Her Story
About Rachael
Rachael Goldfarb is a certified Leadership and Personal Growth Coach based in Encinitas, California, who launched her coaching practice in January 2025 following a distinguished nearly 19-year corporate career at E. & J. Gallo Winery, where she rose from Sales Representative to Director — building teams, developing capabilities, and leading leaders across the organization. A graduate of the University of San Diego with a Bachelor of Business Administration and a minor in Speech Communication, Rachael further deepened her expertise by earning her Certified Success & Life Coach designation through the Jay Shetty Certification School and an International Postgraduate Diploma in Coaching and Leadership Development from OTHM Qualifications. Grounded in both academic excellence and extensive real-world leadership experience, she brings a rare combination of corporate credibility and certified coaching mastery to every client engagement.
<br><br>
Rachael's coaching practice centers on empowering women to step into their full potential — helping them define and own their leadership identity, cultivate essential skills such as executive presence, coaching, strategic thinking, and prioritization, while also addressing the overwhelm and burnout that so often accompany high-achieving professional lives. What sets her apart is the deeply personal lens through which she works: having navigated divorce, single motherhood, co-parenting, and her own experience with burnout, Rachael brings genuine empathy and hard-won wisdom to her clients. Her core belief is that women should not have to go through failure to gain clarity — she is committed to shortening that learning curve by sharing the lessons she has lived, helping her clients release what they feel they "should" do in favor of what truly lights them up and aligns with their deepest values.
<br><br>
Beyond her professional practice, Rachael is a passionate community builder who channels that same energy into her personal life. She serves on the Board of Directors of the Encinitas Educational Foundation and founded OPE Moms Connect, a community and wellness group for mothers at her son's elementary school — a reflection of her deep belief in the transformative power of female connection and collective support. An avid fitness enthusiast who enjoys strength training, cycling, and hiking, Rachael embodies the balance and intentional living she champions with her clients. Guided by the values of thoughtfulness, integrity, compassion, growth, and joy, she invites every woman she works with to stop merely getting through life — and start building one that is truly, beautifully their own.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Rachael
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to trusting myself and never giving up. Throughout my journey — navigating burnout, career transitions, and personal challenges — I kept coming back to that inner trust. Alongside that, the fierce support of my female friends and family has been an absolutely game-changing part of my life. Having a network of women who will genuinely cheer you on, protect you, and fiercely support you makes all the difference. I truly believe in the power of female community.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
Two pieces of advice have stayed with me. The first is to have the courage to take up space — don't be afraid to speak up and make your voice heard. The second, and perhaps the more powerful of the two, is to prioritize growth over being right. When we approach conflict and differing perspectives with an open mind and a genuine desire to grow, we become so much stronger collectively. Conflict, when handled well, is actually a gift — it opens the door to richer thinking and better outcomes for everyone involved.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Take messy action and learn. Put yourself out there, do the work, and don't wait until everything is perfect — because it never will be. Action is far more powerful than perfection. The faster you move, the faster you learn, and the faster you grow. It took me a long time to truly embrace that, and I wish I had learned it sooner. Progress over perfection, always.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the most significant realities in coaching today is that the industry is largely unregulated — virtually anyone can present themselves as a life coach. That opens the door to incredible opportunity, allowing more people to pursue this work and positively impact others' lives. At the same time, it poses a real challenge around legitimacy and integrity. As coaches, we have a collective responsibility to hold ourselves to the highest standards of service, excellence, and ethics — because the quality of our work either strengthens or undermines the credibility of the entire field.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values I hold closest are thoughtfulness, growth, integrity, and compassion. And above all — joy. In both my work and my personal life, I aim to lead with these, whether I'm coaching a client through a pivotal career decision or spending time with my son and the people I love most.
Join Influential Women and start making an impact. Register now.