Carla Barber: The 11-million-pound business owner taking aim at sick leave – “Some people go on leave and still post on Instagram”

There are two things in Spain that are guaranteed to get people talking: money and sick leave. Combine the two in a single sentence, and you have the perfect recipe for getting half the country riled up. The latest to do so is Carla Barber, the cosmetic surgeon who swapped her white coat for an entrepreneur’s notepad and now, as head of her Carla Secrets empire, isn’t afraid to speak her mind.

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 are still posting stories on Instagram.” The comment, made during an interview, has 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 turns over the kind of figures she does, it takes on a whole new dimension. In a country where productivity is practically a mantra, Barber is pointing the finger directly at those falsely claiming sick leave who, in her experience, exploit the system while living the life of an influencer on social media.

Numbers that speak louder than words

The interesting part here 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 grown from a personal project into a genuine giant in the aesthetics sector. That’s no exaggeration. The latest financial year’s figures are staggering: the firm has reported a turnover of nearly €11 million. That’s a remarkable achievement given the current economic climate.

But the really juicy bit – the part that has investors rubbing their hands together and competitors feeling the heat – 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 genuine value-generating machine.

Genuine concern or savvy strategy?

This is where the analysis gets interesting. Barber’s criticism of sick leave didn’t just come up in casual conversation. She knows her image is tied to that of a businesswoman who allows no room for slacking off. Her argument is simple and brutally direct:

• Profitability vs. Absenteeism: Barber argues that in her company, people work, and that the success behind the €11 million turnover is built on a team’s responsibility and a no-excuses attitude.
• Opportunity cost: Her implicit criticism is that while some treat sick leave as a paid holiday, it’s the self-employed and small businesses (like hers, though it’s not so small anymore) who are the ones keeping things moving and propping up the economy.
• The power of social media: The mention of Instagram stories is no accident. It’s the perfect hook. The contradiction of seeing someone “off sick” at a party or enjoying a luxury while posting it all online is the image she wants to embed in the public’s mind.

Is this just a business owner’s complaint, or a marketing ploy to position herself as the no-nonsense leader who won’t be taken for a fool? 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 bland corporate statements, she’s putting her neck on the line and generating headlines by the dozen. And at the end of the day, in the luxury aesthetics business, visibility is everything.

The truth is, the former contestant on 'Supervivientes' has shown that her talents go far beyond being in front of a camera. She has built an empire in a competitive sector, with figures that establish her as one of the most powerful emerging entrepreneurs in the country. Whether people agree with her views on sick leave is another matter. But as long as her business continues to steam ahead with its impressive turnover, she’ll be the one calling the shots – and saying so loud and clear.