Hats On!

What happens when curiosity becomes a way of life?In this episode of Hats On!, Laia sits down with Marta, a physicist, researcher, immigrant, meditator, and someone deeply committed to understanding both science and herself.Together, they explore the realities of academic life, the pressure of pursuing excellence, the mental health challenges that often remain invisible behind achievements, and why Marta has spent years investing in understanding her own mind as seriously as she studies science.This is a conversation about curiosity, identity, ambition, migration, and the courage to make life choices that are truly your own. In this episode we talk about:• The reality behind prestigious academic awards• Why mental health deserves the same attention as career growth• Meditation, reactivity, and learning to pause• Building a life in a new country• Choosing not to have children and challenging societal expectations• Why the journey matters more than the destinationA thoughtful conversation for anyone navigating ambition, uncertainty, and the question of what a meaningful life looks like.Disclaimer: Guest's opinions are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Hats On! or its partners. This podcast is not a substitute for professional advice.

From Austria to Congo, turning a Childhood Dream into Change. At just 20 years old, Manuela boarded a plane to the Democratic Republic of Congo with little more than a childhood dream and an unwavering belief that she could make a difference.In this episode of Hats On!, Manuela shares the reality behind the mission—the loneliness of those first months, the illnesses that nearly forced her to stop, the resilience required to keep going, and the responsibility that comes with being given the local name "Mother of All Children."We also explore leadership, sustainability, motherhood, and what it means to raise a daughter between two worlds while building a future that extends far beyond yourself.This is a conversation about purpose, courage, service, and the remarkable things that can happen when one person refuses to give up on a dream. In this episode we talk about:• Following a childhood calling into the unknown• Building schools, healthcare, and community-led development• Resilience in the face of adversity• Leadership rooted in service• Raising a child across cultures• Creating sustainable impact that outlives the founderIf you've ever wondered whether one person can truly make a difference, this conversation is your answer. Check out this incredible project on the following links.Website: https://www.zukunft-fuer-tshumbe.or.at/ Social media: https://www.instagram.com/zukunftfuertshumbeDisclaimer: Guest's opinions are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Hats On! or its partners. This podcast is not a substitute for professional advice.

She spent years being the only woman in the room. Now she’s helping other women take their seat at the table.From being the only woman on construction sites in her twenties to becoming Group President of a major American corporation, Erin built a remarkable career in engineering and leadership. But this conversation goes far beyond titles.In this episode of Hats On!, Erin opens up about the mentors who shaped her, the loneliness of senior leadership, impostor syndrome, motherhood while climbing the corporate ladder, and the invisible emotional labour women carry behind successful careers.We also talk about something rarely discussed openly in leadership circles: menopause. What happens when your career is peaking, your children are leaving home, your parents are aging, and your body starts asking for attention in a completely new way?This is an honest conversation about ambition, identity, leadership, health, and learning to stop chasing perfection.We talk about:women in engineering and leadershipmentorship vs advocacyimpostor syndrome at senior levelmotherhood and career guiltmoving cities and rebuilding communitymenopause in the workplaceredefining success in midlifeA thoughtful, deeply human conversation for anyone navigating leadership, caregiving, ambition, and change.Disclaimer: Guest's opinions are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Hats On! or its partners. This podcast is not a substitute for professional advice.

(Episode in Spanish) De Bosnia a Irak. Del ébola en Sierra Leona a los campos de refugiados en Grecia y Ucrania.En este episodio de Hats On! converso con una mujer que ha dedicado su vida a la medicina, la ayuda humanitaria y, sobre todo, a las personas. Anestesióloga, cirujana y vicepresidenta de Cruz Roja Española, comparte las lecciones que aprendió trabajando en algunos de los escenarios más duros del mundo.Hablamos de resiliencia, humanidad, liderazgo, miedo, menopausia, independencia, curiosidad y del enorme poder de no perder nunca las ganas de aprender y de vivir.Una conversación profundamente humana sobre servicio, propósito y vida.---------------------------------------------------(ENG) From war zones to Ebola wards, from rural medicine to refugee camps.This week’s conversation is with a woman who has spent her life running toward humanity when others were running away.A former anesthesiologist and surgeon, humanitarian doctor, and Vice President of the Spanish Red Cross, she shares what Bosnia, Iraq, Sierra Leone, Palestine and Ukraine taught her about resilience, leadership, fear, curiosity, and what it really means to care for people.But beyond the extraordinary missions, this is also a conversation about being a woman who chose freedom, purpose, medicine, and curiosity over convention — and why she still wakes up every morning wanting to learn more.This episode is a masterclass in humanity.Disclaimer: Guest's opinions are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Hats On! or its partners. This podcast is not a substitute for professional advice.

