Paula Castillo - Gallup CliftonStrengths Coach

Empowering Leaders, Teams, and Individuals to Thrive Through Strengths-Based Coaching

Hola, I’m paula

An executive coach, somatic practitioner, and leadership development expert. With over 15 years of experience consulting for Fortune 500 companies and international development banks, I bring a unique blend of analytical expertise and integrative coaching to help individuals and organizations thrive.

I specialize in strengths-based leadership, somatic coaching, and mindfulness practices to create meaningful, lasting impact for teams, leaders, and individuals navigating change.

My Coaching Philosophy:

I believe real transformation starts within. My approach blends:

  • CliftonStrengths® Coaching to uncover and amplify your natural talents

  • Mindfulness & Somatic Awareness for grounded, authentic leadership

  • Systems Thinking to align individual growth with team and organizational goals

  • The Neuroscience of Change to help leaders navigate complexity with clarity and confidence

By integrating these methods, I help clients lead with presence, build emotional intelligence, and align their work with deeper purpose.

My Background & Experience:

  • Harvard-educated Economist & Consultant turned Executive Coach

  • Gallup-Certified CliftonStrengths® Coach

  • Professional Certified Coach (PCC) with the International Coaching Federation

  • Somatic & Mindfulness Practitioner, weaving holistic practices into leadership development

  • Experienced in consulting for Fortune 500 companies, and international development banks

My multicultural background—being born and raised in Colombia and now based in Washington, DC—gives me a global lens and a deep appreciation for diverse work environments

Education

  • Masters in Public Policy, Harvard University

  • Double-major in Economics and Marketing, Suffolk University

SELECTED Certifications & Training

  • Professional Certified Coach (PCC) - International Coaching Federation (ICF)

  • Global CliftonStrengths Coach - Gallup

  • Mindfulness & Stress Resilience at Work - University of California Berkeley

  • Managing Team Conflict - LinkedIn

  • Workshop Facilitation - LinkedIn

  • Advanced Team Coaching Training

  • Restorative Yoga Teacher - Kripalu

Full list of certifications and coursework on my LinkedIn profile.

Additional Roles

  • Coaching with Paula was magical; by the end of our sessions I understood how the pieces of the puzzle in my career and relationships came together.

    Lead Specialist, International Development Bank

Retreats, Workshops & Speaking Engagements

I offer tailored retreats and dynamic speaking engagements designed to inspire, empower, and create meaningful change. Drawing from my experience facilitating retreats and workshops for organizations like Jeronimo Martins, #samsales, and Stitch Fix, I specialize in using CliftonStrengths®, Group Coaching techniques, and facilitation to deepen self-awareness, strengthen team dynamics, and unlock collective potential.

Strengths-Focused Retreats & Workshops

My retreats go beyond traditional team-building. By anchoring the experience in CliftonStrengths®, I help teams:

  • Understand and leverage individual and collective strengths

  • Build trust and improve collaboration

  • Navigate change and growth with clarity and cohesion

  • Align team goals with individual motivators

Each engagement is designed to create space for meaningful reflection, dynamic interaction, and actionable outcomes. Whether it’s guiding senior leaders through complex decision-making or helping new teams form strong foundations, these retreats create lasting impact.

Speaking Engagements

As a speaker, I bring a grounded, insightful, and engaging presence to conferences, panels, and corporate events. Popular topics include:

  • Your Strengths Are Calling: Applying the Science of Callings to Career Transitions

  • Strengths-Based Team Development

  • Specific topics applied to individual and professional development

Who I Work With

  • Companies & Teams: Organizations looking to strengthen collaboration, leadership, and performance.

  • Leaders & Executives: Professionals seeking to lead with authenticity and impact.

  • Individuals in Career Transition: Those navigating change, seeking clarity, or stepping into new roles.

Speaking and workshops

  • February - April 2025: Financial Literacy Coaching, StitchFix

  • October-December 2024: CliftonStrengths Coaching and Retreat Workshop, #samsales Consulting

  • August-September 2024: CliftonStrengths Coaching and Workshop, Virtual, Jerónimo Martins (ARA)

  • April 2024: Strengths and Callings. DC 40 + of Greater Washington.

  • October 2023: Your Strengths Are Calling Workshop. New Jersey Center for Women.

  • April 2023: Gender equality and the workplace, Panel Member, Colegio Nueva Granada.

  • March 2022: Feminism and the workplace, Panel Member, Colegio Nueva Granada.

  • March 2022: Feminism, bias, and empathy. Workshop. Universidad Tecnológica de Monterrey.

  • April 2022: Your Strengths Are Calling Workshop. New Jersey Center for Women.

  • December 2021: Fulfillment in Work and Life: Satisfaction, Engagement, and Work as a Calling Workshop. World Bank Group.

compassionate, insightful, and a deep listener. PAULA helped me work through issues that limited my outlook. I’m grateful to continue working with her.

I am better, stronger, happier for it.


-LARA, ENTREPRENEUR

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