# #15 - Serene Haddad: Leading through change and uncertainty

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-whole-truth-leadership-stories-with-sarah-perugia-7098484/15-serene-haddad-leading-through-change-and-uncertainty
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-whole-truth-leadership-stories-with-sarah-perugia-7098484/15-serene-haddad-leading-through-change-and-uncertainty.md
Podcast: [The Whole Truth: Leadership Stories with Sarah Perugia](https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-whole-truth-leadership-stories-with-sarah-perugia-7098484)
Published: 2026-04-20T16:00:00+00:00
Episode link: https://www.sarahperugia.com/
Audio file: https://episodes.captivate.fm/episode/d8815fa2-16d0-4fb3-95e5-8917f4e3b8d3.mp3
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Duration seconds: 2853

## Resource

Serene Haddad is VP of Innovation & AI at Nestlé and a marketer at heart, with nearly 20 years of experience building brands across Europe and the Middle East. Having lived in nine countries, she brings a truly global perspective and thrives in complexity, transformation, and change. She works at the intersection of data, human insight, strategy, and storytelling to turn ideas into meaningful business growth. She is also passionate about continuous self-investment and empowering women to lead with both ambition and authenticity. In this episode, Serene joins me after a chance meeting in Dubai to explore what it really means to lead through change in the current climate. With organisations shifting and roles evolving, she shares how she’s learned to stay grounded through uncertainty. She reflects on how her international upbringing shaped her ability to adapt, build connection, and find opportunity in change. We also explore the shift from navigating change personally to leading others through it, where influence, clarity, and emotional awareness become essential. At the heart of the conversation is Serene’s guiding principle: focusing on the value you can bring, even when circumstances feel uncertain or out of your control. She shares how this mindset has helped her navigate complex leadership moments, build stronger teams, and stay resilient through constant change. In this episode, we talk about: 00:00 – Introduction and meeting Serene in Dubai 02:45 – Leading through change and uncertainty 05:03 – Control, influence, and letting go 11:11 – A global upbringing and life across countries 16:45 – Building connection, resilience, and relationships 21:36 – From manager to inspirational leader 23:30 – Winning hearts, minds, and trust 27:37 – Leadership, gender, and liv…

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