#107 BTS With Cepee Tabibian, Founder Of The Refresher's Lounge
Cepee Tabibian built a Facebook group of 15,000+ women who wanted to move abroad – and then realized that community alone wasn’t enough. She’s since launched a paid membership, The Refresher’s Lounge, that provides not just inspiration, but a real plan and the support to follow through.
When I audited her membership last month, I was seriously impressed. Cepee isn’t just building a community. She’s building momentum for women making one of the biggest decisions of their lives. In this interview, she shares what she’s learned about creating a space where action actually happens.
You’ll learn:
Why a Facebook group isn’t the same as a paid community (and what changes when people start paying)
How she supports members at every stage of the move-abroad journey
The one comment from a student that sparked the entire membership idea
Let’s get into it –
What is your membership? Give us the elevator pitch!
The Refresher’s Lounge is a paid membership community for women aged 30+ who want to move abroad – specifically from the U.S. to Europe. It’s where inspiration meets action. We provide the strategy, support, and community women need to fast-track their move abroad with clarity and confidence.
How many members do you have?
I currently have 125 women inside the Lounge, and my goal is to scale to 200 this year.
What made you decide to build a membership?
I know firsthand how overwhelming and isolating the move abroad process can be, especially for women who are in between a “gap year” and retirement. After building a free Facebook group that grew to over 15,000 members, it was clear there was a deeper need I could serve: a more intentional space that offered not just information, but real structure, support, and community.
The idea for the Lounge came after running a 6-week live course on moving abroad. Participants loved it, but many weren’t ready to take action right away. One woman told me, “I feel like you kinda left me hanging after the course ended.” That was my lightbulb moment. They didn’t just need information – they needed ongoing encouragement and a space to stay connected.
So I created the Lounge: a space that turns someday into an actionable plan, with community and accountability built in.
Did you try other digital products before launching your membership?
Yes! I started with a digital visa guide, then created my signature Move Abroad After 30 Masterclass, which became the funnel to my live course. The masterclass and course helped me test my framework and understand what women need at each stage of the journey.
Even with the right information, many still needed support to take the leap. That insight, plus the feedback I received, gave me the clarity and confidence to build the Lounge. I still run the masterclass today – it’s now the main entry point to the membership.
Were there any unexpected challenges or turning points?
Absolutely. The biggest challenge early on was how to support members at all stages of the move abroad process. Some women are just beginning to dream; others are scouting locations or applying for visas.
So I developed a 6-stage Move Abroad Roadmap to give structure and clarity, no matter where someone is. I also created a dynamic programming model – live calls, expert sessions, member chats – so members can engage with what’s most relevant to them.
Another challenge was choosing a platform for the community. I ultimately went with Mighty Networks.
How do you foster community among your members?
Many women join through my Facebook group or masterclass, so there's already a sense of connection. Once inside the Lounge, we guide new members with a welcome checklist, an onboarding call, and the option to join our accountability buddy program.
We host regular live sessions – 21 events in Q1 alone! We cover everything from finding remote work to moving abroad with pets. We also celebrate member wins weekly. Whether it’s a scouting trip booked or an interview landed, we remind members that their progress can inspire someone else.
How do you gather feedback and how has it influenced the membership?
So far, I’ve been gathering feedback informally through questions in the community. But with Becky’s help, we’re about to send our first member survey, and I plan to make that a regular part of our rhythm.
I’ve also started adding polls at the end of Zoom calls for real-time feedback. One recent suggestion – creating a subgroup for job seekers – led to a new space for members to swap tips, recruiter contacts, and resources.
What’s been your biggest lesson about building a membership-based business?
That I don’t know everything. I’ve spent 8 years building and nurturing a thriving, free Facebook group, but a paid membership is a whole different ballgame. Bringing in a community professional (Becky!) was a smart investment. Working with her helped me see things I overlooked, improve processes, and better serve our members.
Can you share a member story that really stuck with you?
One of my favorites is a woman who had dreamed of moving abroad since high school but life always got in the way. Now in her 50s, she wasn’t sure if it was still possible. But within just four months of joining the Lounge, she had a plan, got her visa, and booked a one-way ticket to the Netherlands. She moved last November.
What we do changes lives and that keeps me motivated to take the Lounge to new heights.
What marketing strategies have worked best for attracting and retaining members?
My Move Abroad After 30 Masterclass has been the best way to attract new members. It’s a paid, multi-day experience where women get to know my teaching style and start to see what’s possible. By the end, they’re not just inspired – they’re informed and ready to take action, which makes the transition into the Lounge feel natural.
As for retention, the magic is in the community itself. The momentum, the shared wins, the real-life results – it all creates a sense of belonging and progress that people want to stick with. We’ve even had former members return, which is the best compliment!
👋🏻 Becky here! Let’s break down what I love about Cepee’s approach:
(1) She turned a “post-course gap” into a full membership model.
Cepee didn’t stop at the 6-week live course—she paid attention when members said they needed ongoing support. That’s product-market fit in real-time. Instead of assuming the journey ended with the course, she built a longer runway.
(2) She designed for all stages of the journey.
Too many programs are one-size-fits-all. Cepee created a roadmap with six distinct stages so members can locate themselves and stay engaged as they progress. That kind of segmentation helps people feel seen and supported.
(3) She uses a live masterclass as a warm, aligned funnel.
The masterclass isn’t just a lead magnet – it’s a high-value, paid experience that builds trust fast. This works especially well for a lifestyle transformation like moving abroad, where people need clarity and confidence to move forward.
(4) She’s building a culture of celebration.
From weekly win shoutouts to accountability partners, Cepee has created rituals that foster connection. The focus on celebrating progress helps members stay motivated and see what's possible for them.
(5) She’s investing in better data.
Cepee is still early in her membership journey, but she’s already planning quarterly surveys and embedding feedback loops after live calls. That’s how you move from guessing to designing with intention.
That’s how you build a community people want to stick with. 👏
If you’ve ever dreamed of moving abroad – or just want to see a brilliant membership in action – I highly recommend checking out The Refresher’s Lounge (again, not an affiliate… just a fan).
Spend 3 Days With Business Owners Like Cepee, May 20-22
Cepee is attending the Make Smart Retreat in Nashville – want to meet her and work on your offer-suites and funnels together?
You’ll join Becky (That’s me! 👋), Cheyenne + other 6-figure entrepreneurs (like Cepee!) for our 3-day, in-person retreat designed to help you understand your data, refine your product strategy + build your marketing funnel – so you can unlock new revenue opportunities in your business in a way that feels sustainable, scalable + aligned.
By the end of the 3 days, you will have…
✅ Refined your product strategy – so your offers make sense, ascend your audience, and create sustainable revenue.
✅ Optimized your marketing funnel – so you know exactly what your leaky buckets are + have a plan to fix them
✅ Dialed in your messaging – so you can confidently communicate your value and attract the right people, increasing conversions in a way that seriously adds up
✅ Analyzed your data + uncover hidden opportunities – so you know exactly where to focus your efforts for the biggest impact – not just at the retreat, but long after.
The Make Smart Retreat is only one month away!
Join now so that you get access to our attendee Slack channel so you can work through what data you'll be bringing to the retreat, get feedback from me and Cheyenne, and meet other attendees to coordinate Ubers, stays, etc!
If you're not sure if the retreat is a good fit for you – shoot me a DM or reply to the newsletter! I've got you.