Théodora is a French national and serial entrepreneur and the innovative Founder of Mon Village Caio, an adult-centered café space supporting parents. Launched last September, Mon Village Caio is not your typical cafe—it’s a space designed for adults, particularly parents, emphasizing self-care, social connections, and professional growth. With an Honour degree in European studies and a major in Economics, Théodora started her professional career in London in Investment Banking at Goldman Sachs before moving to Tokyo, transitioning to become a stay-at-home mom. Recognizing the need for quality childcare, she became a certified Montessori teacher while living in Dubai and later opened her nursery in Bahrain. Expanding her ventures, Théodora became a certified fitness trainer and nutritionist specialist, founding TG Fitness. Her belief in the power of a healthy mind and body guides her mission to empower women to be their best selves and, in turn, the best parents. Théodora moved to Stockholm 3 years ago and is currently combining her role as a Montessori Pedagogue at Montessori Mondial while actively working to fulfill her dream of opening a permanent space in Stockholm. With a rich multicultural background from living in Japan, Dubai, Bahrain, Senegal, Hong-Kong, England, and now Stockholm, Théodora, a polyglot fluent in five languages, brings a diverse perspective to her work. With a focus on well-being and a global mindset, Théodora actively contributes to shaping fulfilling spaces for both workplaces and parents. (As a featured speaker at the Wellbeing at Work Summit, she will discuss “The Role of Leaders in Making Awesome Workplaces,” drawing on her expertise in finance, education, fitness, and entrepreneurship to inspire positive workplace environments globally).
We are delighted that Théodora will be speaking in Stockholm as part of our Nordics summit. We caught up with her to find out how she’s feeling in the runup to the event.
Hi Théodora, we are thrilled that you will be speaking at the Wellbeing at Work Nordics Summit in May. Our first and most important question is, how are you doing today?
I am very well. Thank you so much for having me for the second time. I am feeling inspired and grateful! Preparing to open the doors to our first Mon Village Caîo location in Stockholm this May. I am grateful for the journey and ready to keep this movement which was launched just less than a year ago and of course excited about the opportunity to speak at this summit.
As a leader based in the region, what are the main challenges you are facing when it comes to employee wellbeing and mental health?
One of the biggest challenges is the invisibility of burnout. We see a gap in intergenerational connection and real community within workplaces, which is why Mon Village Caîo is committed to rebuilding that support system.
One major challenge is the silent pressure so many parents and caregivers carry especially mothers to juggle everything, often at the expense of their own wellbeing. In this region, while policies are supportive, the social structures and professional networks still lag behind in offering truly inclusive solutions. There is a disconnection between ambition and access, and we are here to close that gap.
What strategies have you seen developing over the past 6 months, both internally and externally, that are moving the dial on wellbeing in the workplace?
There is a growing recognition that wellbeing has to be integrated into the work culture not just offered as a benefit.
We are seeing a shift from theory to practice.
Internally, we are seeing more flexible models that allow parents to thrive professionally.
Externally, I am encouraged by the momentum toward community led initiatives, mental health literacy, and inclusive spaces that value both productivity and personal identity.
Companies are beginning to understand that wellbeing with all due respect isn’t just yoga classes and apps, it’s about creating safe, inclusive ecosystems. Again, internally, we are implementing wellbeing into the DNA of our space by building what we call a village hub a flexible, intergenerational space where parents, professionals, and children coexist. We are disrupting the café, professional networks and events industry and reshaping the way people work, connect, and support one another.
Why is employee wellbeing so important to you personally?
Because I have lived it. As a mother, Ex banker, Personal Trainer, Montessori educator, and Entrepreneur who has moved across continents, I have seen how fragile the balance between personal wellbeing and professional ambition can be especially for women. I have lived the struggle of navigating motherhood, ambition, and identity without a safety net. I have seen how isolating it can be to raise children while holding onto your dreams.
I founded Mon Village Caîo on the belief that no one should have to choose between their family and their dreams. Wellbeing is not a perk. It’s a human right and it’s the foundation of innovation and sustainable success.
We are changing the narrative that motherhood should come at the expense of career or professional ambition. Wellbeing isn’t a luxury. It’s a fundamental need and it’s personal.
What impact is AI having in your organisation and how are you managing that?
AI is helping us streamline operational tasks, improve communication, and stay connected with our growing community. But we are also very intentional about maintaining a human-first approach. Technology supports us, but it doesn’t replace the deep, personal connection that makes our work meaningful. We use AI to enhance, not replace, empathy and care.
At our core, we are about human connection. Our mission is built on real, face-to-face relationships. We use AI to enhance our impact but we lead with empathy and presence. Being there!
Other than AI, are there any challenges that you are seeing for the first time and how are you addressing them?
Yes, first I think there is a rising pressure to be “always on,” especially for entrepreneurs and creatives. Even wellbeing professionals are not immune. We are tackling this by creating dedicated offline spaces for rest and reflection.
At Mon Village Caîo, we are encouraging practices like “slow mornings” for parents. Reclaiming time is very necessary.
Then there is also the erosion of meaningful, intergenerational community. In many modern cities, people are disconnected from the support structures that once made life more balanced. We are actively rebuilding those bridges. We see our village as a chain, every generation plays a role, and we all depend on each other. We are not just talking about it, we are making it work.
What areas do you think employers should be focused on over the next 12 months?
Employers need to focus on psychological safety, intergenerational inclusion, and support systems for mums, parents and caregivers. The next 12 months should be about moving from policy to practice, ensuring employees feel seen and supported as whole humans, not just job titles. This includes offering mentorship, meaningful flexibility, and true community building efforts.
They need to rethink professional networks and stop excluding caregivers, especially mothers. We need more flexibility, more visibility, and more inclusion. Employers should focus on social sustainability, where connection, mental health, and community are prioritized.
I believe that the next generation of leadership will come from those who feel supported, not burned out.
Do you feel that investment in employee wellbeing in the region is increasing or decreasing and is that a direct reflection on HR leaders’ increasing ability to demonstrate effective returns of their strategies to leadership?
I believe it is increasing, and rightly so. HR leaders are becoming more equipped to link wellbeing to performance, retention, and culture. But more than just ROI, we are seeing a shift in values, a realisation that businesses thrive when their people do.
The Nordics have always been progressive, but the real transformation will come when we treat wellbeing as a strategy, not a side project. I think the Nordics have an opportunity to lead globally but it requires bold thinking and investment in the kind of inclusive, flexible environments we are creating at Mon Village Caîo.
How has your organisation been leading the way?
At Mon Village Caîo, we are reimagining what support looks like by bringing generations together, by creating a village café that welcomes children, and by offering wellbeing workshops tailored to parents, especially mothers. We are not just talking about balance we are designing it into our physical and cultural spaces. We lead with heart, and we lead by example.
We are revolutionising networks, creating spaces where parents and professionals can thrive together, and where children are not seen as obstacles but part of the village. We are leading the way into a new era of social sustainability and inclusivity where people support one another across generations. We are building the village everyone talks about, but no one sees. And we’re not just dreaming about it. We are taking action. We are disrupting the café industry and building flexible, meaningful hubs that nourish connection, purpose, and possibility.
Théodora will be speaking in Stockholm at the Wellbeing at Work Summit Nordics which takes place in Stockholm on 20th May and virtually on 21st May. Further details on the Summit and tickets can be found here.