One in ten women lives with endometriosis. Most spend years being dismissed before they’re diagnosed.This episode of Hats On! is the first of our Deep Dive series — where we unpack one topic through three lenses: the personal experience, the workplace reality, and what organisations can actually do better.Today’s topic is endometriosis.A chronic condition affecting an estimated 190 million people worldwide — yet still misunderstood, underdiagnosed, and rarely discussed openly at work.In this episode, we explore:What endometriosis actually is and why diagnosis can take up to a decadeThe physical and emotional cost of living with chronic painWhy so many women suffer in silence at workThe impact on careers, productivity, fertility, and mental healthThe practical changes organisations can make to better support employeesThis isn’t just a women’s health issue. It’s a leadership issue. A workplace issue. A systems issue.If you’ve ever felt dismissed, unseen, or forced to push through pain in silence — this episode is for you. And if you lead people, manage teams, or shape workplace policy, this conversation matters even more.Link to the Endometriosis UK friendly employer scheme:https://www.endometriosis-uk.org/endometriosis-friendly-employer-schemeDisclaimer: Guest's opinions are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Hats On! or its partners. This podcast is not a substitute for professional advice.

She left the U.S. for Spain and built a business from scratch in a market built on connections she didn’t have.In this episode of Hats On!, we talk about what it really takes to build something of your own far from home, without a clear roadmap, and before you feel “ready.”Just four years out of university, Lauren made a decision most would call bold: she moved to Spain and launched her own executive search firm in one of the most competitive, relationship-driven industries.What followed was over a decade of building a business across Europe—by doing things differently. Not just filling roles, but finding the people others overlook and turning them into game-changing hires.But the story doesn’t stop there. Years later, she made another big shift—moving back to the U.S. to rebuild her business in a market she hadn’t lived in for over a decade… all while becoming a mother for the first time.We talk about:Starting a business abroad with no networkTurning “different” into your biggest advantageNavigating markets, cultures, and constant changeWhat it means to rebuild—personally and professionallyMotherhood as a founder—and how it changes everything (and nothing)At its core, this is a conversation about trusting your instincts even when there’s no clear path. And realizing that sometimes, what looks bold from the outside… just feels obvious from within.If you’ve ever taken a leap, questioned where you belong, or tried to build something on your own terms—this episode is for you.Disclaimer: Guest's opinions are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Hats On! or its partners. This podcast is not a substitute for professional advice.

She had a stable career and she would’ve stayed on it forever. Until life quietly asked a different question.In this episode of Hats On!, Ilona shares a deeply human story of unexpected change, resilience, and the paths we don’t plan but end up shaping us the most.Trained as an audiologist, Ilona built a long, successful career in a demanding field. But when an opportunity came to move overseas, everything shifted. From Australia to the Netherlands to the UK and back again, this conversation explores what happens when you step off the “expected” path—and discover something new about yourself along the way. We talk about:The reality of miscarriage—and the silence around itSupporting someone through mental health—and the invisible weight carried by those around themLetting go of the idea that life has to follow a fixed planRaising children to embrace individuality, not perfectionAt its core, this is a conversation about adaptability. About choosing differently when life gives you the chance. And about understanding that not everything needs to go according to plan to turn out exactly as it should.If you’ve ever questioned your path, felt stuck in a version of life that no longer fits, or wondered what else might be possible, this episode is for you.Disclaimer: Guest's opinions are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Hats On! or its partners. This podcast is not a substitute for professional advice.

Her career didn’t follow a straight line. Neither did her life.In this episode of Hats On!, Vanessa shares the real story behind an unconventional career — from startups to corporate leadership — and the deeply personal journey she chose to speak about openly: IVF.As a senior leader in the pharmaceutical industry and co-founder of Women in Mobile, her career reflects innovation, resilience, and reinvention. But behind the achievements is a story of uncertainty, difficult decisions, and moments that tested her strength in ways no one could see.We talk about:Building a non-linear career and trusting your own pathThe loneliness of entrepreneurship and uncertaintyRedefining leadership through experience, not titlesWhy visibility for women in tech still mattersThe reality of IVF — physically, mentally, emotionallyNavigating pressure, expectations, and societal normsLearning to stay grounded in a constantly changing worldFrom career pivots to deeply personal challenges, this conversation is about learning to move forward — even when nothing feels certain.If you’ve ever questioned your path, felt behind, or gone through something no one talks about — this episode is for you.Disclaimer: Guest's opinions are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Hats On! or its partners. This podcast is not a substitute for professional advice.

