkJoin three multi-passionate professionals—Sara, Anisa, and Pragati—as they navigate the challenges and opportunities facing engineers, scientists, and tech professionals. Whether you’re redefining your career, building a side hustle, or recovering from setbacks, The Heart of the Equation offers real stories, practical advice, and conversations you won’t hear anywhere else. We believe humans are at the heart of the business equation. Subscribe and start building a career that aligns with your values and aspirations.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 c

The Heart of the Equation is a business podcast hosted by Unknown Host, with 29 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

Unknown Host hosts The Heart of the Equation, a business show with 29 episodes published.

Our AI reads these to draft pitches. Use them as grounding for a pitch that cites a real guest and a specific topic.

• 

  The Heart of the Equation

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

  —30 min

  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

  ListenShow Notes
• 

  The Heart of the Equation

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

  —27 min

  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 2026 10:00 - 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

  ListenShow Notes
• 

  The Heart of the Equation

  Episode 21 : Navigating the Swiss Job Market as a Mid-Career Expat

  —42 min

  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 application: tailoring your CV, keywords, and a clear cover letter ✅ When and how to use AI to speed up applications without losing your voice ✅ The value of studying in Switzerland and learning the language ✅ Looking after your mental health while job searching 📘 Resource mentioned: Pragati’s book The Ultimate Guide to Finding a Job in Switzerland (for expats, career changers, dreamers alike) https://myswissstory.com/the-ultimate-guide-to-finding-a-job-in-switzerland-for-expats-career-changers-dreamers-alike/ 🎙️ Listen & Subscribe: 📲 Connect with us: Sara Mobarhanfard : narosibcoaching.com Anisa Zafar : treeoflifeguru.com Pragati Siddhanti: myswissstory.com 🔗 Learn more about this podcast

  ListenShow Notes
• 

  The Heart of the Equation

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

  —21 min

  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-career and senior-level resets Uncertain job markets and organizational change After 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 2026 The difference between escaping a career and redesigning one Why mindset alone is not enough — and what actually moves careers forward How portfolio careers are becoming a strategic response to instability Why sponsorship, visibility, and relationships still matter (in corporate and entrepreneurship) How to plan a career that supports purpose, impact, and sustainability We 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 industries Leaders navigating promotion, reinvention, or career transitions Professionals considering portfolio careers or multiple income streams 🎯 About the January 26 Workshop This is not a vision board or surface-level goal-setting session. In the workshop, we’ll work on: Strategic career direction for 2026 Identity shifts required for leadership and reinvention Nervous system regulation during career transitions Career systems: sponsorship, visibility, decision-making, and influence Turning goals into concrete, realistic action plans Participants will leave with: A clear career direction for 2026 A personalised action plan Strategic 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.

  ListenShow Notes
• 

  The Heart of the Equation

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

  —33 min

  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, boundaries and rest drive long term performance How to transform your career in 2026 Join Our Live Online Career Workshop on 26.01.26 Date: 26 January 2026 Format: Live online, recording included Designed for: Mid-career managers and senior professionals in STEM and adjacent fields who want a clear, practical plan for 2026 Registration: https://narosib.thrivecart.com/career-strategy-2026/ 🎙️ Listen & Subscribe: 📲 Connect with us: Sara Mobarhanfard : narosibcoaching.com Anisa Zafar : treeoflifeguru.com Pragati Siddhanti: myswissstory.com

  ListenShow Notes

Recent guests on The Heart of the Equation. Study who booked and why before you pitch.

Based on semantic analysis of episode topics and host coverage, this show is a strong guest fit for executives in:

Industry fit is computed by PitchCentric using vector embeddings of the show's episode catalog.