STORIES OF WOMEN
Building Bridges for Strategic Partnerships
In celebration of the power of collaboration and innovation brought by women in STEM within Switzerland’s technology and engineering sectors, ALTEN highlights the impact of strategic partnerships as part of the Stories of Women (SoW) initiative.
In this interview, Sara Orsi – Coach Business Manager at ALTEN Switzerland – shares her experience in connecting clients, teams, and technology to drive meaningful transformation. She discusses how fostering trust, supporting professional growth, and aligning business objectives with technical expertise creates sustainable value.
Sara also reflects on concrete steps taken over the past year, from nurturing stakeholder relationships to guiding project teams and leveraging tools to anticipate opportunities, emphasising the role of people-centred collaboration in driving enterprise innovation.
What are you building?
I’m building strategic partnerships that accelerate enterprise transformation.
Why you feel these strategic partnerships matter?
Together with leaders in the Engineering and IT Services industries, we use technology to develop innovative products and services, in an environment where everyone can grow both professionally and personally.
This is particularly meaningful to me because the work we do has a direct and tangible impact on people’s lives.
Through your job, how are you building these strategic collaborations? What technologies, systems, processes or expertise are involved?
In my role as a Business Manager at ALTEN, building strategic partnerships is at the core of my responsibilities. I act as an intrapreneur, developing long-term relationships with both clients and consultants while ensuring that business growth aligns with technical excellence and people development.
On the client side, I work closely with engineering and IT leaders to understand their strategic priorities, technological challenges, and transformation goals. This allows me to position the right expertise and consulting solutions to support their initiatives, whether in software or product development, digital transformation, data, or system architecture. By maintaining regular communication and a strong understanding of their evolving needs, I aim to build trusted partnerships rather than transactional relationships.
At the same time, I focus on identifying, recruiting, and supporting talented consultants whose skills match these challenges. The recruitment process involves sourcing candidates through professional networks, interviews, and technical evaluations to ensure both technical fit and cultural alignment. Once they join projects, I remain involved as a manager and mentor, supporting their professional development and ensuring their missions create value for both them and our clients.
Negotiation and business development are also essential parts of this process. I structure project scopes, manage contractual discussions, and ensure that engagements are mutually beneficial and sustainable. To support these activities, I rely on CRM systems, recruitment platforms, professional networking tools, and market intelligence to track opportunities, manage relationships, and anticipate future needs. Ultimately, my role is about connecting people, technology, and business objectives to create lasting partnerships that generate value for everyone involved.
What concrete steps have you taken in the past year to build them?
- I have focused on maintaining regular communication with key stakeholders to better understand their goals, explore potential areas for collaboration, and ensure our interactions remain constructive.
- I have supported the people involved in projects by providing guidance and encouragement, helping them contribute effectively while fostering their professional growth.
- I have leveraged various tools and resources to stay informed about opportunities and developments, ensuring that relationships remain productive, positive, and mutually beneficial over time”