“Intimacy, Ambition & Authenticity: Carolina Trestian on Love, Leadership and Being Yourself with Confidence”
You might have glimpsed Carolina Trestian on Instagram or LinkedIn, framed by the polished glamour of Kensington boardrooms or the delicate ritual of a curated women’s afternoon tea. Immaculately dressed and calm against the backdrop of luxury hotels, she radiates confidence, elegance, and success. But scratch beneath the designer styling and inspiring presentations, and you’ll find a woman of striking thoughtfulness, someone who believes spirituality and connection hold as much power as strategy and style. Born in Moldova and shaped by humble beginnings, Carolina speaks of love as a catalyst: with the right partner, she says, you are given wings to fly and to achieve the dreams you once only dared to imagine. Dialling in from London, she shares her journey as a strategist, as a woman, and as someone who sees the work of love as inseparable from the work of healing.
Interview
– Carolina, you are known for coaching high-achieving women, and people more broadly, on relationships. What was the moment when you realised this was your path?
– I was born in the capital city of Moldova in 1991 and grew up with an early understanding of both the beauty and the challenges that come with humble beginnings. After moving to London, my professional journey developed in stages. I began as a stylist, make-up artist and model, which gave me a lasting appreciation for beauty, detail, and self-expression. I later transitioned into business and marketing and went on to complete an MBA at London Metropolitan University alongside psychotherapy studies, grounding my practice in both strategic thinking and human psychology. This led to work in personal branding for high-achieving individuals, a role that combined creativity and excellence with business expertise.
Over time, I realised I was too multi-skilled to remain in a single field. I became my own first case study, analysing personality traits and behavioural patterns to uncover who people truly are beneath their social masks. It was through this process that I met my husband, Ian Timis, whom I often say I found “scientifically” by mapping compatibility and personality traits. That experience reinforced my belief that relationships can be built with both heart and method.
My work now brings together psychology, style, and business in order to create lasting and transformative impact. This vision has shaped my coaching practice and resulted in the creation of my bespoke programme, The Gift of Being a Woman.
– In a world where people often show up polished and perfect on social media, how do you teach vulnerability, especially for people who are used to projecting strength?
– It starts with a small permission. Permission to feel, permission to fail, permission to have messy conversations. I always tell my clients: showing up imperfectly isn’t weakness, it’s the real thing you can offer. We do exercises around speaking truth (even when it scares you), around communicating what you need, and around being honest about fears. Vulnerability becomes a muscle you build, not something you wait to feel ready for.
– What are some of the recurring barriers you see in people’s love lives, especially for driven professionals?
– High-achieving people often encounter the same hurdles. There is the fear of losing independence, the feeling that opening up means losing control. Imposter syndrome also shows up in intimacy, the thought that “if they see all of me, they might leave.” Expectations can be misaligned as well.
Time scarcity and burnout are also major obstacles. Many people simply do not dedicate the time to truly discover another person, and modern life often pushes relationships into a fast-paced rhythm that leaves little space for depth. Finally, a very common challenge is a lack of clarity. Without understanding what you truly want and need, it becomes easy to choose relationships that look right on paper but lack the substance to endure.
– You have a programme called 5 Steps to Get a Prosperous Relationship. Can you walk me through what someone experiences when signing up?
– Yes. We begin by mapping emotional histories and attachment styles, so people can see how their past still shapes their present. From there, we define values and non-negotiables, what must remain, what can bend, and what cannot be compromised. The next stage is focused on communication, boundaries and suitable appearance, which I see as the tailoring of any healthy relationship.
A large part of the process is self-awareness. We explore dreams, fears, and shadow parts, and we also work with personality typing. Clients not only discover their own traits but also learn about the wider spectrum of types, including the sixteen established profiles, to understand which dynamics are most likely to create long-term harmony and which may lead to conflict.
Finally, we move into integration. This is about bringing those insights into everyday life, whether through small gestures, the way you hold space in digital conversations, how you rest, or how you say no and yes. I often compare it to a wardrobe: the goal is not simply to collect more pieces, but to learn how to wear what you already have beautifully, with confidence, consistency and quality.
The programme is tailored to each individual, focusing on the areas where they need the most growth. The aim is to help them become the highest version of themselves and to move through life and love with complete confidence.
– So many people wonder: can relationships really improve, or are we stuck with what we bring? What’s your take?
– Relationships can absolutely improve, but only if you’re willing to do the inner work. You can’t change the other person, but you can change how you engage. You can shift old narratives, unlearn patterns, and set healthier boundaries. The relationship that feels easier, more joyful, more aligned, it’s possible. But it requires courage, self-compassion, and a willingness to stay even when things get uncomfortable.
– Your work blends relationships with confidence and presence. How much of confidence, in your view, is connected to fashion and style?
– Style is a form of language. Before you even speak, what you wear tells a story about you. Confidence is not about following trends; it is about choosing what aligns with your essence and inner true self. When you feel at ease in your own skin and in your chosen style, that confidence translates directly into how you relate to others.
Fashion, beauty, and style can serve as armour, but they can also act as amplifiers. I encourage my clients to see style not as a mask but as an extension of their truth. A well-tailored blazer or a signature fragrance can be grounding, reminding you of your power. Yet the real transformation happens when the outside matches the inside, when your appearance reflects the confidence and self-assurance you have cultivated within.
I often tell clients to wear something that makes them feel most themselves, not necessarily the most impressive. In business, we often dress to project authority, but in relationships, we should also dress to express authenticity. That might mean silk instead of structure, jewellery with personal meaning, or choosing colours that evoke softness or strength. When you feel beautiful in your own expression, you attract better by projecting a magnetic confidence.
– What is one style ritual that anchors you before stepping into a high-stakes conversation or event?
– For me, it is always fragrance. The right scent shifts my energy instantly. I might choose something light and feminine for a more playful occasion, or a rich leather-based note when I want to project strength. Fragrance is invisible but powerful, very much like confidence itself.
I also pay close attention to details: the assurance of a perfect heel, the softness of a subtle lip, or a piece of jewellery acquired at auction with a story behind it. These small rituals are reminders of identity and strength. They centre me before I step into any room.
– Finally, for your signature sign-off, something personal: what is one ritual or habit in your life that reminds you of why relational work is worth it?
– I keep a journal where, every night, I answer the question: “What connection fed me today?” Sometimes it is a call with a friend, sometimes a deep conversation with my partner, and sometimes even a moment of grace in a meeting where I felt I made a difference. I also added a line about what beauty or inspiration I witnessed that day. This ritual keeps me anchored and reminds me that life is about connection.
I also never leave the house without something symbolic. For me, it is a small cross I wear around my neck, a reminder of clarity, love, and that I can place all my worries in God’s hands.
Carolina Trestian’s journey is defined by elegance, insight, and a profound belief in the power of connection. By weaving psychology, style, and spirituality into her practice, she has created a philosophy of love and life that speaks to both ambition and authenticity. For her, the work of love is inseparable from the work of healing — and it is this conviction that she now shares with clients who seek not only relationships, but transformation.
To explore her bespoke programme or follow her reflections on confidence, relationships, and style, visit thegiftofbeingawoman.com or connect with her on Instagram @carolina.tres
Interview by John Nimmo
Photography by Alexey Vladimir
