Carla Barber, the Entrepreneur with €11 Million in Revenue, Takes Aim at Sick Leave: “Some People Go on Leave and Then Post Stories on Instagram”
There are two things in Spain that always get people talking: money and sick leave. Put them together in the same sentence, and you've got the perfect recipe to get half the country riled up. The latest to do so is Carla Barber, the cosmetic surgeon who traded her white coat for a business plan and now, at the helm of her Carla Secrets empire, doesn't mince words.
It all kicked off a few days ago when the CEO of this premium clinic weighed in on an issue that borders on the absurd in this country. “Some people go on sick leave and then post stories on Instagram.” The line, dropped during an interview, struck a nerve. It's not the first time someone has called out this kind of behaviour, but coming from someone who creates jobs and moves the kind of money she does, the issue takes on a different dimension. In a country where productivity is practically a mantra, Barber is calling out the fakers who, in her experience, game the system while living out their influencer life on social media.
Numbers That Speak Louder Than Words
What's interesting about this case isn't just the controversy, but the machine behind it. Because if Carla Barber speaks with such authority, it's because her company, Carla Secrets, has gone from a personal project to a genuine giant in the aesthetics industry. And that's no exaggeration. The figures from the last fiscal year are staggering: the company closed with revenues nearing €11 million. That's massive, considering the current economic climate.
But the real juicy part, what has investors rubbing their hands together and competitors getting nervous, is the gross operating profit, the famous EBITDA. We're talking about a figure close to €3.4 million. In terms of margins, this puts Carla Secrets in an enviable position, proving that Barber's business model—which combines high-end surgery with cutting-edge treatments and a flawless digital marketing strategy—is a true value-generating machine.
A Genuine Complaint or a Calculated Strategy?
This is where the analysis gets interesting. Barber's criticism of sick leave isn't some off-the-cuff remark. She knows her image is tied to that of a businesswoman who doesn't leave room for slacking off. Her argument is straightforward and brutally direct:
- Profitability vs. Absenteeism: Barber argues that people work in her company, and that the success of the €11 million in revenue is built on the responsibility of a team that doesn't make excuses.
- The Opportunity Cost: Her implicit criticism is that while some people treat sick leave as a paid vacation, there are freelancers and small businesses (like hers, though it's not so small anymore) doing the heavy lifting and propping up the economy.
- The Power of Social Media: Mentioning Instagram stories is no accident. It's the perfect hook. The contradiction of seeing someone “on leave” at a party or enjoying a splurge while posting it all online is the image she wants to plant in the public's mind.
Is this just a business owner venting, or a marketing move to position herself as the tough leader who can't be fooled? The reality is, controversy aside, Carla Barber's name is back on everyone's lips—and with it, her clinic. While other CEOs hide behind lukewarm press releases, she puts herself out there and generates hundreds of headlines. And in the aesthetics and luxury business, visibility is everything.
The truth is, the former 'Survivor' contestant has proven her talent goes far beyond being in front of the camera. She's built an empire in a competitive sector, with numbers that cement her as one of the country's most powerful up-and-coming entrepreneurs. Whether people like her opinions on sick leave is another matter. But as long as her company keeps raking in the cash, she'll still have the clout to say it loud and clear.