30 Most Inspiring Leaders to Watch 2024
Gabriela Barclay, Evolve Holistic Coaching Founder: “I know that true transformation takes time, and I am dedicated to supporting my clients through every stage of their journey”
The Silicon Review
Gabriela Barclay’s story is one of resilience, transformation, and unwavering commitment to empowering women. Born in Romania, Gabriela’s journey spans continents and life-altering experiences, from the dynamic casino floors of Bucharest to the sacred sands of Egypt, and finally to a place of spiritual awakening in Ireland. With over 26 years of experience in male-dominated industries, Gabriela has harnessed the lessons of her challenges to inspire and uplift women worldwide.
The inception of Evolve Holistic Coaching was deeply personal, rooted in Gabriela’s quest for authenticity, healing, and purpose. Her time in the high-energy casino industry offered her a profound understanding of human emotions, the hunger for connection, and the pursuit of self-worth. Yet, this environment left her longing for a more fulfilling path aligned with her desire to help others heal and grow. A pivotal moment came when Gabriela made the courageous decision to leave an unhealthy relationship in Egypt, choosing the unknown over compromise. That leap of faith not only transformed her life but ignited her mission to create a space where women could embrace their power, reclaim their voices, and thrive unapologetically.
Through Evolve Holistic Coaching, Gabriela combines empathy, intuition, and authenticity to guide women toward their true potential. In this exclusive interview with The Silicon Review, she opens up about her journey, her philosophy on healing, and her vision for creating a community of empowered women ready to shine their light.
Q. Your journey from Romania to Egypt and Ireland is remarkable. How have your diverse experiences shaped your leadership style at Evolve Holistic Coaching?
My journey from Romania to Egypt and then to Ireland has fundamentally shaped who I am and how I lead. Each place taught me its unique lessons. I learned about resilience and adaptability in Romania, where I started my casino journey. The casino floors taught me about the complexities of human nature—people's vulnerabilities, desires, and yearnings for something more. Moving to Egypt was a transformative experience—I became one of the first women to hold a management position in a male-dominated industry. This role taught me the value of perseverance, adaptability, and courage.
Immersing myself in a culture so rich in history yet so different from mine helped me broaden my perspectives; I learned the power of grace under pressure and the significance of standing in my truth. Moving to Ireland was another leap into the unknown. It required me to start from scratch but also offered me the chance to embrace my calling as a healer and coach fully. These diverse experiences have shaped my leadership style to be compassionate, inclusive, and courageous.
My journey taught me that authentic leadership empowers others to see their light, even when they can't see it themselves, and leads from the heart.
Q. Can you explain your services briefly?
Evolve Holistic Coaching provides services designed to honour mind, body, and spirit interconnectedness. It guides clients toward empowerment, self-discovery, and genuine transformation.
Each service invites clients to step into their full power, heal deeply, and ignite true transformation from within—it's a call to embark on the adventure of evolving, healing, and discovering the magic of true self-empowerment.
Q. Evolve Holistic Coaching empowers women to reclaim their voices and embrace their power. What are some of the most rewarding moments you've witnessed as a leader in this space?
Some of the most rewarding moments in my coaching career have come from witnessing women transform their lives. I've seen them evolve from feeling small and disconnected to fully embracing their worth, passion, and power. One client, for example, began her journey feeling overwhelmed, struggling to set boundaries in her personal and professional life. Through our work together, she began honouring her needs, finding her voice, and pursuing her dreams without guilt. Watching women shift from doubt to confidence, from fear to action, and from feeling invisible to shining brightly is incredibly fulfilling.
The joy on their faces when they realize they can create the life they desire—when they've tapped into the magic within themselves—is beyond words. These transformations remind me why I do this work and inspire me to continue creating safe and nurturing spaces where women can feel empowered to be unapologetically themselves, explore their inner worlds, heal, and grow.
Q. In your opinion, what is the most critical leadership quality required to guide women on a transformational journey?
Authenticity is the most critical leadership quality for guiding women on a transformational journey. To lead effectively, you must be willing to show up as your authentic self—with your strengths, vulnerabilities, and all. Authenticity creates trust, and trust is the foundation for any meaningful transformation. When I lead authentically, I empower others to embrace their true selves. It allows them to let down their guard, be honest about their struggles, and embrace who they truly are without fear of judgment.
Leadership in this context is not about having all the answers—it's about walking alongside my clients, guiding them back to their own inner wisdom, and helping them realize that they are the true alchemists of their lives. Leading with authenticity also means being willing to do the inner work myself—continuously growing, learning, and evolving alongside my clients.
Q. What does the future hold for your company and its customers? Are exciting things on the way?
The future of Evolve Holistic Coaching is evolving into something even more profound—Evolve Alchemy. This evolution represents my growth and the deeper work I feel called to do. Evolve Alchemy is about taking the journey beyond healing to one of sacred transformation—where we alchemize our pain into wisdom, our fears into empowerment, and fully embrace our divine feminine power.
Exciting things are definitely on the way! I am expanding my offerings to include new workshops that dive deeper into the sacred aspects of transformation, retreats, and sacred circles where women can share, heal, and grow together. I am also excited to introduce energy healing modalities, such as transference and quantum healing, to help clients access deeper levels of healing and transformation.
The journey ahead is one of expansion, magic, and collective empowerment, and I am thrilled to walk this path alongside the incredible women I serve.
Gabriela Barclay’s Socials: Website | Instagram | LinkedIn