Anyone who knows the benevolent Gabrielle Crump will not be surprised to learn that her childhood in Oundle, Northamptonshire, was a happy one with a “fantastic group” of school friends. “My parents sent me to a school that I loved and bought a house in the centre of town, enabling me to walk to all my lessons with my books under my arm and have an incredible level of freedom,” she says.
Gabrielle – affectionately Gabby to her friends – remembers how her mother prided herself on having a big garden full of vegetables and beautiful flowers. “She used to garden in the dark with very strong lamps. It was her way of managing the stress of running a food manufacturing business with 50 staff and loads of responsibility.”
From a young age, her mother would encourage Gabrielle to find joy in whatever she chose to do with her life. “If that meant scrubbing toilets, then Mum would be happy for me. I never felt as though I had to fit into a box.”
Clearly, she did not, as her eclectic life story shows. Bilingual Gabrielle was born in Grasse, grew up in the UK and met her husband, Russell, at the Monaco Yacht Show in 2000. He was showing the smallest boat at the show; she had just started in the industry. This was the beginning of a long journey guided by the desire to help others. Later this year they will be celebrating the 10-year anniversary of the non-profit Chances 4 Children Foundation, created by the couple back in August 2014. “This is a huge moment for us considering where we started from,” Gabrielle voices. “Russell had always wanted to run aid to Africa on a truck but was unable to due to his Type 1 diabetes. When an opportunity came along, we saw it as a sign.”
Opportunity came knocking in 2013. The stepbrother of a close friend of Gabrielle’s (“and my first love at the age of 14!”) spent two weeks of his gap year volunteering in Uganda at what was then called His Mercy’s Outreach Centre. “Uganda is the world’s third poorest country and during this time James’ mother appealed for funds and we stepped in to help,” explains Gabrielle.
The centre was run by Martin Male, an AIDS orphan who had saved 60 children from the slums in Kampala, Uganda’s capital, and it was Martin’s story that tugged at the Crumps’ emotional chords. Martin’s promiscuous father died having contracted HIV AIDS, and his mom was selling her body to ensure that Martin would be fed and attend school. After her death, young Martin hitched a ride on the back of a coal truck from his village to the city in search of an aunt. Unsuccessful, he wound up on the streets for years living and sleeping in unimaginable conditions. One day, a local businesswoman, Jayne, asked how she could help and he said he didn’t want money, but rather to attend school to honour his mother and be able to stand on his own two feet. “Mummy Jayne” – who had three daughters – took Martin in for the night and he never looked back. “Fast forward and Jayne has been behind Chances 4 Children each step of the way helping everyone find their way in life.
Martin’s humbling story – single-handedly determined to giving kids an education, hope, safety and a sense of belonging to the Chances 4 Children family (with Gabrielle and Russell’s support) – led to the Sponsor a Child Program, which has been running since 2016. “Our sponsors provide a literal lifeline for these children who went from having no hope – or underpants! – let alone speaking English, to going to school, eating three square meals a day and stepping onto a stage in front of hundreds to sing, dance and speak their truth with passion and integrity. We now have seven youths in higher education and our first ‘daughter’ will start university in January. As well, four youths are currently in Saudi Arabia for three months dancing in the Disney production of The Lion King. We are beyond proud as this is our first major step towards self-sustainability. Paying for an entire year of education with these funds allows these four young people a chance to open a bank account and save for their future.”
Gabrielle adds that six children are currently in need of a sponsor. She shares the story of a lady she came across in the slums of Kampala, the country’s largest with some 20,000 people. “She reached out to me and tried to give me her child. Clearly, she was hoping I could give this little person a better life. Walking away from them was heart-wrenching. I never knew her name but this image will stay with me until the end. I would love to hear from anyone who is interested in stepping in to give these children a chance in life.”
Uganda’s mud and brick homes are a world away from the pristine life in the Principality. “My biggest personal challenge living in Monaco is the way that so many people put on a brave face when the chips are down, be it financially or for family reasons. I truly feel that living in ‘Tinseltown’ it is important for those who are facing tough times to have someone to turn to and not be expected to ‘keep calm and carry on!’
“Especially on a mental wellness level, I think there is a lot of work yet to be done in Monaco especially among the thousands of expats that struggle without family support. As a coach – and as a friend – I have witnessed this first hand.”
Gabrielle recently pivoted and became a certified integrative health coach, specializing in emotional eating, nutrition and holistic stress management. “Like many during Covid lockdown, I did a little soul searching. I always dreamt of becoming an actress but as my parents had their own business while I was growing up, being an entrepreneur was very familiar to me. I had spent years involved in sales and marketing, starting my own property business when I was 21.
“When I discovered the Institute for Integrative Nutrition, I instantly knew it was for me. It connected everything I was passionate about into one career –helping people and my passion for food but not as a chef.”
The Institute for Integrative Nutrition was started by Joshua Rosenthal, who first came up with the idea of health coaching 30 years ago. It combines nutrition with psychotherapy-based coaching techniques and with a functional medicine approach – identifying and treating the underlying cause of a person’s condition with a particular emphasis on the gut-brain connection. “We also studied nutritional psychiatry, the emerging field about the effect what you eat has on your mental wellbeing. I am continuing to read more on this as I am fascinated by the subject. I love understanding how people tick and helping them to overcome obstacles.”
Gabrielle admits that as a kid she was the student that was a pleasure to teach but never top of the class. She laughs, “From the get-go I was a communicator and as a small kid I would chat to strangers on the bus in London!” So, choosing to go back to school and study at Institute for Integrative Nutrition was a big decision but not a difficult one.
