Gabriela Barclay: Leading with Heart at Evolve Holistic Coaching

“Discover the inspiring journey of Gabriela Barclay, CEO of Evolve Holistic Coaching. From her courageous move from Romania to Ireland to transforming lives through heart-centered coaching, Gabriela empowers women to embrace their inner strength and unlock their true potential. Explore how her unique approach, rooted in empathy, integrity, and love, is fostering a new generation of compassionate leaders.”

Gabriela Barclay, the CEO of Evolve Holistic Coaching, has developed a unique and transformative coaching style that is deeply rooted in empathy, integrity, and love. Her journey from Romania to Ireland showcases her resilience and personal transformation. Over the past 16 years in Ireland, Gabriela has evolved both personally and professionally, shaping her into a holistic coach who leads with heart.

A Journey of Courage and Connection

Gabriela’s life story is one of profound personal transformation and discovery. Born and raised in Romania, she encountered numerous challenges that forged her character and resilience. Her move from Romania to Ireland marked a pivotal point in her life, symbolizing a fresh start and the beginning of a new chapter. This transition ignited her passion for self-discovery and growth, shaping her career in profound ways.

In Ireland, Gabriela found a new home and a fresh start. As a mother, she draws immense inspiration from her 12-year-old son, whose enthusiasm for football and life continually motivates her. Their bond, reflected in attending football games or engaging in spirited board game competitions, highlights Gabriela’s deep appreciation for life and connection. Her son’s passion serves as a daily reminder of the joy and fulfillment that come from pursuing one’s passions with an open heart.

From Operations and Management to Holistic Coaching

Gabriela’s professional journey began in operations and management, where she honed her leadership skills and developed a keen understanding of organizational dynamics. Her career in the casino industry was particularly formative, presenting high-pressure challenges and opportunities to overcome gender biases. Despite these obstacles, Gabriela’s commitment to leading with empathy and integrity never wavered. She learned the importance of valuing every team member, fostering a culture of respect and inclusivity, and consistently demonstrating competence and empathy.

These experiences significantly influenced her holistic coaching approach. Gabriela’s coaching philosophy emphasizes empowerment, support, and a holistic perspective that recognizes the interconnectedness of mind, body, and spirit. She understands that true leadership comes from the heart and that emotional intelligence is crucial for effective management. Gabriela’s background in operations and management has honed her ability to navigate complex situations with grace and resilience, qualities that she now imparts to her coaching clients.

Embracing Transformation and Empowering Women

Gabriela’s transition from the casino industry to holistic coaching was driven by a profound personal need for transformation. She realized that her external identity did not define her and embarked on a journey to find and embrace her true self. This journey of self-discovery and personal growth led her to holistic coaching, where she now helps others unlock their potential and embrace their unique strengths.

A defining moment in Gabriela’s career was her escape from an oppressive marriage in Egypt. This experience, coupled with her upbringing in a communist country where self-expression was stifled, instilled in her a deep passion for women’s empowerment. Gabriela believes that love is the most powerful force for connection, unity, harmony, and healing. She integrates her background in psychology with holistic coaching methods to provide a comprehensive and empowering approach that addresses the whole person—mind, body, and spirit.

Gabriela’s coaching practice is grounded in core values such as kindness, integrity, love, trust, and spirituality. She believes in the transformative power of love, gratitude, and positive affirmations. By creating a judgment-free, heart-centered space, she helps clients explore their true selves and align their actions with their inner truths.

Creating a Supportive and Nurturing Environment

At Evolve Holistic Coaching, Gabriela fosters a supportive and nurturing environment where clients feel valued and supported. Her coaching process begins with self-awareness, helping clients recognize and understand their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. This foundation of self-awareness leads to self-discovery, where clients explore their inner thoughts, feelings, and beliefs to uncover their strengths, values, and passions. The next phase is change, where Gabriela guides clients in adopting positive habits, attitudes, and beliefs, empowering them to unleash their full potential.

Gabriela’s holistic approach is multifaceted and tailored to meet each client’s unique needs. She understands that every individual is a complex interplay of mind, body, and spirit, and she strives to address all these aspects in her coaching practice. By fostering a deep sense of self-awareness and encouraging self-discovery, Gabriela helps her clients unlock their potential and embrace their true selves.

Nurturing Emerging Leaders

Gabriela believes that today’s emerging leaders must embody compassion, kindness, and empathy while balancing humility with confidence. In her coaching practice, she cultivates these qualities by encouraging self-discovery, practicing mindfulness, and empowering clients to embrace their unique strengths. Through a holistic approach that honors the mind, body, and soul, Gabriela helps clients develop resilience, empathy, and self-awareness, nurturing the qualities essential for effective leadership in today’s evolving world.

Her leadership philosophy is deeply influenced by her own experiences and the challenges she has overcome. Gabriela understands that true leadership comes from within and that effective leaders are those who lead with heart and integrity. She instills these values in her clients, helping them develop the skills and qualities needed to navigate the complexities of modern leadership.

