Meet the Team: Jennifer, Founder & CEO at ViaMonde
- Staff
- Sep 26
- 4 min read
Jennifer's journey isn't just a story; it's a vibrant testament to a life reimagined, her personal "Eat, Pray, Love" journey. As a divorced empty nester, Jennifer found herself at a crossroads, yearning to design a life that truly resonated. Italian citizenship by descent wasn't just a legal process for her; it was the key to unlocking the future she envisioned, leveraging her ancestry to build a life of purpose and passion.
But the path wasn't paved with ease. Navigating the complex citizenship process was arduous, riddled with roadblocks and frustrating encounters. Despite engaging a now notorious service provider and a prominent attorney, neither came through on their promises after being trapped in China during the Covid outbreak in 2020. The wasted time and money became the fiery catalyst for ViaMonde (originally Italian Citizenship Concierge).
Jennifer was driven by a singular vision: to create the comprehensive guide and all-inclusive relocation company she desperately wished she'd had at the beginning of her journey. Both her attorney and the Italian Consulate General were dismissive during COVID, when she unexpectedly had an urgent need to leave China for Italy. The particularly dehumanizing experience solidified her resolve. She made a vow: no one else, regardless of their circumstances, should ever feel their needs were unimportant or that they were a nuisance.
Her journey powerfully echoes Simon Sinek's philosophy of discovering one's "Why". Her entire life, and by extension ViaMonde, is a testament to intentionally designing a life that truly works for you, a narrative of purpose and profound personal fulfillment. Today, ViaMonde has blossomed, extending its expertise far beyond citizenship to offer visa assistance, immersive roots tourism, seamless property search and purchase, and crucial legal support.
Jennifer's personal odyssey living abroad—from mastering property searches and purchases (including her feature on House Hunters International 2 years ago in Sicily and her recent home in Spain with Guillermo) to conquering appointments, driver's exams, and healthcare in a foreign land—has been the very blueprint for ViaMonde's explosive growth. Her return to her ancestral hometown of Terrasini and the profound reconnection with local family deepened her understanding and fueled her unwavering passion for assisting others in making these life-altering transitions.
What truly ignites her spirit and drives her forward is an unyielding commitment to client success. ViaMonde proudly boasts a remarkable record of zero "comuni" and consulate rejections, standing out as one of the few companies to have successfully overturned a "comuni" rejection and leading the charge in consulate rejection appeals.
With recent shifts in the laws governing jus sanguinis, Jennifer and her dedicated team are relentless in finding innovative alternatives for applicants who have poured their time, money, and tears into this process, ensuring no one is left without options. This commitment runs deep: even foregoing her salary during crises to keep their invaluable team intact.
She originally created ViaMonde with the vision of being a beacon of truth in a sea of misinformation, a trusted source of accurate and up-to-date information amidst the constant flux and rampant falsehoods prevalent on social media.
In fact, Jennifer's online persona, "chinacatlady" on Reddit, is more than just a username; it's become synonymous for authentic connection and unwavering support. Discovered during her move to Shanghai, China, Reddit became a lifeline for connecting with those who had walked a similar path. Now, it's her way of giving back. With a limited capacity for one-on-one consultations, Reddit allows her to extend her reach, offering raw, honest, and factual advice, cheering on, and supporting countless individuals.
You'll find her actively engaged in diverse communities, from Alzheimer's (a deeply personal cause after losing her mother) to GenX (connecting with peers and combating the unique loneliness of life abroad), and empowering groups for women over 40, 50, and 60, where she shares, learns, and plans for aging. She's also a vocal participant in menopause groups, advocating for better medical understanding and learning from the collective wisdom of her peers.
This extraordinary journey has profoundly enriched Jennifer's life. From Shanghai China where she fell in love with Spanish parter, Guillermo, to Barcelona where she dined on delicious tapas to Sicily where she healed her soul, she cherishes the vibrancy of her life abroad. Her new life abroad gives her the thrill and ease of travel, the undeniably superior healthcare, not to mention easy access to exquisite food, and an overall enhanced quality of life.
Yet, she candidly admits the ongoing challenge of striking a better balance between her passion-driven work and embracing the art of "slow living." Patience, too, is a continuous cultivation. Her deep empathy for clients, while a powerful strength, can sometimes lead her to feel their challenges too acutely—like the poignant moments when clients return to the U.S. after recognition, grappling with loneliness or assimilation difficulties. To truly practice what she preaches, Jennifer has enthusiastically resumed Italian lessons, recognizing that language can be the most significant and challenging barrier for many.
The cornerstone of ViaMonde's mission is the meticulous construction of an all-encompassing web of support for expats, both locally and corporately. Jennifer's own harrowing experience of being scammed while moving to Shanghai due to a lack of reliable advice instilled in her an unshakeable commitment to rigorous vetting of every service we offer and piece of advice we give.
ViaMonde exclusively partners with and recommends individuals and companies that Jennifer or her team have personally experienced and trust. This isn't about commissions; it's about integrity. ViaMonde’s partnerships are not financially driven, a clear reflection of Jennifer's dedication to her clients' well-being above all else. She prides herself on being the ultimate "guinea pig", personally testing and investing in services before ever recommending them, ensuring she can rest easy, knowing she has done her absolute best for every client.
