Living the Dream: Women Reinventing Their Careers Abroad | Stories from the French Riviera
Relocating to the French Riviera sounds idyllic. But how do you actually build a professional life once you arrive?
Hosted by Cecile Liconnet, Living the Dream: Women Reinventing Their Careers Abroad | Stories from the French Riviera, explores the professional journeys of women who have relocated to the South of France.
Through candid, in-depth conversations, the podcast looks at what it really takes to move abroad, build a career, and create financial stability as an expat.
Each episode shares first-hand experiences of career change, entrepreneurship, relocation, and professional reinvention — from navigating visas and local job markets to managing finances, seasonality, and cultural differences.
These are honest stories of expat life in France, revealing what it truly means to live and work abroad and build a sustainable life after relocation.
Authentic voices. Grounded stories. A clear look behind the postcard-perfect image of life on the Riviera.
For photos and extra content about our guests, visit our website: Living the Dream: French Riviera. Please follow, share, and consider supporting the podcast 😊
Merci beaucoup!
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Episodes
Friday Nov 28, 2025
Friday Nov 28, 2025
What does it really take to build a sustainable career in France as a foreigner?In this episode of Living the Dream: French Riviera, the podcast discussing women, work & relocation on the French Riviera, Cecile Liconnet sits down with Catherine Aygen, an English teacher who transformed her freelance work into a fully accredited training centre, now helping hundreds of professionals in France gain confidence in English.
Cat shares her remarkable professional evolution:• arriving in France with no job and navigating the shock of French administration• piecing together freelance work in Paris’ top universities• relocating to the Riviera only to discover a very different job market• deciding to launch her own training company and later a full Qualiopi certified training centre• mastering the complexities of France’s adult-training ecosystem, including the Compte Personnel de Formation (CPF)• strategically using lockdown and an office location to scale her business
Her story is a masterclass in career reinvention, entrepreneurship, and cultural integration.If you're dreaming of moving to France, or already here and seeking a sustainable professional path, Cat’s journey offers rare, expert insight into the real steps required to build a business and thrive.Living the Dream: French Riviera Women and their professional journey while relocating to the South of France.https://livingthedreampodcast.com
Friday Nov 28, 2025
Friday Nov 28, 2025
What happens to your career when you relocate to the South of France without speaking the language?
In this episode of Living the Dream: Women, Work & Relocation on the French Riviera, Lizzy shares how she rebuilt her professional life after moving from London to Cannes.
Like many women relocating for love or as a trailing spouse, she arrived with no French, no network of her own, and no clear professional plan. What followed was a gradual, creative reinvention, one step at a time.
From teaching music to children she couldn’t yet communicate with, to performing at weddings, luxury events and châteaux across the region, Lizzy built a sustainable and fulfilling career in an environment that initially felt completely foreign.
Her story offers an honest and refreshing perspective on what it really takes to adapt, work, and thrive on the French Riviera.
🎙️ In this episode, we explore:
Career reinvention after relocating to France
Working without speaking French in the early stages
Building a creative business on the French Riviera
The role of Anglophone communities when starting from scratch
Cultural differences that impact daily life and work
The challenges of navigating French administration when growing a business
The reality behind the “dream” lifestyle
Lizzy’s journey is a powerful example that building a life abroad is rarely linear, but with openness, creativity, and persistence, it can become something unexpectedly rich.
🎧 Living the Dream shares the real stories of women who have relocated to the South of France and rebuilt their professional lives, navigating language, career shifts, and financial realities along the way.
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📍 Riviera Highlight (Lizzy’s favourite places):Théoule-sur-Mer, Château de la Napoule, and hidden corners of Provence: where everyday life can feel like a postcard.
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Follow, share, and connect to help others discover these stories.This is the full-length episode.If you would like to listen to a condensed 28-minute version, it is available on Living the Dream – Radio Edition.🎙️ Living the Dream: Women, Work & Relocation on the French RivieraReal stories of women building meaningful, sustainable lives in the South of France.https://livingthedreampodcast.com
Friday Nov 28, 2025
Friday Nov 28, 2025
In this first episode of Living the Dream: French Riviera, Cecile welcomes Jo, a real estate agent who has spent nearly two decades guiding international families through the complexities of buying property in France.
Jo shares what most newcomers never expect: the impact of French inheritance law, why buying under the wrong status can create long-term complications, and what actually happens from the first viewing to signing with a notaire. She also shares the unexpected challenges of settling into local life, from making friends to realising that the Mediterranean isn’t made for surfing.
Whether you’re dreaming of a house with a terrace, planning a move for work in Sophia Antipolis, or simply trying to understand how French property really works, Jo’s practical advice and personal experience offer a rare, honest guide to starting again in the South of France.Living the Dream: French Riviera Women and their professional journey while relocating to the South of France.https://livingthedreampodcast.com