We recently had the chance to connect with GUENIEVRE Milliner and have shared our conversation below.
Good morning GUENIEVRE, we’re so happy to have you here with us and we’d love to explore your story and how you think about life and legacy and so much more. So let’s start with a question we often ask: What makes you lose track of time—and find yourself again?
Music and books are what bring me balance, and I couldn’t live without them. When I read or listen to my favorite music, I fully relax, tend to lose track of time, and any struggle disappears for a little while. Like a teenager, I am still very excited when my favorite authors publish new books, or when my favorite bands play in town.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Guenievre Milliner. I am French, was born in Paris, and raised in Brittany. I am also lucky enough to have lived for 13 years in Montreal and have obtained Canadian citizenship. My family and I moved to Nashville in 2014, and I opened Little Gourmand in November 2014. We started with a unique French market in Green Hills, then opened a second location, which is a genuine French patisserie, in the Melrose/Berry Hill neighborhood. What is very unique about Little Gourmand is that we offer a wide array of French food to our customers, from all the pastries and savory items we prepare daily in our kitchen, to all the curated fine foods we carry at the market.
Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. Who saw you clearly before you could see yourself?
My husband did. He is the one who pushed me to be an entrepreneur. He was sure I would succeed when I thought I might fail. He has always been the one with the big ideas, and I would never be where I am now without him.
What did suffering teach you that success never could?
I have learned that time heals many things. Not everything, but a lot. In the middle of a crisis, things seem insurmountable. Suffering taught me patience, humility, and compassion for myself.. It showed me how resilient I could be when I had no choice but to endure. Success can affirm your abilities, but suffering taught me to value the small steps forward,
So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. Is the public version of you the real you?
Of course, it’s only a version of me, not the whole me. I tend to project a confident, cheerful public image, while another side of me is very insecure. The public version of me is genuine in the sense that it reflects qualities I possess, but it isn’t the complete picture. It’s a part of my personality. The private version of me carries my doubts, fears, and vulnerabilities—the parts that you can’t always show. Both are real, but together they form a more honest portrait of who I am.
Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. If you knew you had 10 years left, what would you stop doing immediately?
I would stop working as much as I currently do and focus on creating a better balance between work, personal, and family life. I would spend more quality time with each of my kids, my husband, and my family in France, and also carve out time for myself. I’d stop worrying about the small imperfections in my business that only I notice and instead focus on what really matters— presence and making memories. With only 10 years left, I wouldn’t want to waste energy on control or perfection, but invest it in love, laughter, and experiences that last.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.littlegourmand.us
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/littlegourmand