“Every Monday morning, opening my laptop to see what we were going to learn, it was like Christmas. I absolutely loved every minute.” The “tough part” – as she outlines – was having to work three part-time jobs – managing a large villa renovation for a Monaco family office, tutoring English, and running the admin and newsletter for the British Association, as well as running Chances 4 Children – which meant Friday afternoons and weekends were taken over with study. “I had almost no time to rest. You see the irony!
“I rarely came up for air. My husband was very tolerant and cooked most nights, as well as helping me to revise for my tests. He helped me study so much that he could have passed the course himself. My mother, in a big way, also stepped in to take the pressure off the day-to-day charity operations, which was a big task and for which I will be eternally grateful.”
Yet managing all of these things taught Gabrielle that “I am extremely focused and that with discipline and consistency, I can achieve whatever I set my mind to.” Still, her moves on the dance floor and passion for the outdoors (“Mad fact – my favourite hiking buddy is my husband’s ex-wife!”) had to take a back seat to her studies. “My social life went out of the window entirely but I accepted that it wasn’t forever.”
In February 2023, she launched Gabrielle’s Zest 4 Life under her maiden name Gabrielle Achilleos. “It has taken me to get to my early forties to know exactly what I want to do with my career but I am very proud.”
She describes herself as an integrative health coach specialised in emotional eating, nutrition, holistic stress management, but what exactly does this mean? “Emotional eating is when someone leans on food to fill an emotional void that they are not ready to face, similar to using any substance, be it alcohol or drugs. It is a way to numb or suppress negative emotions – such as stress, anger, fear, boredom, sadness and loneliness – to avoid leaning in to what’s really going on and unpacking it. This can be very uncomfortable as for many people it is a lifetime’s habit.”
Her holistic stress management approach helps develop habits that regulate the nervous system, taking it from Fight or Flight mode to Rest and Recover. “So many people wait until a big holiday or a spa weekend to finally wind down … by which time all the cumulative stress has built up that they often get sick as the body has stopped running on adrenaline. New habits can be something as simple as locking ourselves in the toilet for 10 minutes for some peace – if you have young kids! – to committing to regularly getting out into nature, exercise, journaling or doing a short meditation.”
Gabrielle’s Zest 4 Life focusses on small daily lifestyle changes combined with complementary therapies for a holistic approach to well-being. “I look at the entire person – mind, body, and spirit – by addressing underlying factors as opposed to fixating on the symptoms. I focus a lot on blood sugar management to keep energy levels stable throughout the day instead of falling into the caffeine, sugar or alcohol rollercoaster.”
She works 1-on-1 with a limited number of clients who decide what they want to achieve and the pace that suits them. “I am there to ‘hold the torch’ and help them to stay focused and committed.”
This involves an hour coaching session every seven to 14 days, either online or in person. “In between, however, is where the magic happens! I check in every day so they have constant accountability and a cheerleader. I also do pantry purges, helping clients swap out foods that may not be supporting their health, as well as meal planning for those with food intolerances. And food prep is also a big hurdle for some people so I have a bunch of tips to help make that less time consuming and more fun!”
Of course, the big news is Gabrielle’s Zest 4 Life collaboration with Conscientiae. (UPDATE June 3, 2024: Michelin starred chef Sebastien Sanjou takes over Conscientiae with a new restaurant.) Not only has she created the restaurant’s seasonal Superfood menu – but has also helped to launch their international breakfast menu with something for every type of eater – carnivores, vegans and vegetarians. “When Stars’n’Bars announced they were going to close, there were rumours of a healthy restaurant opening. I nervously approached Annette Anderson and told her that I really wanted to be involved however I could. I met with the new dynamic team at the opening last August and the Superfood Menu was born early November.
“Since then, we sold 200 menus in six weeks and the feedback has been super. There is a new starter and main five days a week, and all ingredients are both local and seasonal. I have to be creative when it comes to using the same ingredients in a variety of different ways but Didier is very strict about this and I respect the fact that he is really walking his talk with the ethos of the place.”
Somehow, in addition to her non-profit and starting a new business, Gabrielle has found time to run “Disconnect to Reconnect” hikes. “I have partnered up with Anne Fabienne Raven for these ‘Zest and Zen’ outdoor events. The concept is that twice a month, we take a group of up to 10 people on an easy hike with no phones so that we can reconnect with nature, and each other. During the walk, we enjoy a yoga class al fresco by Anne Fabienne, as well as some breathwork and a mindfulness practice. I provide a healthy picnic and also do a wellness talk. We will be mainly focusing on tips and tools to reduce stress and ‘find our Zen’ again. It will be a safe place for people to share their challenges and support each other. What goes on the hike, stays on the hike, as they say.”
The road to here has taken sacrifice and commitment on Gabrielle’s part but she wouldn’t have it any other way. “Although I enjoy lunches and going to exercise classes, this would never be enough for me. I could never imagine not working, but I would rather work crazy hours for myself and be my own boss then go to a 9-5 job that pays the same wage every month for the sake of security.
“It’s the most exciting empowering journey but you need to expect a transition period from your old life to your new one. And starting a business on your own can be a lonely journey so surround yourself with a ‘board’ of friends and like-minded people on a similar journey.”
Her tip to other women looking to rebrand themselves and start something new is not to give up your “day job” until the income from the new business can just about support you. “’If you aren’t reliant on the income in the beginning then don’t hold back. The worst that can happen is that it doesn’t work and you stop… but as my mum always says, “It’s only life!’
Gabrielle lays bare her truth. “I have had to dig deep many times to maintain my mental wellness, and I am not ashamed to share that as I think it’s important, it becomes less taboo.
“If I could give my younger self a piece of advice it would be that instead of thinking Why me?, think Why not me? It’s amazing what we can achieve when we believe in ourselves.”
Contact Gabrielle Achilleos on 06 58 22 21 82 or see Gabrielle’s Zest 4 Life website.
Article first published January 13, 2024.