Raquel López Alcántara | EEC Alumni Protagonist | June 2025

After more than 20 years in HR, Raquel decided to really listen to herself. What started as a courageous conversation in her former company became the starting point of a life transformation.

Today, she accompanies individual and team processes as a professional coach, guided by listening, authenticity and a deep connection with the present. From the mountains and close to the sea, Raquel builds a path that is more aligned with her purpose every day. And she shares it with generosity.

Raquel, how did you come to coaching?
I had always liked listening to people. In Human Resources, one of the things I most enjoyed was accompanying workers by listening, even though I had no formal training.

One day in a start-up where I worked, I dared to give sensitive feedback to a financial director who was creating a bad atmosphere. It was a very emotional conversation, we cried, she thanked me a lot and asked me to keep talking.
Then I thought: "If I am capable of doing this without training, imagine what I could do if I train myself". I looked for schools, found the EEC and started at the Barcelona branch. I did Cycle I, then Cycle II, Team Coaching and now Supervision.

Now, I accompany individual processes and, right now, I am doing my first team coaching process for a company in the tourism sector, together with a colleague I met in the training. I am very excited about it. It is a great achievement for me.

What was your experience of training at the EEC like?
Very transformative. I started face-to-face at a venue that brought back a lot of personal memories, and that moved me. The classes were full of practice, emotions, laughter and a lot of accompaniment. I remember that during Cycle II I was going through a complicated time and the support of teachers and classmates was very important. I learned to manage my emotions, especially sadness. For me, that was key.

What has been your biggest challenge?
Letting go of my previous professional identity. Going from being "the HR person with 20 years of experience" to firmly saying "I am a coach". Also rejecting a stable and highly valued position to bet on what really made me happy. It wasn't easy, but it was worth it.

And your greatest achievement?
Without a doubt, team coaching. I find it a complex but fascinating modality. It makes me very proud to have made it this far.

Where would you like to be in 5 years?
To have my own company, make a living from it and enjoy it. I want to continue to grow as a coach, to continue training and to be able to accompany from a deeper and deeper place.

What do you still need to learn?
I am very interested in mindfulness. I would like to get certified in something that allows me to work better on breathing, mindfulness, stress. I feel it can also help me to connect more with my daughter.

What is your passion?
Helping others. Watching other people grow. But I also love interior design (especially Nordic), crochet -I make handmade bags-, the sea, paddle surfing and walking in the mountains. I am lucky to live a few steps away from the forest.

What would you say to someone who is thinking of training as a coach?
Don't doubt it. Coaching changes your life. Even if you don't want to dedicate yourself professionally, you learn to listen, to accompany, to understand yourself better. If only everyone had the tools that we coaches have. The world would be very different.

Any final message or anything you would like to add?
Yes, a phrase that stays with me a lot: "Patience is the art of waiting in peace".
I used to despair very easily. Coaching has taught me to stop, to breathe, to wait without anxiety. It has also taught me to trust myself more, to treat myself with kindness, to believe in my abilities.

Listen to the full interview in podcast