Women of Today with Isabelle Andrieu: In a Position to Change The World

I am beyond excited to welcome Chiara Nicolanti, an inspiring entrepreneur and the visionary founder of NonnaLive.com.

Chiara and her grandmother, Nonna Nerina, embarked on an exciting journey to create Nonna Live, a culinary venture that began right in their home in Italy. With a passion for authentic Italian cuisine, they wanted to share the traditional recipes, and heartfelt stories of their heritage with other people all around the globe.

Together, they envisioned a platform where people could experience the warmth and magic of Italian cooking, connecting through the joy of preparing home-made pasta together. Their dream was to deliver the essence of Italian culture beyond borders.

And they have succeeded in it!

Soon, you'll learn about her journey and how launching a successful food business reflects her creativity, resilience and commitment to bringing the magic of Italian cooking.

And, If I may add, how failure can often propel us to create incredible things if we are brave enough to never give up.

Meet the wonderful Chiara Nicolanti , founder of NonnaLive.com.

Isabelle: What inspired you to start a business centered around authentic Italian home cooking? When was the idea for PastaWithGrandma born, and what inspired you to bring it to life?

Chiara: I started for a reason similar to what you said about doing interviews: to connect and share stories. Eight years ago, I found myself in a situation where I needed round-the-clock care due to a complicated pregnancy.

At the time, I was working in theatre and discovered my pregnancy late—around the fifth month. I lost my role and, with it, my career of over ten years. Suddenly, I was jobless, bedridden, and far from family support.

For both physical and emotional reasons, I returned to my "safe place"—my grandmother's house. I cried for a week, unsure of what to do next. 

My grandmother, born in 1936, had faced incredible hardships, including World War II. One day, she started making pasta in front of me, sharing stories of what it was like to be pregnant during the war, how her mother worked in the fields until the day she gave birth, and how she overcame challenges.

Her words, "Even when you feel like you can't do much, you can still do something," struck a chord. Watching her make pasta, I realized that this simple, shared moment held so much meaning—connection, memory, and resilience.

It was transformative. I went from feeling completely isolated to understanding that I was part of a chain of women who had faced and overcome incredible difficulties.

That realization gave me strength, and I thought, "I can't keep this to myself." I took photos of my grandmother's hands making pasta, shared them on Facebook, and wrote about her words. I wasn't trying to create a business—I just wanted to remember and share her wisdom. But it resonated deeply, and people started reaching out, saying, "Chiara, I want to come!" It went viral.

That's how it all began. I realized there was a deep need for connection and reconnection—not just for my generation, but for older and younger ones, too. My grandmother and her generation of resilient women became my inspiration.

I: You and your Nonna have welcomed over 10,000 visitors into your kitchen to share the beautiful art of pasta making! It's amazing how you created a warm and inviting space for everyone to learn and enjoy this delicious tradition together! What do you love the most about these classes? 

C: There are some truly special moments. 

The experience is structured almost like immersive theatre—an influence from my background in the performing arts—though it's subtle and unspoken. One of my favorite parts is the storytelling, where we share the stories of our grandmothers. The greatest richness comes from hosting travelers from every corner of the world and discovering how much our history has in common with other traditions.

Another magical moment is when everyone sits down to eat together. Each person makes their own raviolo, and while we might playfully tease someone whose raviolo turns out particularly odd-looking, the beauty is that everyone eats food made with love by someone else. Seeing this global community come together, sitting around a table with a grandmother at the head, is incredibly powerful.

It feels like we're healing the world—maybe not one plate of ravioli at a time, but close!

We've even had groups from countries historically at odds with each other, or even currently at war, embrace during these moments. InIt's these connections, in breaking bread together, I find the meaning behind what I do every day. It's beautiful, and it's what keeps me going.

I: What has been the most rewarding moment so far in your entrepreneurial journey?

C: I have to start by saying that I don't come from a family of entrepreneurs. My grandmother was a farmer, and I grew up in a very humble background. Throughout my journey, I've faced several moments of crisis—those pivotal moments where you either take a leap forward or hold yourself back in fear.

