Carla Barber: The Entrepreneur Turning Over €11 Million Who’s Taking a Stand Against Sick Leave Abuse: “People go on leave and then post 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 have the perfect recipe to get half the country riled up. The latest to do just that is Carla Barber, the cosmetic surgeon who swapped her white coat for a business plan and now, at the helm of her empire Carla Secrets, doesn't mince words.
It all kicked off a few days ago when the CEO of this premium clinic weighed in on a topic that borders on the absurd in this country. “People go on sick leave and are busy posting stories on Instagram.” That line, dropped 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 is moving the kind of numbers she is, it hits different. In a country where productivity is practically a mantra, Barber is pointing the finger directly at those faking illness who, in her experience, game the system while living it up like influencers online.
Numbers that speak louder than words
What's interesting here isn’t just the controversy itself, but the machine behind it. Because if Carla Barber speaks with this kind of authority, it’s because her company, Carla Secrets, has grown from a personal project into a genuine powerhouse in the aesthetics sector. And that’s no exaggeration. The figures from the last financial year are striking: the company posted a turnover of nearly €11 million. That’s pretty remarkable given the current economic climate.
But the really juicy part, the bit that 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 – blending high-end surgery with cutting-edge treatments and a flawless digital marketing strategy – is a genuine value-creating machine.
Genuine complaint or strategic move?
This is where the analysis gets interesting. Barber’s critique of sick leave didn’t come out of a casual chat. She knows her image is tied to that of a businesswoman who doesn't tolerate slacking off. Her argument is simple and brutally direct:
- Profitability vs. Absenteeism: Barber argues that at her company, people work, and that the success of that €11 million turnover is built on the responsibility of a team that doesn’t do excuses.
- The 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) that are carrying the load 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 ‘on leave’ at a party or enjoying a luxury while posting on their socials is the image she wants to plant in the public’s mind.
Is this just a business owner complaining, or a marketing move to position herself as the tough leader who can’t be fooled? The reality is that, controversy aside, Carla Barber's name is back on everyone's lips, and with it, her clinic. While other CEOs hide behind bland press releases, she puts her neck on the line and generates headlines galore. And in the aesthetics and luxury business, visibility is everything.
The truth is that the former 'Survivor' contestant has shown her talent goes well beyond being in front of a camera. She’s built an empire in a competitive sector, with figures that cement her status as one of the country’s most powerful up-and-coming entrepreneurs. Whether people agree with her views on sick leave is another matter. But as long as her company keeps bringing in revenue at this rate, she’ll continue to hold the cards to say it loud and clear.