P: If you are given the chance to share an afternoon coffee with one visionary leader, who would that be? G: I would pick two: 1) Amelia Earhart for her milestone in the aviation sector, taking risks, and making it in a historically man’ s world.
2) Shirin Ebadi, an Iranian lawyer, a former judge and human rights activist and founder of Centre for the Defense of Human Rights in Iran. On October 10, 2003, Ebadi was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for her significant and pioneering efforts for democracy and human rights, especially on the rights of women, children and refugees.
P: For someone who not only thrived but excelled in a male-dominated corporate world for years, people often describe you as“ strong-willed” and“ undaunted.” What is the softer side of Julie Gilbert that people rarely get a glimpse of? G: My family gets my softer side, especially my eight-month-old baby, Arman. Though I thoroughly enjoy the fast-paced world of business with all the travels, meetings, and mountains of e-mails, one glimpse of my baby boy’ s smile or hearing the sound of his squeal when I come home— and I turn into a complete mush. And those who I have the pleasure of working directly with would tell you that I lead with my heart and organize with my head.
P: If you could drop everything for a day or two, where would you want to escape to? G: Costa Rica— to a beautiful hotel with a fantastic spa, workout area and a beach.
P: How do you live the spa lifestyle? G: Exercise, diet, and good mental health are important to me and my family. I start my daily routine at around five in the morning by working out at my favorite gym, followed by a steam, Jacuzzi, the occasional massage, and a breakfast of oatmeal, protein shake, and fruit. When on vacation, I specifically choose the location and the hotel with the best spa. For me and my family, I feel relaxation and good mental health are just as important as a good diet and exercise, and living a spa lifestyle is a great way to relax. It’ s also the way to balance a very intense work and life schedule. ■
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The Working Girl Works Out
It’ s hard to imagine Gilbert— who shuffles to different zip codes for speaking engagements, runs her own consultancy firm and juggles motherhood with her eight-month-old son Arman— finds the time to work out seven days a week. But this CEO is a rare breed.
While other working executives use work as an excuse, she makes a conscious effort to fit fitness into her daily routine— whether that means waking up at dawn to do crunches in a hotel room or leaving the office early to hit the gym before a business dinner. HER EARLY BEGINNINGS: Fitness became Gilbert’ s passion as early as childhood when she weighed 185 pounds at seventh grade. She started a fitness plan by walking 10 minutes longer each day, eventually running five miles daily. In nine months, she shed off 65 pounds, and has never looked back since then. HER WORKOUT ROUTINE: Gilbert prefers high-impact and sweat-inducing exercise programs like group spinning and strength training. She has two personal trainers( including Lifetime Fitness Flagship Gym CEO Bahram Akradi who teaches her spinning lessons) and five iPods to get her into the workout mood. She is addicted to dancing, and used to take hip-hop dance classes but temporarily stopped after giving birth last May. HER MOST IMPORTANT FITNESS LESSON: For Gilbert, fitness and going to the spas are more than just about keeping in shape, it has been her life-saver.“ My significant other had an emergency brain surgery in August so I have been helping him recover. I’ d have to say, the gym, working out and massage treatments have been my way of staying upbeat during these hardest times, along with caring for my newborn baby.” HER FITNESS COMMITMENT:“ I don’ t miss a day,” she says.“ I just don’ t. I schedule it into my day like breakfast, lunch and dinner.” In fact, at one point, caught up with the proverbial unending corporate work, she once stormed into her boss’ s office and said,“ I’ m leaving at 4:45 p. m. If you schedule a meeting, I won’ t be there. I’ m going to the gym. It’ s my mental health. I’ ll be back at 7 p. m. He just laughed at me shaking his head and said,‘ Whatever you need, Julie.’ Since that day I never use work as an excuse.”
March / April 2011 ■ PULSE 49