The series on the International Professional Women in Monaco group wraps up with cofounder Louise Morelli.
You grew up in Billinge, Lancashire, and are the youngest of three. What did you imagine yourself doing “when I grow up?”
My family gave me the best of both worlds: strong roots and the wings to go exploring.
I grew up with my mum, dad, older brother and sister with other family nearby in the north of England – a place famous for its tight communities and friendly people. Until I was 13, we lived on a street packed with other families. There were kids of every age and we were always off on some adventure. Neighbours’ doors were always open. Long summers meant running around the street, darting in and out of each other’s houses, having giggly water fights, pretending our bikes were horses, playing in the snow and on Guy Fawkes night, knocking on every door shouting “Penny for the Guy!” – and hoping someone would press a coin or a sweet into our hands.
I had some amazing role models growing up, especially the women in my family. My mum and my grandma on my mum’s side – two strong, brave women with hearts the size of houses. They showed me just how capable women really are and I try to pass that on to my daughter. And then there’s my older sister. She has Down’s Syndrome, which has come with its own challenges. But honestly? She shows me what it means to be perfect in a different way – pure heart, no judgment, just love and joy in the simple things. She humbles me.
My parents taught me to work hard, be self-sufficient and chase my own path. The trouble was, for a long time I had no clue what that path was.
I used to dream of being a doctor. I had the brains for it, but when I was 13 my dad died out of the blue. It completely rocked my world – and my confidence. I still went to University, just not for science. English literature won me over and I graduated with honours. But here’s the thing: every spare moment in the library, I was reading medical journals as well as classics. I’ve always been fascinated by the human body and mind.
Looking back now, I can see that a holistic, alternative route would have suited me way better. So, in a weird way, if I’d become a traditional doctor I’d have ended up in the wrong place after all.
How and when did you end up in Monaco?
I arrived in Monaco about 20 years ago with my partner. We got married here and our daughter was born here in 2014.
When I first arrived, I didn’t think I’d ever fit in.
But then I improved my French and that changed everything. I began to find my feet in local life. Slowly I made new friends and, when our daughter was born, suddenly there were all these other mums and friendships just grew from there.
These days, I’ve also found my people through church, through my daughter’s school and through work. Lovely connections, every one of them.
So here I am now – really settled, really happy living here and this corner of the world now feels like home.
Community is clearly high on your priority list. You are a member of St. Paul’s Anglican Church, you are a Council Member and helped out with their Mother and Baby Group.
Monaco is a place where many people come for a short while, then off they go to another part of the globe. This means it’s pretty easy to feel lost, without roots and a long, long way from home.
When I was a new mum, the Mother and Baby Group at St. Paul’s was an absolute lifeline. I adored those Tuesday and Thursday mornings, they meant everything! That’s exactly why I went back to volunteer there for a while, because when someone helps you, you pay it back or you pay it forwards. It’s as simple as that.
St. Paul’s church has been a thread running right through my life here. It really is the most welcoming community which is why I’m on the Church Council.
I really do believe that people are stronger when they come together. That’s why, more and more in my work, I’m trying to build a community of like-minded people. I love making links with other practitioners, too. I don’t believe in pure competition and hoarding clients. Everyone brings their own unique energy to what they do and that’s something worth sharing and celebrating.
What led you get qualified as a Child Sleep Coach and launch your own business, Gently to Sleep?
As a new parent, you expect to be tired, everyone tells you that, but the crippling fatigue I went through in those early months was genuinely a shock to the system.
By the time my daughter finally slept through the night she was 15 months old and I was utterly exhausted.
So once I finally got her sleeping through, I made a decision. I didn’t want other parents to have to go through that level of tiredness. Not if I could help it. I retrained and in 2017 I launched my business – Gently to Sleep – right here in Monaco.
I’m passionate that parents should actually enjoy their days with their babies and not just survive them because they’re running on empty. Rested, happy babies create rested, happy parents and that’s a win for the whole family.
I offer flexible one-to-one help. That could be a one-hour sleep solution call with me or working together for two weeks. Local families can book a home visit if they need one, but I also work with many families remotely – across Monaco and worldwide – via Zoom and email.
My aim is simple: to offer parents sleep solutions for their children that actually work, that feel right for them and that fit with their own parenting style.
Right now, I’m also working on a group programme. This is something more affordable, where parents can feel part of a community while sorting out sleep together.
Also on my drawing board is a certification programme so others can become sleep coaches too, because this is important work and I’m passionate that coaches should be properly trained as we work with the most precious things with babies and we need to get it right. Mothers especially need this valuable part of the “village”. It’s that theme of community again – coming full circle.
How the heck do you go from babies and sleeping to your new business Tibetan yoga?
Ha, ha, yes – it does seem a bit of a leap, doesn’t it?
I discovered Tibetan Yoga in 2017. The movements are dynamic, functional and anyone can do them. I started with Lu Jong (healing yoga) and it quickly became a daily habit. Then I found Tog Chöd (the Wisdom Sword) which are beautiful movements done with a wooden sword that help you cut through negative thoughts and emotions. It’s powerful, confidence-building and a great workout. A real meditation in movement.
Within my sleep coaching, I noticed that children’s sleep issues weren’t just practical. The mum’s emotional health played a huge role. So many new mums felt lost and full of self-doubt. I thought my own transformation could help them.
