It’s not every day that you meet someone whose name itself tells a story.

Nora Hautain, officially Rakotonirina Norolala, has a journey as rich as her name. “Not so easy for a European to pronounce, is it ?” she laughs. The name Nora came from a friend who once asked if she could use a shorter version, and she happily agreed. Then, following tradition in Madagascar, where a wife takes her husband’s name, she adopted Hautain, her Belgian husband’s surname. “My father wasn’t too pleased”, she recalls with a smile. “He once told me : ‘I don’t know this person !’ So, in true Belgian fashion, I found a compromise—on my business cards, I go by Hautain Norolala.”

Born in Paris on France’s National day and raised in Madagascar, Nora arrived in Belgium in 1980, thanks to a scholarship from the European Union to study Hotel Management. What followed was a career deeply rooted in the world of hospitality. Having worked in Brussels’ top hotels, she climbed the ranks to become Financial and Human Resources Director at the Hotel Plaza in 1997, later taking on the role of Deputy General Manager until her retirement in 2022.

But retirement was never about slowing down for her. A friend once said : “Nora, your children are grown now. A dynamic woman like you should dedicate time to helping those in need. Join my association, Femmes d’Europe. We are 800 incredible women !” That was all it took. On November 17, 2017, Nora walked into a meeting of the Multinational Group and instantly knew she belonged there. By April 2022, she was elected as a Group responsible.

For Nora, volunteering is second nature. “In Madagascar, there’s no structured social support, like in Europe. Solidarity is our way of life. If a family member is in the hospital, relatives take turns bringing meals and staying overnight. There are no retirement homes—parents live with their children.”

She cherishes the sense of community in Femmes d’Europe, where every gathering, whether a meeting or an event, feels like a family reunion. “There’s so much joy, warmth, and affection — it’s truly beautiful !”

Reflecting on her journey, Nora never imagined that Belgium, with its often grey skies, would become home. “If someone had told me 44 years ago that I’d be living here, I would have smiled politely, thinking—me, a girl from the islands, in a country where blue skies are rare ?”

But over the years, she has grown to love Belgium, appreciating its history, culture, architecture, and gastronomy. She is particularly fond of Brussels, a city that, to her, mirrors the essence of Europe itself.

And yet, no matter how much she enjoys Belgian cuisine, the flavours of Madagascar remain close to her heart. For a taste of home, she heads to Le Madagasikara, a cosy spot on Rue de Flandres, where Chef Thierry recreates the flavours of her childhood. “A meal isn’t just about food—it’s about togetherness, about sharing stories and laughter”, she says. Whether it’s at home, in a restaurant, or at the Monday Get-Together at Fondation N.A. Heusghem, for Nora, it’s always about Carpe Diem—seizing the moment and cherishing it.

She is a woman full of life and joy, which she contagiously spreads wherever she goes and gets involved. Never change, dear Nora !

Interview by Alexandra Paucescu
Romanian Group