We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Gabriela Sales Cabral. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Gabriela below.

Gabriela, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Can you talk to us about a risk you’ve taken – walk us through the story?

In December 2016, just as I was about to become a mother for the second time and was in the middle of negotiations to acquire the school where I worked, I discovered, completely unexpectedly, that the company had been sold… just not to me. The opportunity I believed was mine vanished overnight.

Shortly after, my son was born, and everything seemed to happen at once. I was caring for two young children, no longer had a job to return to, and was trying to find myself in the middle of it all. In that moment of uncertainty, I made what many would consider a bold – if not reckless – decision: I invested in a franchise of an International Education agency.
What felt at the time like a huge risk, possibly even a recipe for failure or burnout, became the first step toward a much bigger transformation that would unfold seven years later.

With little experience in running a business, or even fully understanding how the industry worked, I immersed myself in learning everything I could about International Education. Over time, I expanded the agency into two businesses, adding tourism to the portfolio. I became a specialist in the field and had the opportunity to travel to places that once felt like distant dreams, leading incredible groups of all ages along the way.
The businesses were thriving, generating six figures annually, with multiple trips scheduled throughout the year, until the pandemic brought everything to a sudden halt. What felt like chaos at the time, I now recognize as a pivotal moment for our family.

With more time to reflect on the future, we began planning a move from Brazil to another country. We had traveled often before, but never with the mindset that we could truly start over somewhere new.
In January 2023, we arrived in North Carolina with two children, nine suitcases, countless dreams and, of course, a fair amount of fear. Once again, that familiar mix of risk, excitement, and uncertainty took over. My husband, who had worked as a real estate lawyer in Brazil but had hands-on experience in carpentry, started working as a carpenter in his very first week here. It didn’t take long for me to realize two things: he was incredibly talented and this could become a business.

Four months after our arrival, we launched our carpentry company in North Carolina. Shortly after, I also restarted my work in International Education.

Starting over in a new country, with a different language, culture, and no established network, can feel overwhelming. Many would call it risky even reckless, to leave behind everything you’ve built. But it can also be a rare opportunity: to grow, to learn, to gain a new perspective, and to evolve both personally and professionally.

If there’s one thing this journey has taught me, it’s that we carry a surprising strength within us. And when we find our purpose, we find a way to live it fully. I’ve also learned not to be discouraged by those who label bold decisions as “too risky” or “crazy.” Instead, I choose to focus on planning, hardworking, my faith in God, and on trusting that what is meant for us will always find its way to us.

Gabriela, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

My name is Gabriela Sales Cabral, and at my core, I’ve always been driven by one thing: helping people expand their world, whether through education, travel, or building something meaningful from the ground up.

My professional journey started in Education. I hold degrees in Business Administration, Languages (English, Portuguese, and Spanish), and Tourism, along with postgraduate studies in Strategic Planning, Entrepreneurial Education, and User Experience (Yes, I like to study!). For over a decade, I worked as an English and Spanish teacher and later as a coordinator at a language school, where I developed a deep understanding of how people, children, teenagers, and adults, learn and connect with new languages and cultures.

That passion naturally led into International Education. About nine years ago, I stepped into this field more intentionally, participating in exchange programs myself, traveling to multiple countries, and eventually becoming a specialist in academic and cultural experiences abroad. Over time, I built and expanded my own Education and Travel businesses, creating opportunities for students and families to experience the world in transformative ways.

Today, I lead New Connections, a company focused on developing academic programs and International experiences for both local and international students. We design impactful learning experiences for youth, creating structured, ready-to-implement academic programs for organizations that serve students ages 11 to 22. Our turnkey model allows nonprofits, schools, and youth organizations to deliver high-quality education without needing large teams or long development cycles.

In parallel, after moving to the United States, I co-founded a Carpentry business with my husband. This was a completely new industry for me, and stepping into construction, came with its own set of challenges. From understanding local regulations and building codes to establishing credibility in a highly competitive and hands-on field, it required resilience, humility, and a willingness to learn fast.
Our company focuses on custom residential carpentry such as decks, porches, exterior wood structures, siding, doors, windows, and other tailored outdoor projects. What we bring to the table is not just technical skill, but a strong sense of responsibility, attention to detail, and genuine care for our clients’ homes. We understand that we are not just building structures, we are helping create spaces where families gather, rest, and build memories.

