Every week, interesting personalities from the world of finance and beyond share their personal preferences in our section Backstage.

What do you do first in the morning?

The first thing I reach for in the morning is a good double espresso—it’s my little moment of calm before the day begins. As a mom of two, mornings are always a whirlwind, but I’m endlessly grateful for my amazing husband, whose support allows me to focus, organize my priorities, and approach each day with energy and purpose.

What is the best thing about your job?

The best part of my job is that I get to turn science fiction into reality on a daily basis. We’re working on therapies that could genuinely save lives – how many people get to say that about their work? It’s incredibly motivating. And I do it alongside a brilliant team; brainstorming with them is like having a front-row seat to the future.

A moment that changed your life? 

I don’t think there was a single defining moment—there were many that shaped who I am. I was raised during difficult times in my country, which had a profound impact on my growth. Losing my mother to an aggressive and devastating cancer was incredibly difficult. Yet, as someone working in the field, this personal experience only strengthened my and my brother’s motivation and determination to persevere in developing anticancer therapies, striving in our own way to contribute to humanity’s fight against this terrible disease. At the same time, countless wonderful moments in both my personal and professional life have left a lasting impact. My family, as my primary source of energy, and my brother, with whom I have worked for nearly twenty years and who continues to inspire me in countless ways, remain among the most important influences in my life. 

What cars do you own? Which is your favorite?

I don’t drive and have little interest in cars overall. For me, a car simply needs to be comfortable, safe, and able to get me from one place to another. That said, I do also appreciate good design, so I imagine I’d look for that feature when choosing a car.

What advice would you give to your 20-year-old self?

Don’t be afraid to take that leap into the unknown – some of your best successes will come from daring moves. Also, be kinder to yourself when things go wrong, because those failures will teach you more than any textbook. And one more thing: wear sunscreen! (Your future self – now developing a skin treatment – will thank you.) 

What are you particularly proud of?

I’m particularly proud of the team we’ve built and what we’ve accomplished together. Seeing a group of brilliant, passionate people rally behind a common mission – and knowing I had a hand in bringing them together – is immensely satisfying.

What was your biggest defeat?

I don’t really believe in defeats in the usual sense. Life is full of ups and downs, and both are equally important for personal growth. We can learn from every experience, but there is no true champion without the ability to overcome oneself in difficult situations. This is a mental struggle, one that everyone benefits from practicing, and to me, it is a lesson in resilience.
I have faced many challenging situations in my life, coming from a country torn by war - you can only imagine the obstacles. Yet these experiences made me stronger. I come from a cultural background that deeply values life and demands creativity and problem-solving even in seemingly impossible circumstances. All of this has shaped my core self into something solid, a foundation on which I continued to build and grew into something far greater.

What is your favorite wine?

I wouldn’t call myself a wine connoisseur. I enjoy drinking wine and exploring its different flavors, but I can’t say it’s a true passion of mine.

What projects are you currently working on?

Professionally, I’m juggling several thrilling missions. Rocketvax is advancing new vaccines, while Torqur is pushing an innovative cancer therapy forward – with especially strong results against actinic keratosis, a precancerous skin condition, a.o. caused by years of sun exposure. It’s like prepping multiple rockets launches at once: complex, high-stakes, and absolutely exhilarating.

What is most important to you at the moment?

I’m driven by seeing our company and team thrive, growing together while truly enjoying the journey and striving toward shared goals. At the same time, I value being fully present for my family, and embracing life’s everyday moments. Challenges don’t hold me back—they energize me, and with the right planning, flexibility, and support, everything becomes possible. 

What would be the biggest surprise for someone who had to do your job for a day?

I think the biggest surprise would be how many different skills are needed in one day—from strategic decision-making to hands-on problem solving. It’s a role that requires constant switching between big-picture thinking and detailed execution. 

What is your personal drive?

My motivation has always been to become a better version of myself. That inner drive to compete with myself is what truly fuels me. There is always enough work for each of us to do on ourselves, and I believe that a person who can continuously improve is setting the best example for those around them.

My interests are very broad, and I love challenges—especially because they constantly push me outside my comfort zone. My genuine passion for my profession, for science, and for developing medicines—with the ultimate goal of helping humanity—is a tremendous source of motivation in my work.

I have a deep empathy for people, and the work I do is perfectly aligned with my personality. This harmony between who I am and what I do makes me feel truly fulfilled and grateful to live a life I love.

What are you afraid of?

I have learned not to approach life with fear. Instead, I focus on giving my best in every area, staying open to whatever comes my way, and learning from each experience. This mindset helps me remain resilient and transform challenges into opportunities.

Your favorite watch brand?

I haven’t worn a watch in quite some time—these days, like many, I simply check the time on my phone. While I’m not particularly focused on brands, I do have a keen appreciation for design and elegance, and those would certainly guide my choice when selecting my next timepiece.

What do your employees value most about you?

I think my colleagues would be the best ones to answer that, but the feedback I hear most often is that they appreciate my calmness, rational mindset, and problem-solving attitude, combined with compassion and a sense of humor. Those traits seem to help us a lot in keeping the energy positive and balanced in a fast-moving start-up environment. 

Your best investment?

I regard my greatest investment as the quiet, unfolding journey of becoming the best version of myself—not in possessions, but in growth, character, and understanding. Every effort toward self-improvement sends gentle ripples outward, touching my life, my family, my work, and the world around me. In nurturing myself this way, I find the truest form of investment—one that brings deep fulfillment and leaves a lasting, meaningful impact beyond my own life.

Dr. Natasa Cmiljanovic is founder and COO of Swiss Rockets AG. The PhD chemist and experienced oncology researcher played a key role in the development of the innovative PI3K/mTOR inhibitor bimiralisib. With over ten years of experience in drug development, she now drives Swiss Rockets’ mission as an entrepreneur: to develop groundbreaking therapies against cancer, infectious, and autoimmune diseases.