Episode 15: Dr Zahra Safarfashandi on Breaking into Consulting, Leading in the Middle East, and Balancing Ambition with Intention
Description
What drives a doctor to swap the wards for boardrooms—and end up leading healthcare strategy across the Middle East?
In this episode, we sit down with Dr Zahra Safarfashandi, now Partner at Carnall Farrar, to unpack her bold move from medicine into consulting and her rise to leadership on a global stage.
From overcoming family hesitations to pitching to hospital boards on day one, Zahra shares the lessons learned from choosing impact over tradition. She opens up about building a career in healthcare consulting, spearheading transformation in the GCC, and redefining success as a parent and leader.
We dive into:
- 💡 Breaking into consulting straight out of medical school
- 🌍 Taking healthcare transformation to the Middle East
- ⚖️ Balancing ambition with intention—and the reality of trade-offs
- 👩👦 How motherhood reshaped her definition of success
Zahra’s story is a must-listen for anyone curious about consulting, global healthcare, or carving out an authentic path beyond the clinic.
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