One of the most transformative moments came when I hired my first real employee, who also happened to be my best friend from high school. She had a brilliant career but decided to join me on this adventure. It forced me to reexamine everything because, until then, I had only worked with what was in my head. Now, I had to share my vision, create a structure, and communicate it clearly. Those first months were intense—it was all about figuring out how to turn my personal way of running things into an actual business framework.

We even decided to apply for a startup competition (Bluestartups) as an exercise, knowing it would push me to document everything and answer tough questions I hadn't asked myself before. To my surprise, my small business was selected as one of the eight most successful startups in the world.

That recognition was a turning point for me.

It wasn't just about clients appreciating my work—it was about being acknowledged on a purely business level, free of sentiment. It made me believe in myself in a new way. When they asked, "How will you organize your trip to Hawaii for the next round?" I thought, "Me? From Palombara Sabina, where there's only a castle?" It was surreal, but it was also one of the most formative experiences of my life.

I hadn't realized until then how much I had learned over those early years. I knew how to solve problems because I'd already encountered them, but I'd never taken the time to create a playbook or document what worked and what didn't. For example, even small details, like where a grandmother should sit during a class, make a difference. These were things I had learned but taken for granted.

The business grew with me, and I had to evolve alongside it. 

When I started, I had no idea how to run a company, let alone what an S.r.l. (limited liability company) even was. My background was entirely artistic, so I had to learn everything from scratch—how to structure a business, define my goals, and understand what I wanted to offer.

In the beginning, it felt like chasing a snowball rolling downhill, growing bigger and faster. I ran alongside it, thinking, "Where is this going?" It was beautiful and thrilling but chaotic. Unlike most startups, I didn't follow the typical steps of identifying a customer or building a plan. The business almost started itself, leaving gaps I had to fill later.

Ultimately, the most rewarding part has been the journey itself—figuring it out as I go, learning from mistakes, and realizing that growth often comes from stepping outside your comfort zone. It's been messy, challenging, and beautiful all at once.

I: What advice would you give to young women who are thinking about starting their own business but feel uncertain about taking the first step?

C: My advice, especially for young Italian women, is to travel first. 

Sometimes, our cultural mindset can unintentionally hold us back. One of the most valuable things I've learned is the importance of embracing failure and the possibility of making mistakes.

Traveling teaches you that failure isn't the end—it's a powerful teacher. The experiences and knowledge you gain will transform you into a different person, and that growth is always worth it. Trust your instincts, even if others tell you, "Why bother?" or "That will never work." If you see potential, go for it.

We're fortunate to live in an era where geographical boundaries are no longer a limitation. Your client can be anywhere in the world. Once you know who you're speaking to, the tools to reach them are endless. The barriers that previous generations faced—like being limited by where they lived—no longer exist.

So, don't be afraid to take risks and make mistakes. Mistakes are your greatest source of learning. Also, seek out a network—look for other women to connect with, share ideas, and find support. Building that community is invaluable.

I: As a successful founder and a mom, it can be very challenging to maintain a healthy work-life balance. How do you navigate those ups and downs? What advice would you offer to other female founders who may be navigating similar challenges?

C: I haven’t figured it out yet—I’m searching for that balance every single day. 

I’ve learned, though, that you can’t expect to return to being the person you were before becoming a mother. That version of you doesn’t exist anymore, and that’s okay. There are moments when your body and mind demand that you be fully present with your child, especially when they’re a newborn or unwell. Fighting against that is futile—lean into it. There will come a time when you feel the urge to reclaim yourself, even if it’s just an hour a day at first, and gradually, things will rebalance.

It’s incredibly hard, yes, but also unbelievably enriching. I remember reading a book during my first pregnancy that changed my perspective—it explained how motherhood physically changes your brain, opening you up to new possibilities. It's called "The Mommy Brain." Interestingly, some of the most creative periods in my work have been when I was pregnant or just became a mother. I don’t think that’s a coincidence.

