Career & Entrepreneurship
Simply Zoë: finding a new direction after breast cancer
About Zoë Zenklusen Payne
Zoë Zenklusen Payne is a dual British/Swiss national who moved to Geneva from the UK in 1998. She founded Simply Zoë, an online boutique selling beautiful and feminine items for women with breast cancer after her own breast cancer diagnosis.
The first 20 years of her professional life
Zoë Zenklusen Payne credit photo Thais Porto Zenklusen
I never knew what I wanted to do with my life after graduation, though I was always very clear what I didn’t want to do, which was to work in finance. Cue the next 10 years spent in an FX company swiftly followed by another 10 years in a private bank! I didn’t have a dream to follow, so I settled, like so many people do. No regrets though, I learnt valuable skills which I have found to be very transferrable.
The FX company was a small joint venture where I was hired as their second employee and found myself in different roles, being exposed to all areas of the business. I found it difficult to move to a corporate environment in a specific role where I was just a cog in the wheel.
These experiences made me realize that I would really like to work for myself, however I didn’t have any idea that felt like it had the potential to be developed.
Her breast cancer diagnosis
In January 2015, my world came crashing down around me. I was 39 years old and busy organising my wedding in August when I was diagnosed with breast cancer.
As part of my treatment I had to have a mastectomy with an immediate reconstruction and to undergo several corrective surgeries. I was still able to wear standard bras but the underwire really hurt me.
While I was lying in the hospital bed after one of the surgeries, I started searching the internet for wire free bras. It was then that I really noticed there wasn´t a massive amount of choice for post-surgical lingerie. In fact, I found that it was really difficult to source all of the things that I needed during treatment and there was little choice.
How Simply Zoë was born
Cerise front tie credit photo Ciara Priestly
I still wanted to feel feminine and sexy. Breast cancer treatment is brutal and can strip you of so much that typically represents femininity such as your breasts, fertility and hair.
I realised I had enough energy to make myself look attractive but that wasn´t by wearing boring, functional and ugly underwear. While searching I found an amazing brand that was created by a breast cancer survivor for the exact reasons I was looking for them in the first place. I connected with her as a client but before long, we were talking about how we could work together and then it quickly developed. I wanted to create a one stop shop for all of the items women need during treatment and recovery and Simply Zoë was born!
How the brand evolved over time
Lingerie credit photo Lena Berridge
I added products one by one aiming to include products which have been designed and produced by women with their own experience with cancer. Along the way, I have met some inspiring and talented women, it has been a joy and an adventure!
Until early 2019 I worked on Simply Zoë in my spare time hoping I would be able to turn my dream into reality.
2019 as a turning point : more treatments and another cancer in the family
Cancer had other ideas! Not only did my cancer progress forcing me to have many awful treatments throughout the year but my dad was unexpectedly diagnosed with lung cancer, dying less than two months later.
Living with such grief while coping with my ongoing illness is a huge challenge but, Simply Zoë has become such a positive force for me.
I am in a constant state of fatigue but fortunate enough to be able to rest when I need to. I work when my energy comes back and this leaves me feeling invigorated and inspired.
How Fearless was born
Zoë and Sarah
I have a friend, also a small business owner, who sadly has other friends with breast cancer. Together we decided to produce our Fearless T-shirts and shopping bags, with a percentage of all sales being donated to cancer associations.
Why did we settle on the word fearless? Because it is such a strong word that resonates with the both of us. It is ok to be scared or nervous and to have worries and concerns. These are normal human reactions but how you choose to deal with these emotions is the most important part. To acknowledge your fears but to approach them with confidence and intelligence is to be fearless.
I’ve often been told how brave I am during this cancer journey – I don’t feel brave, I feel like it happened to me and I am learning to live with it because in my view there is no alternative. I will not accept that there is nothing other than a good life for me – and to me that is to be fearless. The word can be applied to so many situations and is a positive way to include people who don’t have cancer but want to show their support.
Donating to cancer research and raising awareness
After such an appalling 2019, I made the decision in January 2020 to do more. Now with the exception of the prosthetic nipples (due to ownership rights) a percentage of all Simply Zoë sales are donated to cancer research and raising awareness. This has never been more important to me and will be the main focus of Simply Zoë moving forward.
I want to help women like me, and their families, as much as I possibly can…whether by providing products that go some way to make them feel better or by donating to cancer research so all of us with a cancer diagnosis can call ourselves survivors!
