Azucena Barclay, MBA shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Azucena, so good to connect and we’re excited to share your story and insights with our audience. There’s a ton to learn from your story, but let’s start with a warm up before we get into the heart of the interview. What are you most proud of building — that nobody sees?
What I am most proud of building does not shine under spotlights or appear on the cover of an award. It is something deeper and quieter: the strength of my family, the values that sustain me, and the invisible network of love and trust that has accompanied me through every stage of my journey. That foundation—built on respect, unity, and strong roots—is what allows me to grow as an entrepreneur, as a woman, and as a leader.
It is also present in my writing, even if the process behind it often remains unseen. My books and articles on leadership, empowerment, and personal growth are not born from theory, but from lived practice—where words become bridges and experience transforms into guidance. What people don’t see is the intimate work of planting reflection in others, listening with empathy, and believing that true impact begins in the closest spaces: at home, in private conversations, and in small acts of trust.
That invisible construction—the family, the values, the writing, and the human connections—is the work I am most proud of. Because I believe authentic leadership does not begin on stages; it begins in the ability to inspire from the root and to create bonds that endure beyond ourselves.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I am Azucena Barclay, a woman who has chosen to build her life from authenticity and with a deep commitment to people. Professionally, I am an accountant and MBA, as well as the author of books and articles that aim to inspire and spark reflection on leadership, empowerment, and personal growth. I own my accounting business, Azucena Barclay, MBA Tax & Business Solutions, and I am also the CEO of a distribution company I own with my husband, which holds the exclusive rights in the United States to import MasterGrill Eco-Friendly Charcoal Briquettes from Mexico—a product created and manufactured by my brother. This innovation was born from his love for grilling, combined with an environmentally conscious vision: it requires no additional fuel and is safe for people with chemical sensitivities.
As Mrs. Mexico Woman of Achievements at an international stage, I was honored with the International Innovation Award for this product and for its successful entry into the U.S. market. I was also recognized for my professional journey and winner of the Best National Costume Award, celebrated for proudly showcasing Mexico’s cultural heritage. In addition, I have been featured on the cover of international magazines and received two of the highest honors granted by the Global Magazines Consortium: the Red Diamond Award for cover recognition and the Black Diamond Award for excellence as a writer.
Throughout my journey, I have discovered that my true strength is not found in titles or awards, but in the ability to build bridges—between cultures, between people, and between different ways of thinking. That conviction inspired me to create Leadership by Free Minds, a project dedicated to bridging the neurotypical and neurodivergent worlds, promoting human-centered, inclusive, and conscious leadership.
Today, everything I do—in business, in my writing, in my family life, and in my social projects—carries the same purpose: to inspire people to discover their worth, embrace their authenticity, and lead from the heart. My family is my strongest foundation, and including them in this journey reminds me that authentic leadership begins at home.
Okay, so here’s a deep one: What breaks the bonds between people—and what restores them?
What breaks the bonds between people is often not what we see on the surface, but what goes unspoken: the lack of listening, pride, and the prejudices that make us believe we are on opposite sides. Bonds are also broken when personal interests outweigh shared values, when trust and respect are placed below temporary expectations.
What restores them is what makes us human: the ability to look at one another with compassion, to listen without rushing to respond, and to recognize that diversity of thought does not divide us—it enriches us. Bonds are restored when we choose authenticity and humility, when we place respect and integrity above convenience.
For me, the strongest bridge is always built on trust. It is the certainty that, even in our differences, we can create something greater together. That conviction is what inspired me to found Leadership by Free Minds: because I deeply believe that different ways of thinking are not barriers—they are our greatest source of innovation and unity.
What did suffering teach you that success never could?
Suffering taught me lessons that no award or achievement on its own could ever offer. It taught me to value the silent strength that is born in the darkest moments—the kind of resilience that is not learned in applause, but in the quiet weight of life’s hardest trials. Success celebrates the visible, but suffering revealed to me the richness of the invisible: compassion for others, empathy for battles that are never spoken, and the humility of knowing that we all carry struggles within us.
While success can build confidence, suffering taught me patience and faith; it showed me how to wait without losing hope, to trust that even pain holds a purpose of transformation. I discovered that true leadership is not measured in moments of victory, but in the way we rise after falling, and in the way we care for others even while we ourselves are healing.
Suffering taught me that greatness does not lie in perfection or outward shine, but in the ability to remain authentic, compassionate, and profoundly human in the face of adversity. That is the strength that guides my life today—in business, in writing, and in my commitment to building a more human and inclusive kind of leadership.
Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? What’s a cultural value you protect at all costs?
The cultural value I protect at all costs is family unity, because it is where my strongest roots are found: respect, love, trust, and the resilience that sustains me at every step. For me, family is the first place where we learn the value of keeping our word, the importance of integrity, and the understanding that trust is built through actions, not just words.
At the same time, I believe those same values extend beyond the home and become universal principles: integrity to act with consistency, even when it is difficult, and empathy to honor the diversity of thoughts, cultures, and realities. Protecting these values, to me, means protecting the very essence of what makes us human.
That is why everything I do—as an entrepreneur, as a writer, and as a leader—comes from this conviction: when family, integrity, and empathy are at the center, we not only build stronger bonds, we also create bridges that unite us across any difference.
Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. If you knew you had 10 years left, what would you stop doing immediately?
If I knew I had 10 years left, I would stop carrying what does not serve me: unnecessary worries, the pressure of meeting external expectations, and the habit of postponing dreams for “the right time.” I would release everything that steals peace, because time is too valuable to waste on what does not nourish the soul.
More importantly, I would begin to live with even greater intention. I would plant projects with the certainty that they will outlive me, growing and bearing fruit long after I am gone. I would invest more in my family, creating memories that turn into legacy, leaving roots of love and trust that will sustain those I love. I would also dedicate more of my energy to inspiring and supporting others, to building bridges that remain, and to creating spaces where every voice matters.
Because legacy is not written in the final years—it is built every day through the choices we make, the way we treat others, and the love we leave behind in every step.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.barclaymba.com/
- Instagram: @azucena_barclay
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/azucena.barclay
Image Credits
Photography by Dawn Hough Sebaugh