So, I trained to teach Lu Jong, Tog Chöd and meditation. I’ve since become an Educator (teacher trainer) too.
Around the same time, I discovered Méthode Dô – a therapy that takes the form of a massage but is actually an exploration of who you are. It works on the body’s energy meridians and where there’s pain or resistance there’s an emotional story. The body doesn’t lie and it can be a very powerful experience.
I received regular sessions and this process uncovered my own blocks and helped me change. Combined with Tibetan yoga, it truly transformed me. Change is an inevitable part of life, but it can be difficult. Yes, there were moments where I doubted myself, but I kept going. Why? Because I realised that I had the power to resolve problems in my life. It was my responsibility.
To be the best you can be, you need to break free from fear and self-judgment and it’s a self-made cage. That’s where I am now – the real me with my voice and confidence.
I trained with the method’s creator, Dominique Caubel, and became a practitioner. The training was intense – you have to face your own limitations first, but it was worth it. My massage work (prenatal, wellness, structural, emotional) has gone to another level entirely.
Now I offer classes in Tibetan yoga and meditation for adults, children, and parent-child groups – alongside my massage therapy for women.
My decision to retrain and start my own business came from not just wanting to help others, but also wanting to be available for my daughter and to be fully present while she’s growing up. That meant all my studying had to happen when she was asleep or at school and even now I ensure I am fully present when she is home.
When I did my sleep coaching training, I grabbed hours during her daytime naps and then when she went to bed, I carried on … late into the night. I was very tired. Yes, I know. A trainee sleep coach who didn’t sleep enough. The irony is not lost on me!
Tell us about your “cocooning” events?
A cocoon is a place of transformation and I wanted to use this concept to help others start transforming themselves – just like I did.
It’s really hard to make changes when you’re surrounded by the noise of daily life with the pings, the To-Do lists and the endless demands. So having a chance to step away from all that – to a calm, peaceful place for a few days – is honestly a gift.
That’s what my Cocoon events are all about. They give you the mental and physical space to properly take stock of your life. Groups are kept intentionally small because real personal attention matters. These include one-to-one Méthode Dô sessions, daily Tibetan yoga, breathwork and meditation – all designed to act as a catalyst for change and done in beautiful locations.
But here’s the best bit: guests don’t just get those precious few days of immersion and the start of personal change, they also leave with practical tools they can actually use in their everyday lives afterwards.
You had an unfortunate incident with Facebook that impacted your business. Knowing what you know now, what advice would you give to others starting out and using social media to promote their business?
A couple of years ago, my personal Facebook account was hacked and then banned.
Facebook itself was completely unhelpful. I’d had that account for over a decade, lost it through no fault of my own and had no way of getting it back.
And the kicker? My personal page was linked to both my business pages, so I lost access to those too. Also linked was my free sleep help group for parents, a community I’d built and nurtured and it was beautiful to watch parents helping each other in there.
I lost access to that too and to make it worse, an unknown person has been added as an administrator without my permission. Those pages and that group are still live (although now inactive) and I have zero control over them.
I had to rebuild my entire online presence on Facebook from scratch with thousands of followers, client links and history all gone.
After my initial despair, I stayed surprisingly calm about the whole thing and I really think that’s down to Tibetan yoga and Méthode Dô. They’ve genuinely changed how I regulate my emotions.
Instead of panicking and spiralling, I saw this as a sign that it was time to change my focus and work in a different way.
I created new business accounts, and this time I’ve been far more strategic about attracting the right followers. I’ve also finally appreciated the value of my email list because that’s something you actually own and have control over. Social media accounts can disappear in a flash. Your contact list is personal to you.
I learned this the hard way!
My advice is don’t rely on social media alone. Use different channels. Face-to-face networking and marketing is huge. Regular emails are a focused way to connect with your followers and clients. Keep your website updated, make sure your SEO is optimised and look into podcasts, YouTube – whatever works for you.
Oh, and of course change your passwords regularly. Use the maximum security offered and keep those passwords safe, whether it’s for social media or anything else online.
Tips for women in Monaco starting their own companies. What to do, what not to do?
I would advise any woman thinking of starting her own business to just do it! Imperfect action is better than no action.
Yes, it can feel overwhelming. But honestly, I found it relatively simple to set everything up in Monaco. The business Welcome Office was very helpful and because of the nature of my work, I needed approval from DASS (Département des Affaires Sociales et de la Santé). They, too, were welcoming, helpful and gave me the all-important permission I needed to work here. I’m truly grateful for the help I received from the authorities in Monaco.
Finding your tribe is really important. Do seek help from other women. In my own yearning for community, two years ago I co-founded the International Professional Women in Monaco Community with Gabrielle Crump (and Joanne Deen later joined the admin team). It’s a free group – over 200 active members – and is a non-judgmental space for support and really valuable information. We meet monthly in Monaco and chat daily in our WhatsApp group.
There were people who said I was doing too much, that I should stay safe with what I was already doing. Some even tried to dissuade me from advancing professionally. I did it anyway, and so can you.
Be confident of who you are and what you can do. If you find that difficult? Come and see me for some Méthode Dô sessions. Spend some time doing Tog Chöd with me and let the Wisdom Sword cut through those negative thoughts.
Then you’ll discover your true power, your full potential and you’ll have the confidence to say:
“I CAN – and I WILL – do it!”
Article first published May 31, 2026.
