Barbara Corcoran

  • Founder, The Corcoran Group
  • Chairman of Barbara Corcoran Inc.
  • Bestselling Author, Shark Tales: How I Turned $1,000 into a Billion Dollar Business
  • "Shark" on hit TV Show, Shark Tank

From humble beginnings to the fast and furious New York City real estate market, Barbara Corcoran shares her story of success with audiences and provides insight on what it takes to lead teams to greatness and grow their business.

Barbara Corcoran’s credits include straight Ds in high school and college and 20 jobs by the time she turned 23. It was her next job that would make her one of the most successful entrepreneurs in the country: She borrowed $1,000 and quit her job as a waitress to start a tiny real estate company in New York City. Over the next 25 years, Barbara would parlay that $1,000 loan into a $5 billion real estate business, building the largest and best-known brand in the business. Barbara is the author of the bestseller Shark Tales: How I Turned $1,000 into a Billion Dollar Business and host of the Business Unusual podcast, which was named to Forbes' 21 Podcasts to Listen to in 2021 list. She is also the real estate contributor for NBC’s TODAY and a frequent contributor to every major network. Audiences find Barbara’s tell-it-like-it-is style to be very motivating, and she inspires them with innovative tools to grow their businesses, giving them important insight on leadership and practical strategies to lead teams to greatness.

 

Barbara Corcoran headshot
Past Hosts Include:
  • KPMG
  • Women Council of Realtors
  • Network Communications, Inc.
  • Higgins Group
  • San Francisco Association of Realtors
  • The Real Estate Book
  • MORE Magazine
  • Hines Development
  • Executive Women of the Palm Beaches
  • Budget Blinds, Inc.
Rave Reviews About Barbara Corcoran
Barbara electrified the audience because they knew she had traveled a path in life that had similarities to their own. While others talk about thinking outside the box, Barbara has seldom stepped inside that box. Her words were nothing less than priceless and there is no doubt that the impression she made will be a gift carried by all for the rest of their lives. Everyone fell in love with her!

More rave reviews

"Barbara was amazing; the group loved her!!!"

-KPMG

"I have been a Realtor for over 15 years and have attended many presentations by top speakers and trainers in our industry but none can compare to Barbara Corcoran's wit, common sense, and great advice! Barbara's straightforward approach to the problems she has faced and overcome provides an inspiration to everyone who hears her. I applaud her energy, enthusiasm and honesty and am always excited to see her on TV."

-Women Council of Realtors

"Barbara was the guest speaker at our Annual Sales Meeting of about 200 publishers and sales professionals from all over North America. She exceeded our expectations through her frank and realistic discussion of the industry we sell to, which of course she knows extremely well. She shared her thoughts, in her easy and entertaining way, on the characteristics of the most successful people she knows and how quickly they are able to pick themselves up and move on after rejection or defeat. In my opinion, Barbara was a total home run for us."

-Network Communications, Inc.

"I have had Barbara speak twice to sold out crowds with a waiting list each time! There isn't a more inspiring speaker in the country. Barbara Corcoran is magic at any event."

-Higgins Group

"Your remarks were everything we hoped they would be and contained the uplifting and inspiring messages that we felt were so important for our audience to hear."

-San Francisco Association of Realtors

"Barbara instantly connected with our audience and delivered an entertaining, enthusiastic and insightful presentation. She understands clearly the difference between a great salesperson and an also-ran. She took the time to understand our business and provided five great ideas that our sales team can implement when they return to their markets. I've had the good fortune to hear some of the best speakers in the world, and if you're looking for someone with real world experience to ignite your sales team I can't think of anyone that would be a better choice."

-The Real Estate Book

"Barbara Corcoran addressed [or 'wowed'] a standing-room-only crowd at More Magazine's 3rd Annual Reinvention Convention. Introduced as the 'patron saint of any woman who has ever created her own career,' Barbara told the highlights of her story, to much laughter and applause: how her mother taught her to use the gifts she had; how her boyfriend loaned her money to get started then dumped her to marry her secretary; how she went off on her own and made a success of the business by being an innovator; how she sold the company for $68 million--then faced the question of, 'What next?' The audience was wildly appreciative, swarming Barbara as she left the podium, asking for autographs and advice. A combination of high energy and high takeaway value, Barbara was a tremendous hit."

