This year marks a huge milestone for me: a decade in Paris. This city has been my home for my entire adult life so far, and looking back, the story isn’t just about “making it.” It’s about learning how to build a life, a business, and a community that actually fits who I am.
Below, I’m sharing the honest version: what’s working, what’s hard, and what’s evolving after 10 years in Paris as a woman, founder, and community builder.
Why Paris, and why 10 years matters
I arrived in Paris as a young woman with no idea what to expect, just a suitcase and a belief that the right experiences would find me. Over time, this city became more than a backdrop; it became a teacher. Ten years is long enough to see patterns: what the city rewards, where it resists you, and how you change alongside it.
If you’re considering a move, building a business here, or simply curious about the real story beyond the postcards, this is for you.
What’s working: the unexpected advantages of building in Paris
Life is not only about efficiency, it’s about enjoying it
Paris taught me that “slow” can be strategic. Long lunches, real conversations, and un-rushed meetings aren’t wasted time; they’re where trust is built and ideas get better. For a founder, that shift from “hustle at all costs” to “work with rhythm” has been everything.
Beauty and culture as daily fuel
Living in a city that looks like a museum changes your standards. Architecture, cafés, parks, and street life remind you to look up and breathe. That daily dose of beauty has quietly supported my creativity and resilience as an entrepreneur.
A strong founder support infrastructure
Doing business in Paris as an English-speaking founder became more manageable over time. At first, I was just ‘going with the flow’ but then, I started to notice people who were interested in supporting my mission. I gained strategic partners and trusted advisers who understood my market and wanted to help me build. When you have the right people in your circle, growth and accountability for you and your business becomes the norm.
Community becomes your competitive advantage
Paris is full of ambitious people, but the real magic happens when you create spaces where they can connect without the “work the room” energy. That’s why I’ve invested so much in Club MamaBee: intimate events, skill workshops, and collaborations that lead to real opportunities. Over 10 years, I’ve seen how consistent, values-led community building turns contacts into partners, clients, and friends.
What’s hard: the parts no one puts on Instagram
Bureaucracy and admin fatigue
French bureaucracy is real, and it can be exhausting. Visas, contracts, taxes, and compliance take time and mental bandwidth that could go into product or content. The lesson: try to become fluent in bureaucracy & also become fluent in finding the right people who already are.
Learning French is hard
Even after 10 years, learning French has been difficult for me. I live and work in English mostly so I find myself speaking French only in moments of passing. People will push you, or make comments on how far you have progressed; but remember, as long as you continue to practice, take classes and put your best foot forward, no one is allowed to shame you. Do your best, go outside of your comfort zone and you will see improvement.
Building a business without burning out
It’s easy to feel like you must do everything yourself, especially when you’re far from family or your original support system. Early on, I equated being busy with being productive. Paris eventually forced me to step back and ask: what actually works without me? That question reshaped how I think about systems, teams, and marketing, not just “more leads,” but “does the whole thing actually work?”
What’s evolving: how I’m building differently in this next chapter
From hustle to balance
Moving to France taught me so much about how to show up at work. Being from Detroit, our culture is all about the hustle. Yet, during my first internship here in Paris, I saw how corporate culture focused on working to live instead of living to work. From not eating at my desk during lunch to taking actual breaks and making time for myself, I enjoyed not being overwhelmed. I implemented this in all parts of my work life, even as a business owner – life & balance over hustle. This mindset has made my leadership come from a place of overflow and clear gut instincts. Success should not come at the expense of actually living.
From “networking” to real community
Networking doesn’t have to mean working the room. If you’re an introvert (or just done with small talk), you can build a strong network by showing up consistently to recurring, values-led events and offering value before you ask for anything. That’s the heartbeat of ClubMamaBee: founder friends, not just business cards.
From “do it all” to “design it on purpose”
Paris can be a very social place; there is always something to do or be a part of. Yet that can lead to burn out – I’ve been there. Over time, I started choosing projects that aligned with my energy, saying no more often, and designing a life where work is important, but not the only thing that matters.
From solo founder to ecosystem builder
The biggest shift in this next decade is moving from “How do I make my business work?” to “How do we make this ecosystem work for our community?” That looks like more workshops on financial literacy and wealth building, more collaborations with local founders, and more spaces where ambitious women in Paris (and beyond) can connect, learn, and grow together.
For women considering Paris (or any new city) as a founder
If you’re thinking about building in Paris as an English-speaking founder, here’s the short version:
- Learn the rules of company formation and business set-up rather than fearing them.
- Build a small team of advisers who bridge the language and the system
- Invest in networking and a founder community from day one.
- Position your brand for the French market deliberately, so you’re not a foreign brand that visits, but one that belongs.
And remember: there is elegance in simplicity. Not everything needs to be bigger, faster, or more complicated. Sometimes the most sophisticated thing is knowing when to stop adding.
The freedom nobody talks about
Ten years in Paris hasn’t given me a perfect life, but it has given me something better: a life I designed. I’ve learned to plan my time, set clear goals, constantly learn, and consistently communicate what I offer. I’ve learned to build relationships, stay motivated when results don’t come right away, and rest so I don’t burn out and quit.
Most of all, I’ve learned that owning my time is the only real wealth, and that community is the multiplier.
If you’re a woman building a business in Paris (or anywhere else), you don’t need a miracle. You need a system, a circle, and the courage to keep evolving.
