Dr Zaniyar Sharifi

Zani Sharifi was shaped early on by two things: sport, and growing up between different cultures. Both have had a lasting influence on his view of collaboration, performance and leadership. From an early age, he learned how important trust, attitude and shared understanding are when people want to work together successfully – whether in sport, in everyday life, or later in organisations.

After studying economics and finance, his path first led him into the world of consulting, including roles at Deloitte and Capgemini. Alongside this, he researched at the Institute for Customer Insight at the University of St Gallen and later served as Managing Director of a leading think tank in the Swiss finance industry. It was there, too, that he gained his first leadership experience of his own – including many mistakes he still learns from to this day. It is precisely these experiences that shape his hands-on view of leadership, collaboration and culture today.

As Partner and Senior Speaker at JENEWEIN, Zani works with companies in keynotes, workshops and transformation processes around leadership, high-performance teams, culture and change. For him, it is never about theoretical models or management jargon, but about the decisive question: how do you create an environment in which people want to take responsibility, perform and grow together?

His talks are clear, dynamic and approachable. Not lectures, but impulses with energy, attitude and a direct connection to the reality of modern collaboration. Even in large groups, Zani manages to build genuine connection quickly – with stories that stay with you and ideas that make an impact.

What drives him is the conviction that lasting performance always emerges where people experience meaning, trust and true collaboration. And perhaps that is exactly what explains his background in martial arts: focus, presence, and the ability to spot opportunities at the right moment – and seize them with conviction.

Zaniyar Sharifi is also responsible for managing project enquiries. So in all likelihood, he will be one of the first members of our team you get to know personally.