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.