Overcoming Challenges in the Casino Industry

Gabriela’s tenure in the casino industry was marked by significant challenges that tested her resilience and leadership abilities. As a young woman promoted to a management position, she faced gender biases and skepticism from her peers and superiors. However, Gabriela’s unwavering commitment to leading with empathy and integrity enabled her to overcome these obstacles.

She recognized the importance of fostering a culture of respect and inclusivity, where every team member felt valued and heard. By consistently demonstrating competence and empathy, Gabriela earned the trust and respect of her colleagues, proving that authentic leadership transcends gender and age. These experiences reinforced her belief in the power of heart-centered leadership and the importance of empowering others.

The Influence of Moving to Ireland

Gabriela’s move to Ireland was a catalyst for her personal and professional growth. This courageous journey from Romania to Ireland symbolized a break from her past and the beginning of a new chapter. It taught her valuable lessons about resilience, self-discovery, and the capacity to redefine oneself.

Throughout her diverse career in operations, customer service, and management, Gabriela has been driven by a deep-rooted passion for uplifting and empowering individuals. Her understanding of human psychology and her unwavering dedication to helping others have allowed her to navigate various cultures and industries, from Bucharest to Cairo, the UK, and now Ireland.

Gabriela’s pursuit of freedom and authenticity led her down a path of self-discovery and self-acceptance, where she unraveled the layers of her true identity. This journey of personal growth and transformation ultimately led her to holistic coaching, where she now helps others embrace their unique strengths and unlock their full potential.

Integrating Psychology with Holistic Coaching

Gabriela’s background in psychology is a cornerstone of her holistic coaching methods. She understands that the mind, body, and spirit are interconnected and that true healing and growth require addressing all these aspects. By integrating her knowledge of psychology with holistic coaching techniques, Gabriela provides a comprehensive and empowering approach that meets each client’s unique needs.

Her coaching process begins with self-awareness, helping clients recognize and understand their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. This foundation of self-awareness leads to self-discovery, where clients explore their inner thoughts, feelings, and beliefs to uncover their strengths, values, and passions. The next phase is change, where Gabriela guides clients in adopting positive habits, attitudes, and beliefs, empowering them to unleash their full potential.

Gabriela’s holistic approach recognizes the importance of emotional, mental, physical, and spiritual well-being. She works with her clients on all these levels, helping them reconnect with their essence and break free from patterns and beliefs that hold them back. By addressing the whole person—mind, body, and spirit—Gabriela helps her clients achieve lasting transformation and fulfillment.

The Power of Love, Gratitude, and Positive Affirmations

In her holistic coaching practice, Gabriela believes that love is the foundation that nurtures growth and healing. Gratitude is the compass that guides us towards abundance and fulfillment, and positive affirmations are powerful tools that shape our thoughts, beliefs, and ultimately our reality. Together, these elements form a transformative journey of self-discovery, empowerment, and unlimited potential.

Gabriela’s emphasis on love, gratitude, and positive affirmations reflects her deep belief in the power of words and the energy they carry. She encourages her clients to speak with love and kindness towards themselves and others, and to use positive affirmations to shape their thoughts and beliefs. By fostering a mindset of love and gratitude, Gabriela helps her clients cultivate a sense of inner peace and fulfillment.

Fostering a Supportive and Nurturing Environment

Gabriela’s approach to holistic coaching involves recognizing and honoring each client’s unique journey and multifaceted nature. She aspires to create a transformative, sacred, heart-centered space where her clients can access their innermost selves and gain a profound understanding of who they truly are. This secured space is judgment-free and ensures that clients receive unconditional love, support, and gentle guidance.

Gabriela’s goal is to help people explore their true selves by fostering trust, building connections, asking questions, actively listening, creating awareness, empowering, shifting perspectives, remaining curious, taking actionable steps towards their goals, and guiding them towards self-discovery, self-acceptance, and self-care. By aligning their actions with their inner truths, Gabriela helps her clients achieve lasting transformation and fulfillment.

Cultivating  Emerging Leaders for the Future

Gabriela’s holistic approach to coaching is designed to empower emerging leaders to embody compassion, kindness, and empathy. She believes that today’s leaders must balance humility with confidence and navigate complex situations with grace and resilience. Through her coaching, Gabriela helps clients develop the qualities essential for effective leadership in today’s evolving world.

Her coaching practice is grounded in the belief that true leadership comes from the heart. Gabriela understands that effective leaders are those who lead with empathy, integrity, and love. She helps her clients develop these qualities by encouraging self-discovery, practicing mindfulness, and empowering them to embrace their unique strengths.

In a world that often emphasizes competition and individualism, Gabriela’s holistic approach offers a refreshing perspective on leadership. By fostering a culture of respect, inclusivity, and compassion, she is helping to cultivate a new generation of leaders who prioritize connection and collaboration.

Gabriela Barclay’s journey from operations and management to holistic coaching is a testament to her resilience, passion, and commitment to empowering others. Her unique approach, grounded in empathy, integrity, and love, is transforming lives and fostering a new generation of compassionate leaders. Through her work at Evolve Holistic Coaching, Gabriela continues to inspire and uplift those around her, helping them unlock their full potential and embrace their true selves.