What connects both of my businesses, even though they operate in completely different industries, is purpose. In Education, I help people explore the world and invest in their future. In construction, I help families build and improve the spaces where their lives happen. Both require trust, clear communication, and a commitment to delivering real value.

One of the things I’m most proud of is having the courage to start over. After building a successful small business in Brazil, I made the decision to move to the United States with my family and rebuild from scratch: new country, new language dynamics, new industries, and no established network. It was not easy, and there were many moments of uncertainty, but it reinforced something I truly believe: we are far more capable than we think when we are aligned with our purpose.
If there’s one thing I want people to know about me and my work, is that I take dreams seriously. Whether it’s a student wanting to study abroad or a family investing in their home, I approach each project with intention, structure, and heart. I believe in planning, in continuous learning, and in faith in God as a foundation that guides my decisions.
At the end of the day, my work, no matter the industry, is about creating opportunities, building trust, and helping people move forward with confidence.

Can you share one of your favorite marketing or sales stories?

One of my favorite sales stories didn’t start with a strategy, it started with an unexpected moment and a decision to show up.
In Brazil, my family has a tradition of spending New Year’s at the beach. It’s our time to rest, reset, and start the year with fresh energy. On January 1st, we were packing up at the beach house when I noticed something unusual: four missed calls on Instagram, two phone calls, and multiple messages – all from the same number. It was a client I had spoken to more than six months earlier.

It felt strange, especially on a holiday, but something told me to call her back immediately.
She answered in a state of panic. She had paid over $5,000 for her teenage daughter to join an academic program abroad, only to discover, just five days before departure, that the trip didn’t exist. It was a scam. In that moment of desperation, she remembered me. From a single conversation months earlier, she felt I was someone she could trust to help.
I remember thinking: I’m at the beach, this program was booked through an agency I don’t even know, how am I supposed to find a new program, secure enrollment, and arrange flights in less than five days?
But as I listened to her – really listened – I could hear the urgency, the fear, and the hope in her voice. This wasn’t just a sale. This was a mother trying to salvage a dream for her daughter.
So I opened my laptop right there and got to work.

The next day, we were already waiting on enrollment confirmation while I was driving back home with my family. At the same time, I was preparing a full pre-departure orientation for a 16-year-old who would be traveling alone for the first time. In the end, everything came together. She boarded a flight to England and had a truly transformative experience.
But what stayed with me wasn’t just that outcome, it was what came after.

That mother went on to refer me to countless other families. To this day, she still does. That single moment of urgency and trust turned into over $60,000 in additional business.
What this experience taught me is simple but powerful: every interaction matters. Every call, every message, every conversation is an opportunity to build trust, long before a transaction ever happens.

People remember how you made them feel. They remember whether you showed up, whether you listened, and whether you delivered when it mattered most.
You can’t always predict when an opportunity will turn into something bigger, but when you lead with intention, care, and genuine commitment to solving real problems, the results tend to follow in ways you could never script.

How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?

I believe my reputation was built on consistency, presence, and genuine commitment to every client’s journey. From the beginning, I focused on truly showing up when people needed support, especially in moments of urgency or uncertainty, rather than treating interactions as transactions.
A big part of that also comes from continuously studying, learning, and refining what I do, whether in International Education or now in Construction, where I’ve had to adapt quickly and gain credibility in a completely new market. Over time, clients began to trust not only the service itself, but the way we operate, with responsibility, attention to detail, and care. That trust naturally turned into referrals, which have always been the strongest foundation of my growth.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://constructionrcgroup.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rc.constructiongroup?igsh=OWltaHl5enViajdk&utm_source=qr
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/18Sk37cwWz/?mibextid=wwXIfr
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gabi-sales-cabral-a73a6418b
• Other: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gabysalles?igsh=eXUwMjRsZGdmZ2p0&utm_source=qr