Ariane Tavakol
INTERVIEWS & STORIES
Questions that get past the answer they’ve given a hundred times.
Gatherings & experiences
Private dinners and salons, with the guest list and conversation designed together.
Hosting & Moderation
Panels and live conversations that go beyond rehearsed answers.
People remember how a room made them feel. They also remember whether anything came of it.
"You don't even realize what she's up to, because it is done with such charm and grace. Then she asks the questions you didn't realize you wanted to answer. You don't ever want to stop talking."
— Tess Aziz, Head of Client Experiences
I grew up between continents before I knew that was unusual. Five cities, four countries, three continents, one early lesson: the person in the room who adapts fastest reads it best. I became very good at reading rooms. I became very good at asking the question nobody else thought to ask.
I've sat down with scientists, Olympians, Michelin-starred chefs, surgeons, artists, CEOs, and the occasional shark. What none of them expected was that the conversation would go where it went. That's not luck. That's practice.
The format changes. My job doesn’t: help people drop the script and have a real conversation.
The Positioning
The
Connector.
I notice who should meet, which question hasn’t been asked, and when a room is ready to go somewhere more interesting. It’s what I do now, whether I’m hosting a panel, gathering people around a table, or interviewing someone I’m curious about.
WHAT I Do
Four forms.
One craft.
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Purposeful Introductions
I also take on selected projects that begin with knowing who should meet. If you have a clear reason to bring particular people or communities together, let’s talk.
Recent Episodes
Maxine Nienow - Magic is something we create together
Laskaar - Pressure, Identity, Masculinity
Nadine Hunkeler - Why Investing Feels Hard
Dr. Ghavami - Beauty and Flawed Expectations
The unsaid.
Every episode.
The people who move the world forward are sensitive. They pay attention. They feel the room. They catch things early and know when to speak and when to wait. For a long time, that was something to tone down.
Now I think it's the whole point. This show is proof.
I sit down with people I'm genuinely curious about and see where the conversation goes. I don't send questions beforehand. I'm interested in what people actually think, not what they rehearsed on the way over.
IN THE ROOM
What it
looks like.
"Working with Ariane was an absolute pleasure. She conducted a fantastic interview that was both comfortable and dynamic. I'm incredibly pleased with how the interview turned out."
— Kevin Harrington, the Original Shark Tank
"To know the right questions to ask, to get the best out of someone, is a real skill.
Ariane doesn't ask the usual questions. She reads you, sees the person underneath,
and identifies what makes you tick from the heart."
— Tess Aziz, Head of Client Experiences
"Our interview was the most fun of the day. You came with questions that were outside the box and unexpected. Your questions were deep and made me think."
— Richard Orlinski, French artist
"The curated mix of people from a wide array of cultural and demographic backgrounds and artistic mediums was as appreciated as the talent showcased."
— SWISS GLAM
"Ariane has a remarkable to make conversations feel effortless. She brings a rare mix of warmth, humour, curiosity, and professionalism. Whether behind a microphone or in front of a room, she has a natural way of putting people at ease and helping real conversations happen.
—Gabrielle Tay, Founder of Action For Women
THE INTERVAL
Each salon is built around one strong question that doesn't let people stay in polite territory. Not a networking event. Not a workshop. A structured conversation space where something slightly uncomfortable is allowed to surface.
The gathering is the room where the conversation you couldn't have at dinner finally happens. Small groups. Chosen deliberately. One question that matters more than it first appears.
Each gathering begins with one question and a carefully chosen mix of women. I guide the conversation, leaving everyone free to take part in their own way.
FORMAT
Small group. In person. Zurich and select cities.
Who It's For
Scientists, artists, lawyers, entrepreneurs, people who read things.
How to Join
By invitation or direct inquiry. No application form.
What to Expect
To leave thinking about something you hadn't thought about before.
The Background
Ariane Tavakol
Connector. Interviewer. Host.
From Zurich, across Europe and three continents. I've lived between cultures since I was eight, which means I learned early that the fastest way to understand someone is to find the question they've never been asked before.
I've spent years bringing extraordinary people into conversation: entrepreneurs, Olympians, Michelin-starred chefs, surgeons, artists, scientists, and a few proper sharks. What I've learned is that the most interesting thing about any of them is never what's on their resume. It's what they've had to feel their way through.
I bring people into conversations they might not otherwise have. Sometimes that’s on stage. Sometimes it begins around a dinner table or behind a microphone.
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Host, Call Me Sensitive Podcast
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Founder, The Interval salon series
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Event moderator and panel host
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Worked with Action For Women, Breitling, Hotel Vitznauerhof, and others
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Based in Zurich. Available globally.
Worked with
Action For Women Breitling Essence Women House of Interiors House of Nomads BossLadies
Stay Connected
The thoughts that don't make it into the mic.