My advice is to trust in the potential of what motherhood brings. Give yourself time, and instead of forcing things, embrace the changes. Accepting them often makes you more productive and creative than expected.

I also believe society has to adapt to these realities. When my son was a baby, I was pursuing a master’s degree. If he needed to be fed, I would attend class with him in my arms. At first, I worried about disrupting others, but I stayed at the back of the room and left if he cried. Eventually, this became normalized in my class, and it created a sense of acceptance. One of my classmates later told me that watching me balance my studies and motherhood gave her the courage to continue her own education during pregnancy.

"It’s crucial that we stop seeing motherhood as an obstacle and instead claim the rights we have—like education or work opportunities—without guilt or shame. By doing so, we can create a positive cycle of acceptance and inspiration for other women. Balancing entrepreneurship and motherhood isn’t easy, but the transformation and strength it brings make it deeply worthwhile."

I: What is something you wish you knew before starting your business?

C: I think I knew it in a way because my grandmother told me, but I didn’t fully understand it at the time. She used to say something in a dialect that roughly translates to, “Sometimes you plant a cherry seed, and you get a pear tree.” I didn’t grasp the meaning back then, but now it makes perfect sense. Life often gives you something completely different from what you expected, and sometimes, it turns out to be even better.

In the beginning, I struggled with a sense of failure. 

When I stopped working in theatre and had my son, I felt I had lost everything. I was supposed to return on tour when my son was six months old, but I realized I wanted to be with him. It was a beautiful time in my life because I was starting this new adventure with my business, but I carried this heavy weight of thinking, “Yes, but I’ve lost what I had. Does this make me a failure?”

I think it was partly cultural—a sense of shame like I should have stuck to what I studied and built instead of pursuing something completely different. It took me a while to understand that nothing I had done before was wasted. I’ve always believed in the value of studying and learning, and I’ve come to see that what you learn often serves you in unexpected ways.

At first, I couldn’t see this. I thought, “I wanted to do that, so everything else must be wrong.” But life, and the people around me, helped me realize that the seeds I had planted had grown into something different but equally meaningful. It wasn’t failure—it was transformation.

If I could go back, I’d tell myself to be kinder, to forgive myself more, and to be more open to the unexpected. Sometimes, what feels like a detour is just another path to something beautiful.

I: Which incredible women in business have recently sparked your inspiration?

C: When I first read this question, I found it a bit difficult to answer because, honestly, the person who has inspired me the most recently is you. 

After attending the event in Cagliari and hearing about your journey, I couldn’t stop talking about your story. The courage it took for you to embark on such a daring adventure, especially facing something as daunting as the vastness of the ocean—something that personally makes me deeply uneasy—left a mark on me.

Your ability to commit fully to something unknown, to step into a challenge with so much at stake, was incredibly inspiring. I’ve shared your story with so many people because it gave me this incredible boost—a reminder that it’s okay to try something bold and unconventional, even if it feels a bit crazy at first. Sometimes, in those moments of “What am I doing?” we learn and grow the most.

What struck me even more was how you described your experience as something transformative, as if it had changed you deeply as a person. It reminded me of the importance of giving ourselves permission to take risks and try something out of the ordinary because those experiences are what shape us.

I also see parallels with my own work. 

The project I started with my grandmother has grown into a community business. Initially, it was just her and me, but over time, it attracted other women—friends, neighbors, even relatives. My grandmother passed away last year, but her spirit continues to inspire the group. Now, we have generations of women working together on something meaningful.

One of the things I love most is how this project has cultivated bravery and a “why not?” attitude. For instance, when we received a request to collaborate on a transoceanic project for a cruise line, I assumed the older women in our group would say no. To my surprise, they enthusiastically said, “Let’s do it!” Their courage and drive to seize opportunities inspire me every day.

If you ever want to join one of our gatherings, you’re more than welcome. I think you’d love it—it’s a celebration of generations coming together to build something extraordinary.