Clelia Somers-Theodorides was born in South Africa to Greek parents. She grew up in a large Greek community and enjoyed many cultural traditions. She lives in Luxembourg with her Swiss-British husband Gilles and son Constantine. She is an interior designer (who speaks 6 languages!) with a flare for house restoration. Learn how Clelia developed a nose for business and real estate and leveraged her multi-cultural background to create wealth.

Clelia’s early years :

• Grew up w rich culture and many traditions w Greek parents. Traditions are important to keep family together
• Born during apartheid; today she considers herself a more tolerant person
• She was curious about the world beyond SA
• Decided to take a gap year to travel; worked as airline stewardess for Lux Air
• Spent half time in Luxembourg and the other half in SA
• Traveled to Italy to speak Italian, France to speak French and of course her native Greek
• By speaking different languages you become an enriched person
• Moved full time to Lux and became engaged a Lux/italian man who was a restaunteur like her Dad and an interior designer.

Her next career moves:

• Wanted to find something for herself and away from her fiancé
• Got into banking w 350 banks in Lux
• Broke off engagement
• At JP Morgan met her husband who had similar qualities as her Dad. 15 years older
• Married after 6 months
• Gilles wanted her to stay at home but she needed to work
• Banking crashed and she had to recreate herself. Renovated their 18th century country home
• She felt the financial bubble in 2008 was the time to sell. “My nose told me something was going to happen.”
• Sold before the financial crisis
• Made a nice profit and poured profits into purchase of more projects in Lux and two homes in Milos, Greece
• Felt an urge to purchase a large apartment in Lisbon, and has tripled in value
• Properties are rented for cash flow

Design Firm: CGA

• Started when her husband retired and wanted to get out of the house
• With two partners from Greece to bring Mediterranean influence to the dark, Germanic Lux. Wanted to bring some sunshine to Lux
• Networked w Gilles’ banking contacts to grow her clientele
• Clelia feels more confident than ever at age 56
• She has trusting and personal relationships with her clients and feels intimately immersed in their lives as she designs their homes and is brought into their lives

What advice do you have for individuals considering a different direction? Like your “brass ring”:

• Women need to be inventive-even if they are not working in a traditional paid role when they raise a family, they will benefit significantly from having fundamental skills beyond motherhood
• Working women are great role models; she believes in always working and setting an example for your children. Be a strong female figure
• Go w the flow. One road leads to another; be open and flexible in your personal journey. Take risks, and don’t worry so much about the consequences. Think long term-big picture,
• Travel opens your mind and inspires you.

Where can listeners learn more about Clelia?

On the CGA website www.cgastudio.lu, @cgastudio on Instagram, Facebook: CGA Studio Luxembourg and on LinkedIn

To learn more about Jean and the Be Joyful podcast visit www.bejoyful.love.

Jan’s foolproof lessons to be a successful entrepreneur and how she learned to succeed in a male-dominated field and continues to live her dream everyday.

Early years and her unusual college experiences:

• Kid from the NY boroughs, growing up in a concrete jungle
• Always fascinated w plants
• Steered toward botanical illustratration by HS guidance counselor
• Attended Friends World College, run by Quakers, created her own studies
• Studied in Japan, lived in Kyoto and transfixed by Japanese gardens
• Japanese boss said “you’re not an architect, you’re a landscape architect.”
• Studied landscape architecture at University of Hawaii and studied hydroponic gardening, without soil. She was the only woman in her class

What was Jan’s next endeavor?

• Realized she was not suited to working in an office
• She wanted hands on training and worked at Mohonk Mountain House in NY
• Worked for a French master gardener who was reticent to work w her since she was a woman. But Jan was persistent and persevered
• Learned professional horticulture
• Jan believes in experiential education, learn by doing

How did she start her biz?

• With not much money, rented one room from a man who ran a small tree service, who became her mentor
• “I knew what I knew, but I didn’t know how to run a business and luckily had a husband who knew how to.”
• Her mentor coached her, told her what courses to take. He started Sav-a-Tree, a first class and very successful tree business.
• Your thoughts and attitudes are key to your success. Set sites high enough
• Have a goal and see it through Jan’s goal is to create beautiful outdoor settings
• Her mission is to pay it forward, share what she’s learned

Author:

• Jan started writing books because she loves sharing what she has learned and believes that having a serene outdoor environment can uplift people in this crazy world
• 7 books including Spirit of Stone, Flowertopia, Gardentopia, Heaven in a Garden

What advice do you have for women looking to find their passions, and her “brass ring” for success?

• Get your business systems in place first before you start out. Being talented in your specific field is not enough, your passion I will be the key to your success.
• Work with people you align with
• Get yourself out there
• Make time for yourself, even something as simple as a walk
• It’s ok to be the only woman in the room
• You have to love what you do

Where can listeners learn more about Jan?

• Instagram @johnsendesign
• Subscribe to janjohnsen.substack.com for landscaping tips
• johnsenlandscapes.com
• Books can be purchased on Amazon

To learn more about Jean and the Be Joyful podcast visit www.bejoyful.love.

Greta Hanson Sohmer is a modern day renaissance woman who has reinvented herself many times in her multi-faceted career path from corporate sales and marketing to wedding planner to real estate agent. Learn how to be the best version of YOU and how you can earn additional income for travel. Be prepared to laugh when you listen to Greta’s podcast.

What were your early years and early adulthood like?

• Grew up in a close knit family that loved reunions and welcomed strangers to their gatherings
• This thread of hospitality was cemented early on which I’ve carried through my life
• Close relationship with cousins was forged with annual cousins camp that met on my grandparent’s farm
• When cousins grew up, I organized cousins camp for my children and my cousin’s children
• Shy until high school when corp group of 6 friends brought me out of my shyness

What kind of work did you start out doing?

• Graduated with a degree in theology and taught theology ad English in private all girls high school
• Has a competitive edge and when I saw my male friends succeed in business, I decided to enter the corporate world
• Started in sales at Xerox, moved to Silicon Valley start up, moved w company to Boulder for management and sales training
• Promoted to vertical sales where I met my husband who was “the client from hell.” He became my internal coach and biggest supporter
• Being competitive helped in sales, developed “stick with it” attitude and tough skin; woke up every morning with a positive outlook

When did you decide to have children?

• I had a daughter from a previous marriage and after several IVF attempts our son was born when I was 40
• Paul and I wanted to share our blessings and loving family life so we decided to adopt twins from Bulgaria.
• My husband said, “If not us, who” and “At least it’s not triplets!”
• I put my career on hold and became earth mother, vegetable gardener, and my hospitality took root.
• Our home was the go-to for class parties, holiday reunions

What motivating factors led you to change direction?

• When the twins were in boarding school, I decided to rent out a portion of our property on AirBnB for additional income.
• Created an AirBnB business, hosted yoga retreats, family reunions and weddings
• I’m still in touch with all my brides and bridegrooms with growing families
• My decision to become a real estate agent began when they asked for help with finding homes

How do you feel you have changed from the younger version of you?

• More realistic; still positive, hopeful and loving
• Everything that is worthwhile takes hard work

What advice do you have for women considering a significant life change and what is your “brass ring”?

• Go for something that you’re a little bit afraid of
• Unplug your brain as your brain can be wrong
• Take walks in the woods and listen to your gut

To get in touch w Greta, you can email her at greta@lakewoodestateny.com

To learn more about Jean and the Be Joyful podcast visit www.bejoyful.love.