Alpha Ziman - June 2024

Alpha Ziman

Alpha Ziman, originally from India, holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of Mumbai. She has spent the last decade in the United Arab Emirates, working in the Oil, Gas, and Utility Industry within the Public Sector, as a Project Assistant (aka Senior Executive Assistant). With her recent relocation to Zurich, she is enthusiastic about leveraging her skills in the Swiss Project Management environment.

Alpha is a seasoned project management professional. including the certifications Certified Project Business Analyst (PMI-PBA®) and Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM®). Her roles involved a blend of administrative, organizational, and communication skills, underpinned by a strong understanding of project management principles.

Her motivation to join the Swiss Chapter stems from a deep desire for personal fulfillment found in contributing to something greater than oneself. With a profound passion for project management, Alpha became part of the Zurich volunteering team to engage in an environment conducive to learning and insight exchange, along with the eagerness to connect with professionals who share the same enthusiasm in the field of Project Management.

Beyond her professional pursuits, Alpha finds joy in trekking, meeting new people, and continuously acquiring new skills.

You can learn more about Alpha by visiting her LinkedIn profile.

Pranav Sharma - May 2024

Pranav Sharma

Pranav is a Senior AI Engineer. In the past, he worked side-by-side with project management aspects, which he intends to combine with his current job.

Pranav joined the PMI Switzerland Chapter because of relevance to his country of residence, Germany. He also wants to get to know people in the domain of project management, from whom he can learn, and connect with, as well as personally contribute to PMI.

As hobbies, Pranav writes poetry, learns new things, calligraphy, and both listening and creating music.

You can learn more about Pranav by visiting his LinkedIn profile.

Gretel Sanabria Diaz - May 2024

Gretel Sanabria Diaz

Gretel is a Cuban national, residing in Switzerland since 2014. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Psychology and a master’s degree in Medical Psychology, both obtained in Cuba. Initially, her research endeavours were concentrated on Neuroscience, where she actively contributed to various projects.

Gretel’s academic journey led her to Switzerland, where she successfully completed her PhD in Neuroscience at the University of Lausanne. Subsequently, Gretel embarked on a post-doctoral position at the Biomedical Engineering Department of Basel University. In her current role, Gretel is dedicated to developing biomarkers to detect early changes in brain lesions related to Multiple Sclerosis.

Thriving in these multidisciplinary and challenging research environments, she has honed valuable soft skills such as effective communication, organization, and leadership.

Throughout her neuroscientific career, Gretel has been captivated by project management, recognizing the intricate integrations required for successful project execution. Motivated by this interest, she decided to pursue certification as a project manager, aiming to leverage her extensive research experience in a management capacity. Gretel’s goal for this year is to earn certifications, expand her professional network, and gain practical experience through an internship in the biopharma industry.

Gretel welcomes challenges, possesses a curious personality, and continually seeks opportunities for learning and skill development. Her venture into project management aligns with her desire to systematically organize the empirical knowledge acquired throughout her years in academia.

Joining the PMI Swiss Chapter is a testament to Gretel’s motivation for expanding her professional network. Gretel hopes to connect with fellow project management professionals, explore mentoring programs, and contribute through voluntary work in Switzerland. She is eager to hear diverse experiences and viewpoints from seasoned colleagues.

Outside of her professional pursuits, Gretel cherishes quality time with her family, enjoys dancing, and finds solace in reading.

You can learn more about Gretel by visiting her LinkedIn profile.

Potira Ama - May 2024

Potira Ama

Potira is a Portuguese-Brazilian citizen who after nearly 15 years of living in Asia (Singapore and Shanghai) has recently relocated to Switzerland.

She decided to leave Asia after her former life science company underwent an organizational restructuring, impacting her and her team’s roles. She made the move to Europe to be closer to her family, and to achieve a better work-life balance - a rarity in her previous Asian experience.

Having had the opportunity to work and live across four diverse countries - Australia, China, Brazil, and Singapore - Potira gained insights from highly matrixed organizations, understanding, and appreciating cultural differences.

With over two decades of experience in project management and supply chain, she developed expertise in digital transformation projects, procurement initiatives, and strategy formulation. She has hands-on experience in leading global initiatives across the pharmaceutical/life sciences, manufacturing, and transportation sectors.

Beyond the workspace, she enjoys activities like running, painting, table tennis, and botany. She loves traveling and immersing herself in diverse cultures and landscapes.

She is happy to connect with fellow professionals and contribute to the dynamic project management community here.

You can learn more about Potira by visiting her LinkedIn profile.

Fahad Ahsan - May 2024

Fahad Ahsan

Fahad Ahsan successfully completed his studies in 2009 at the Vellore Institute of Technology University, India, as a Bachelor of Technology in Chemical Engineering with a focus on Chemical and Bioprocess Development.

He is a project management and engineering professional with over 14 years of experience in managing Capital green and brown field pharmaceutical projects in India, Africa & Europe. He has been based in Switzerland since 2017. He possesses extensive experience in managing the overall life cycle, execution, and management of pharmaceutical projects, from concept design to commissioning, and final handover. Fahad has excellent analytical and problem-solving skills, which enable him to manage project resources and complexities efficiently, as well as the ability to establish good relations with all stakeholders.

He has previously worked with Thermofisher Scientific, CSL Behring, and Jacobs Engineering (for Biogen, Luterbach) in various roles, including: project management; engineering design management; engineering; change management; and site handover management. Fahad joined Pharmaplan in Basel in November 2023.

In his free time, Fahad enjoys cooking and reading.

You can learn more about Fahad by visiting his LinkedIn profile