Katia Dimova: The Catalyst Guest Katia Dimova Co-living Founder | Remote Work PioneerBased: Normandy, France (Chateau Co-living)Website: https://chateaucoliving.com/Instagram: @chateaucoliving Episode DescriptionKatia Dimova pioneered remote work years before COVID made it mainstream, managing a distributed team across Greece, Turkey, and Bulgaria with nothing but Facebook Messenger. She never planned to coordinate refugee relief across three countries—she just went to drop off donations and stayed for a meeting. Today, she runs one of Europe's most sought-after co-living spaces in a literal castle in Normandy. In this conversation, Katia shares how she accidentally built a location-independent business whilst avoiding telling clients she didn't have an office, why nomads made perfect volunteers during the refugee crisis, and how being comfortable with chaos became her greatest professional asset. We explore the schizophrenic feeling of living in two separate worlds, the dinner party question she dreads most, and why nomads benefit communities more than most people realize. This is a story about not planning anything, showing up anyway, and becoming the centre of everything that matters. Key Topics Accidental Remote Work Pioneer (02:26 - 09:01) Corporate job with months-long business trips before remote was normal Company apartments, drivers, appreciation in hindsight Starting own company based in Istanbul with business partner Working remotely whilst waiting to set up office in non-European country Just three people at first: her, partner, one more person "Why don't we just live wherever?" until it's time for an office Driving to Istanbul almost weekly for client meetings Scarcity mindset: "Soon we'll have an office, so let's travel while we can" Slowly questioning: "Why do we need an office?" Senior team who knew each other for years, absolute trust One team member bought house in village and moved there At some point, traditional company thinking didn't make sense anymore Keeping the Chaos Hidden (09:01 - 19:17) Working for very big corporate clients At the time: extremely not serious if you don't have an office Clients never came to meet them, they always went to clients "We're based everywhere" (which was true) Avoiding saying they don't have an office No Zoom, no proper tools—coordinating on Facebook Messenger No proper record of discussions or documentation Worked like magic because of trust, but risky if something went wrong Lebanon electricity cut whilst submitting massive files on deadline No backup servers, no proper spacing Friends working together at small scale "Super unprofessional the way it was executed" But clients received good results, didn't know what was behind scenes Philosophy: clients pay for final result, not to know the chaos Came from big international design agency as commercial director People assumed her new agency would be comparable Small senior team vs. big agency with juniors doing the work Leverage: super fast, reactive, agile, no approval layers The Donation That Changed Everything (21:07 - 25:10) Peak of Syrian war, refugees in Balkans, unprepared institutions Started with very small human effort to do something Not planning to do it at larger scale Once you get involved, you understand the scale: "Oh no, this is big" "Maybe I can do this little bit more" every day Totally consumed her, stopped working, couldn't focus on anything else Got sucked in: so much need, so little done, human lives on the line Suddenly full blown in the middle of organizing everything Contact point for many people, centerpiece of massive project Not planned, just happened, escalated to other countries No official entity, no NGO Went to drop off donations, asked to join coordination meeting Met people who became best friends to this day Clicked quickly, bouncing ideas, different backgrounds Took it as common project, just a group of newly met friends Bridging Two Worlds (25:10 - 27:11) Facebook group: first for them, then close friends, suddenly thousands Logistical coordination from distance: Greece, Turkey, Bulgaria Remote work skills helped with volunteer coordination A lot of volunteers were nomads Lesbos front lines: nomads traveling there, saw it firsthand, stayed to help Nomads are flexible, don't have plans, decided to stay For first time, bridged the two worlds Always felt like living schizophrenic life before Corporate clients didn't know she was nomad Nomad people were smaller scale freelancers trying to get started Two worlds had nothing in common, completely separate compartments Volunteer work bridged them for first time Showed her importance of community and people who understand you Nomad Skills for Life (27:11 - 31:31) Being nomad is shift in mindset: thinking globally Teaches you to be flexible and agile, adapt to any situation Challenges don't look too bad in the moment Life still better than most people even with challenges Looking back: "Oh my God, I did this, what?" Sitting