Women Abroad

For the #28 episode of Women Abroad, my guest today is Gogo Cheng. Gogo was born in the Southern part of China. At the age of 12, she moved with her family to Hong Kong, where she currently lives and works. She began her career working for international luxury brands and travelled extensively for her work. In 2022, she launched her own consultancy company, Gogo Cheng Consulting Limited, an international luxury and customer loyalty consultancy. She puts her expertise at the service of creating sustainable businesses with happier customer experiences.Based in Hong Kong and in Luxembourg, she is developing her international activities constantly striving to bridge the cultural differences between East and West. 

Melina Nardi is my guest today for the 27th episode of my podcast Women Abroad with me Françoise Falisse. Melina is Co-founder and Head of Strategy at Mila Branders, a company located in Valencia, Spain. Mila Branders is a creative agency with a focus on strategic brand building for small and big brands, in all sectors. Her clients are very international. She is also an author. Discover her book: “A Zest for Happiness”Melina is an explorer and an engaged woman. Before settling in Spain, her journey abroad led her to live in countries as diverse as the US, Palestine, Chile, and Turkey. Though she faced multiple challenges, she speaks about life abroad with passion and determination. She is a believer that we can push back the boundaries of what is possible.We discussed:Diversity versus universalityUnderstanding the complexity of the world through international exposureAdventurous spirit: Going with the flow of your own life and listening to your mind and your heartTackling the risk of living abroad with knowledge and connectionsYour place and the impact on the world around youSharing your experience abroad with friends and family

My guest today is Silvia Polvara. Born in Italy, she studied and worked in Germany and the UK. She currently lives in Luxembourg. Each story of the women I interview explores a different facet of what it is like to live away from home. The outside perspective you get is at the heart of an international mindset that you gradually develop throughout your time abroad. As a child of a third culture, Silvia was also raised outside her native country. Luxembourg City, nestled in the heart of Europe, is a cosmopolitan and multicultural place where she enjoys embracing diversity. She also feels at home here.  

The 25th episode of Women Abroad brings me to introduce Barbara Lima. Barbara is a visionary, multilingual, and multi-talented Brazilian artist and entrepreneur. She is the founder, editor-in-chief, and creative director of The Weave Magazine, a seasonal and regenerative publication.She traveled and moved to Canada, France, China, Australia, Malaysia, Costa Rica, and now Mexico for self and professional development. Barbara calls herself a nomad, grounded, aligned with herself, and moving with the flow of life. For us, she opens her heart to her journey of self-discovery abroad and how she sees her traveling abroad as a catalyst to develop spiritually. 

My host for this 24th episode is Ludovica Arvigo, an Italian student in psychology. With her, we explore what it means to develop a third culture when, like her, you grow up abroad and build your educational background outside your parents' country of origin.  The wish to take a gap year never comes by chance. It often answers a call for self-discovery out of your comfort zone. From her getting prepared for her four-month trip in Central and South America, Ludovica’s episode is an ode to the joy of meeting yourself outside of an organised setting and a powerful confidence booster. 

Pour ce 23ème épisode, j’accueille Virginie André. Virginie et sa famille quittent leur Belgique natale pour embarquer pour Stockholm, en Suède. Entre le rêve longuement mûri et sa concrétisation, elle constate rapidement que le chemin à la résidence est un parcours qui peut être long et balisé d’obstacles. Partir en famille vous amène à découvrir un pays sous des angles multiples qui enrichissent votre expérience de l’étranger. La qualité des préparatifs, notamment les démarches administratives, importe aussi beaucoup et peut amoindrir le choc à l'arrivée dans le nouveau pays. Vous souhaitez en découvrir davantage sur l’expérience de Virginie et sur la Suède, en quoi ce pays suscite son admiration, et l’inspire pour ses projets professionnels, c’est tout de suite, votre nouvel épisode de Women Abroad.

Hello and welcome to my podcast Women Abroad with me Françoise Falisse. This interview podcast is a space for women from around the world to talk about their experiences of living and working abroad. For my 22nd episode, I welcome Joana Silva Carreira. Joana is a Portuguese early career woman, and a singer currently living in Luxembourg. She first spent six months in Belgium and six months in the US. Her outgoing personality and open-minded worldview have made it easy for her to adapt abroad. Having friends you can relate to and trust when living abroad is sometimes like having a family away from home. If studying or a work assignment is the reason for your move abroad, finding a hobby outside of work can bring balance to your life. What you need to be fulfilled may also become clearer during your trip abroad. Joana is exploring all these topics with us now. Let's get to know her. 

Pour ce 21ème épisode, je suis ravie de vous présenter Racha Zahira Ammati, consultante spécialisée dans le développement de projets visant à l’autonomisation économique des femmes et l’égalité des genres. Elle est également conseillère jeunesse au bureau régional de l’ONU FEMMES pour les États arabes, et y est également active sur la plateforme Agora pour l'innovation en matière de genre. Née au Maroc, elle réside actuellement à Ottawa au Canada. Au fil de ses multiples expatriations, elle est devenue une citoyenne du monde. Je vous laisse découvrir ici ce que cela signifie pour elle et comment de chocs culturels en prises en conscience, ses projets de développement pour les femmes se sont mis en place.

Today I have the pleasure to host Betina Szkudlarek for my 20th episode. Betina was born and raised in Poland and she currently lives in Sydney, Australia. She is an Associate Professor, Program Director Master of Management at the University of Sydney Business School, and a specialist in intercultural relationships, inclusion, and diversity. She also works as a freelance Strategic Planning, Sustainability, and Growth Consultant for the United Nations Alliance of Civilisations.Being exposed to different cultural environments gives us the opportunity to discover new people and new behaviors, some we like, some we don't and it is really important to go beyond the stereotypes that we can all build. The real value of a person goes beyond their behavior, it is about our perception. Managing diversity is about seeing each person as unique.The internet connection was unstable at times, my apologies for that.Let's now hear her story as a woman living abroad.