(Episode in Spanish) Empezar de nuevo suena valiente. Pero nadie habla de lo que realmente cuesta.En este episodio de Hats On!, Angélica comparte su historia desde Colombia hasta el Reino Unido y España — construyendo una carrera global mientras navegaba identidad, presión y pertenencia.Con un doctorado en química y hoy COO en la industria de dispositivos médicos, su trayectoria parece extraordinaria desde fuera. Pero detrás hay una historia de resiliencia y la constante necesidad de demostrar que merecía estar en la mesa.Hablamos de:Construir una carrera en diferentes países y culturasLa soledad invisible de empezar de ceroSer mujer, inmigrante y líder en entornos exigentesRacismo, sesgos y la presión de rendir más que los demásMaternidad, identidad y redefinir el éxitoLos momentos que te rompen… y te transformanDesde la pérdida personal hasta una experiencia de salud que cambió su perspectiva, esta es una conversación sobre lo que realmente significa convertirse en quien eres.Si alguna vez sentiste que tenías que trabajar el doble solo para pertenecer — este episodio es para ti.---------------------------------------------------(ENG) She started from scratch several times. And no one saw what it really cost.In this episode of Hats On!, Angélica shares her journey from Colombia to the UK and Spain — building a global career in science and leadership while navigating identity, pressure, and belonging.With a PhD in chemistry and now a COO in the medical device industry, her path looks extraordinary from the outside. But behind it is a story of resilience, invisible struggles, and the constant need to prove she deserved to be in the room.We talk about:Building a career across countries and culturesThe hidden loneliness of starting overBeing a woman, immigrant, and leader in male-dominated spacesExperiencing racism, bias, and pressure to overperformMotherhood, identity, and redefining successThe moments that break you — and rebuild youFrom personal loss to a life-changing health scare, this is a conversation about what it really takes to become who you are. If you’ve ever felt like you had to work twice as hard just to belong — this episode is for you.Disclaimer: Guest's opinions are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Hats On! or its partners. This podcast is not a substitute for professional advice.

She had the career. The ambition. The plan. And then everything changed.In this episode of Hats On!, Tiziana shares what happened when motherhood collided with a high-performing corporate career — and the identity shift that followed.After years as an HR leader in a multinational company, she returned from maternity leave to a reality she didn’t recognize. The system hadn’t changed — but she had. What followed was a period of isolation, self-doubt, and eventually, a breaking point that forced her to rethink everything.We talk about:The silent struggle of returning to work after maternity leaveThe pressure of trying to be everything at onceWhy “having it all” can feel like failing at everythingThe moment that changed her path completelyBuilding a new life rooted in presence, not pressureTiziana now coaches women through identity and career transitions using her “Zeit” philosophy — grounded in one belief: The best time is now.You can find more about her work in https://avanzaris.com/If you’ve ever felt like you’re not enough — in your career, at home, or in yourself — this conversation is for you. Listen now and join the conversation.Disclaimer: Guest's opinions are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Hats On! or its partners. This podcast is not a substitute for professional advice.

Hats On! – Welcome EpisodeWe are still having too many conversations in whispers. Hats On! brings them into the open.Because the truth is: we all wear many hats.The professional. The mother. The partner. The one holding it together. The one quietly falling apart. The one reinventing herself.Most of the time, we carry it all in silence.But something changes when we name it. Out loud.That’s what this podcast is about.Each episode brings honest, unfiltered conversations with women navigating the complexity of real life — across careers, cultures, and personal journeys. We’ll talk about identity, ambition, motherhood, loss, leadership, and everything in between. Some conversations will be in English, others in the language that best captures the truth being shared — because some things can only be expressed the way we first learned to feel them.This podcast is not just for women. It’s for anyone who wants to better understand the women in their lives — as colleagues, partners, leaders, and human beings.If something here makes you feel seen, less alone, or sparks a conversation you’ve been avoiding — then it’s doing its job.Hats On. Let’s begin.