with nomads: hitchhiked alone in India, totally normal But with non-nomads: "What did you do?" Didn't realize things were totally crazy until telling stories Teaches you can find yourself in any situation and find way out Gives confidence: less scared of starting businesses, failing, doing things Famous joke: nomad interviewing for corporate job "This is very stressful job, can you handle it?" "I got robbed on the street in India, I can handle this" Confidence that whatever happens, you'll find a way Work situation panic vs. physical situation: no way out, must find solution Savoir faire to do anything, go anywhere Nomads and Impact (32:20 - 36:55) People think nomads are capitalists ruining world with jet setting Many different ways to care Carbon footprint can be done mindfully Many nomads not flying or only long distances once/twice a year Travel around as much as possible before next big flight Can contribute and offset in many ways Different lifestyle, can still make sustainable choices Nomads benefit places they go to Many doing volunteer work (can be done online too) Difference from tourists: stay longer, understand place better Support small businesses, bring money from outside Choose local coffee shop over Starbucks More mindful choices In co-livings: contact with locals who never met foreigners Exchange stories, show world is bigger, inspires them Cultural enrichment, become friends Example inspires locals to care about their village and world Little shifts make difference The Dreaded Questions (37:00 - 38:08) Meeting people outside remote work circle First question: "Where are you from?" (left country so long ago, hard to box herself) Second: "Where do you live?" (doesn't know) Third: "What is your job?" (most dreaded) Not one word answer, takes half an hour Almost comes across as rude Blunt answer for nomads: "I run Chateau co-living in France" Also consults people who want to start journey in co-living industry What she likes most: interaction with very fascinating people Timestamps00:00-00:39 Podcast introduction by Ibi00:39-01:33 Guest introduction: Katia the Catalyst01:33-01:49 Opening: together in the castle, rumors and stories01:49-02:26 When did digital nomad journey start? Hard to put year on it02:26-03:26 Corporate job with long business trips, company apartments03:26-04:35 Gave flavor of not being in one place, then itchy feeling04:35-05:35 Location independence before it was a thing, freedom claimed illegally 05:35-06:51 Quit corporate job, started own company based in Istanbul06:51-07:21 Driving weekly to Istanbul, not planning to be location independent07:21-08:21 Scarcity mindset: travel while we still can before office08:21-09:14 Senior team, absolute separation of tasks, people knew each other09:14-10:13 Working for big corporate clients, not serious without office10:13-11:12 Managing remote team: small, senior, trusted people11:12-12:51 No tools for remote work: Facebook Messenger, no Zoom12:51-14:36 Lebanon electricity cut, no backup, super unprofessional execution14:36-15:28 Not letting client see what's behind the scenes15:28-17:49 Came from big design agency, people assumed comparable17:49-19:17 Small senior team advantage: fast, agile, no approval layers19:17-21:07 Pre co-living: corporate work and nonprofit work21:07-22:45 Syrian refugee crisis, small human effort, got consumed22:45-24:18 Went to drop off donations, joined meeting, met best friends24:18-25:10 Facebook group exploded to thousands, no official entity25:10-26:27 Remote skills helped coordinate logistics across countries26:27-27:11 Nomad volunteers: flexible, saw need, stayed to help27:11-27:59 Bridging two worlds: corporate and nomad finally connected27:59-29:54 Nomad mindset shift: flexible, agile, challenges normalized29:54-31:31 Wild stories seem normal until you see reactions31:31-32:39 Connection between corporate world and social work32:39-34:15 Carbon footprint can be mindful, different ways to care34:15-36:55 How nomads benefit places: longer stays, support local, inspire36:55-38:08 The dreaded questions: where from, where live, what do38:08-38:49 Closing: absolute pleasure, Chateau co-living About This Podcast Real conversations with successful digital nomads who've built sustainable location-independent income. Strategic insights on how they transitioned, what income streams they built, and what they wish they'd known earlier. No travel tips or lifestyle fluff. Host Ibi Malik helps ambitious professionals transition to nomadic careers without income sacrifice. Ready to Build Your Nomadic Career? If you're earning €60,000+ annually and seriously considering the transition to location-independent work, book a discovery consultation to explore your strategic pathway. Schedule a Consultation → Subscribe Listen on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube | RSS Follow for weekly episodes featuring professionals who've successfully built nomadic income streams. Episode length
