I started our conversation like I start them all: “Tell me your Luxembourg Story”. Zenia moved here 18 years ago from Bombay, India. Like so many expat women here in Luxembourg, Zenia’s journey began by being a trailing spouse and moving for her husband’s job.
We know the story; she left her family, friends and career behind. While the coffee dates and lunches were nice for a few months, she soon realised a major pillar of her identity was missing. Zenia really struggled with the feeling of losing herself. She was bored, she was lonely, and she felt like she was losing her sharpness.
It started with a frank wake up call from a friend who said she was so low energy and different she didn’t recognise her anymore. But instead of letting the Luxembourg winter win, Zenia made a promise to herself when she turned 40: she wasn’t going to start her next decade feeling sorry for herself. She was going to take action.
Our conversation offers practical tips on how to get out of the “lonely Luxembourg” winter/spring funk, and how a pivot to something that lights you up can make all the difference. For Zenia, that meant first throwing herself into learning Luxembourgish so she could become a citizen and start her own company.
Next she turned her passion for Indian craftsmanship and a love for color into a successful boutique in the heart of Luxembourg City. And finally, by paying it forward and starting a networking group for moms in town who are considering starting their own business or side hustle, the Mompreneur network.
One of my favorite parts of our chat was discussing the “bigger why”. For Zenia, it’s not just about selling scarves; it’s about giving back through education for children in India and creating a space in the city centre where people feel human again. In a world that’s becoming increasingly automated and run by AI, Zenia is a breath of fresh, colorful air.
As one of my previous guests said, Luxembourg has the highest concentration of overqualified and underemployed women – and Zenia is living proof that you can reclaim your career and your confidence, no matter how long you’ve been away from the workforce.
As always, please give it a listen and let me know what you think. If you’re a mom with a business idea but no clue where to start, this episode is your sign to take that leap of faith! To learn about Zenia, please visit LesSutras. And you can find me anytime on socials @momlifeinluxembourg.
