Conversations with Barbara Gomide

Today we’d like to introduce you to Barbara Gomide.

Hi Barbara, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
Sixteen years ago, my husband and I left Brazil with what felt like the perfect plan. We had spent years preparing, saving money, organizing paperwork, searching for housing, and carefully planning every practical detail of our move to the United States. What nobody prepared us for was the emotional journey.

Once we arrived, moving to the San Francisco Bay Area was very exciting and a fantastic experience. My husband quickly found a wonderful job in the tech industry, and for a while we embraced the adventure of discovering new places, meeting people from around the world, and building a new life.

Prior to this, I was building a successful career in advertising, was surrounded by a loving family, and had a strong sense of identity. As the years passed, I found myself asking a question many immigrants and expats quietly carry: “Who am I in this new life?”

Learning a new language was only part of the challenge. There was homesickness, cultural adaptation, career uncertainty, grief for the life I had left behind, and the gradual feeling that I had somehow lost parts of myself. It was one of the most transformative (and difficult) experiences of my life.

The birth of my two daughters brought incredible joy, but it also deepened my search for meaning and belonging. Through therapy, mindfulness practice, women’s circles, and the support of my local community, I slowly found my way back to myself. This journey changed the direction of my life.

I realized that while migration can open extraordinary opportunities, it also carries an emotional cost that is rarely acknowledged. I took up for myself a mission to help make that journey less lonely for others who were going through the same process.

From that point on, I dedicated myself to supporting immigrant and expat women and families, and thus I joined the BRAVE organization (Brazilian Women in Silicon Valley), where I created programs focused on entrepreneurship, professional development, and cultural connection. I later founded an online children’s bookstore to help Brazilian families abroad preserve their language and cultural roots, curated Portuguese-language collections for Bay Area libraries, and facilitated wellness groups in California for immigrant mothers through a grant from the Center for Empowering Refugees and Immigrants (CERI).

Those experiences eventually led me to co-found Travessias, a social impact initiative created to support immigrant and expat women through community, coaching, workshops, and retreats. Today, Travessias connects women across the United States, Brazil, Portugal, and beyond, creating spaces where they can be seen, heard, and supported as they navigate life’s transitions.

Alongside this effort, I completed a post-grad degree on Transpersonal Psychology, deepened my knowledge in cross-cultural studies, and right now I’m about to obtain an international certification on Transformative Life Coach. Today, my work combines all these approaches and other tools to help women navigate identity shifts, cultural transitions, and personal transformation through a holistic lens.

Looking back, I see that the greatest challenge of my life became my life’s work. My own migration taught me that belonging isn’t something we simply find, it’s something we create, within ourselves and in community.

Today, my life’s quest is much less of a mystery and cause for suffering. It became my calling, an impactful help for other women to discover that they don’t have to navigate these transitions alone, and that even in the uncertainty of change, there is immense potential for growth, healing, and purpose.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road! One of my biggest struggles was finding myself again after moving to another country, a new life. I had to rebuild my career, my community, my confidence and, in many ways, my sense of identity.

There were years when I felt caught between two worlds, navigating homesickness, cultural differences, professional uncertainty, and the emotional weight of being far from my family. But those challenges ultimately became part of what shaped my purpose.

They taught me the importance of connections, support networks, and creation of spaces where people feel seen and supported. In many ways, I stopped trying to find my way back to who I was and began embracing who I was becoming.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Today, my work centers on supporting women through life transitions, identity shifts, and the complexities of navigating life across cultures. I am a Wellness Practitioner and Facilitator, rooted in Transpersonal and Cross-cultural Psychology. And in a few months I’ll also become a certified Transformative Life Coach.

I co-founded Travessias (in Portuguese it means a journey, the process of crossing through something), a social impact initiative supporting immigrant and expat women through community, coaching, workshops, and group retreats. I also work individually with women who are seeking a deeper connection with themselves, greater clarity, and a more meaningful sense of purpose.

What sets my work apart is my sensitivity, my holistic approach to each individual, and the integrative tools I have cultivated through years of my own healing journey. I also bring the perspective of someone who has personally experienced the complexities of migration and cultural transition. My lived experience, combined with my professional background, allows me to connect with my clients in a genuine and compassionate way. The challenges I have lived, helps me in creating spaces where people feel deeply seen, understood, and supported.

Where do you see things going in the next 5-10 years?
Human connection. I don’t see it as just another trend, but as a fundamental human need. In a world that’s becoming increasingly digital and driven by AI, people are craving spaces where they can slow down, feel seen, build authentic relationships, and reconnect with themselves.

I believe that’s especially true for immigrants and people living between cultures. Beyond practical support, they need places where they can process change, find belonging, and make sense of who they are becoming.

I also see a shift away from one-size-fits-all approaches to wellbeing. People are looking for support that recognizes the whole person: their culture, relationships, values, body, mind, and sense of purpose. I believe the future of my field lies in creating more human, culturally aware, and integrative spaces where people don’t just cope with change, but truly grow through it.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://travessiastranspessoal.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/babi_gomide/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/barbaragomide/
• Youtube: https://youtu.be/tQ842MQ_V5M