Today we’d like to introduce you to Catherine De Castro.
Hi Catherine , so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
For almost two decades, I lived in the world of healthcare and pharmaceuticals – clinical trials, research, and the constant quest to develop treatments as well as digital health products all in an effort to improve health and save lives. I also raised my family during those years: 4 beautiful daughters. Whenever I did find time to myself, my true sanctuary was in a Pure Barre studio.
For eight years, I was a client – taking class after class, experiencing firsthand how a single hour of focus, strength, and community could transform not just the body but the mind and spirit too. It became more than a workout; it was a life-changing ritual that reminded me that true health starts from within. Bonus that we had a community of other strong, empowered women of all ages, shapes, sizes – yet we all managed to form strong bonds and friendships that made it inspiring to keep returning.
So, when the opportunity arose to step away from science and step fully into the studio, I took it. I planned to eventually retire from healthcare and bought the Pure Barre studio I was formerly a client of. At Pure Barre Cary, we focus on prevention, strength, and empowerment – one tuck, pulse, and shake at a time.
Now, my mission is clear: To inspire others to take charge of their health in a way that’s just as powerful – and far more fun – than any prescription. Because while science gave me the tools, Pure Barre gave me the purpose.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Not at all. I bought my first Pure Barre studio nine months before the world turned upside down. The excitement of new ownership quickly gave way to the daunting reality of COVID-19, a time when boutique fitness was hit especially hard. Studios closed, clients stayed home, and uncertainty filled the air.
But through it all, one thing remained clear – my commitment to my team. I couldn’t walk away, not when they were counting on me. Retiring from healthcare would have to wait. Instead, I chose to stay, pouring my own savings into payroll to ensure that my staff – the heart and soul of our studio – didn’t have to worry about losing their livelihoods.
Every dollar spent was a promise that we would get through it together. It wasn’t easy, and there were moments when I wasn’t sure how we’d make it. But we did. And today, as I look around the studio – at the faces of those who stuck by me, who kept showing up, who believed in what we were building – I know it was all worth it.
Because this is more than a business. It’s a community. It’s a family. And through the hardest of times, we came out stronger – together.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
Before I owned Pure Barre studios, I was deep in the world of science – a realm of clinical trials, drug development, and strategic leadership. Over the years, I climbed from research assistant to C-suite executive, leading projects aimed at developing treatments for some of the world’s most pressing health conditions. I’m known for the ability to fuse creativity with science – find solutions that seemed impossible. I’m proud of the fact that I built my career dipped in glitter – never compromising that flair to fit into the seemingly austere world of science.
But as I spent my days in boardrooms and labs, poring over data and clinical results, a stark realization hit me: So many of the conditions we were developing drugs to treat – heart disease, NASH, type 2 diabetes – could have been prevented through lifestyle changes.
I began to feel like we were putting out fires instead of preventing them. And for someone who thrives on strategy and impact, that was a wake-up call. Why were we waiting until people were sick to step in? What if we could inspire them to take control of their health before it reached that point?
That’s when Pure Barre became more than just a workout – it became a mission. I went from being a longtime client to a studio owner, pivoting my entire career to create spaces where people could build strength, prevent illness, and find community. Now, instead of running clinical trials, I’m running classes, empowering people to take charge of their health one pulse, one tuck, one drop of sweat at a time.
Because whether it’s in a lab or a studio, the goal is the same: to help people live stronger, healthier, fuller lives. And today, that mission feels more personal – and more urgent – than ever.
We all have a different way of looking at and defining success. How do you define success?
In my past life, success was measured in hard metrics – timelines, profit margins, quarterly growth. I was all about the numbers, the data, the next big project. But now, success has a whole new meaning.
Today, it’s not about the P&L statement or the size of the deal. It’s about the people in my studio – the clients who walk through the doors feeling uncertain and leave feeling unstoppable. It’s about the woman who thought she couldn’t do one more rep but finds the strength to finish because I whispered, “You’re stronger than you think.” It’s about the client who came in defeated after a long day and left with a smile, a spark, and a sense of belonging.
Every time someone says, “I didn’t think I could do it, but I did,” that’s success. Every time a client finds their confidence, pushes past their limits, or discovers a new level of strength, that’s success. Every single time I get to witness someone stand taller, walk prouder, or fall in love with what their body can do – that’s the kind of success you can’t measure in dollars or deadlines.
Because in the end, the greatest return on investment isn’t financial – it’s the lives you touch, the confidence you help build, the hearts you lift. And that’s a success that never goes out of style.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.purebarre.com/location/cary-nc
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/purebarrecary