-MORE Magazine

"Barbara spoke at our officers' conference with people from 16 countries in attendance. She was utterly charming-sensible, accessible and funny. Her insights about the real estate market spill over into personal career development and everyday economics. She's the one people remember."

-Hines Development

"Thank you so much for agreeing to be our keynote speaker at the 27th Annual Women In Leadership Awards luncheon. The membership of Executive Women of the Palm Beaches and our guests were so impressed by your candor and authenticity as you delivered your message. While the lessons you shared with us were meaningful and very practical, what made it such a memorable experience was to see how someone as successful as you can still be so approachable. The most frequent comment received from your audience was that everyone felt as if they had known you for years, you were one of us. Getting to know you as you interacted with your 'fans' made me understand that your success was not just due to your knowledge and experience, but also to your charming personality."

-Executive Women of the Palm Beaches

"By dedicating the time and attention to understanding both our models and the challenges that face our franchisees, your keynote carried the weight of someone who is as invested and committed as they are, it was powerful, on track, needed, required, and well worth it."

-Budget Blinds, Inc.

"Barbara was fabulous. She told great stories and really connected with our audience. People (women, especially) were clamoring to speak to her at the meet and greet that followed. I give her an A plus."

- Advertising Specialty Institute
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Day Show - Barbara Corcoran Gives Career and Financial Advice to Audience | Ellen [9:23] - Get Sharable Link
Talks & Conversations with Barbara Corcoran
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How She Built It! Barbara's Rags to Riches Story

BARBARA CORCORAN didn’t start out as a success. Her credits include straight Ds in high school and college and 22 jobs by the time she turned 23. Thanks to a lucky break, she borrowed $1000, quit her job as a waitress and started a tiny real estate company in New York City. Barbara built The Corcora ...

BARBARA CORCORAN didn’t start out as a success. Her credits include straight Ds in high school and college and 22 jobs by the time she turned 23. Thanks to a lucky break, she borrowed $1000, quit her job as a waitress and started a tiny real estate company in New York City. Barbara built The Corcoran Group into an empire worth $5B 25 years later. Barbara shares her unlikely story along with her best tips and tricks for navigating the toughest market in the world. A story of outrageous perseverance and business acumen will keep your audience laughing and learning the whole way through!

Emotionally Intelligent Leadership: Leading to Greatness

Leaders are increasingly recognizing the importance of emotional intelligence (EQ) inbuilding and managing teams, fostering collaboration, and building their competitive advantage. BARBARA CORCORAN teaches you to meet the needs of the new employee and their new way of doing business. As remote and h ...

Leaders are increasingly recognizing the importance of emotional intelligence (EQ) inbuilding and managing teams, fostering collaboration, and building their competitive advantage. BARBARA CORCORAN teaches you to meet the needs of the new employee and their new way of doing business. As remote and hybrid work models continue to be the norm, emotionally intelligent leaders must adapt their management styles to better support hybrid teams, focusing on flexibility, communication, and creative ideas. Barbara inspires today’s leaders with her management technique to bring out the best in your employees building cohesive and powerful teams.

How to Spot and Recruit Talent

BARBARA CORCORAN knows how to make teams click. She’s hired (and fired) thousands of people throughout her career and repeatedly builds unstoppable teams. She shares her unique insights and the practical lessons that will make your leaders more effective and more able to build a powerhouse team that ...

BARBARA CORCORAN knows how to make teams click. She’s hired (and fired) thousands of people throughout her career and repeatedly builds unstoppable teams. She shares her unique insights and the practical lessons that will make your leaders more effective and more able to build a powerhouse team that makes a habit out of winning.

How to Build Your Business Through Troubled Times and Prosper!

BARBARA CORCORAN knows that bad times are the best times to move ahead. She survived and prospered amid 18% interest rates, the near-death bankruptcy of New York, subprime mortgage crisis and the tragedy of 9/11. Barbara built The Corcoran Group with a $1000 loan into NYC's #1 powerhouse. With her i ...

BARBARA CORCORAN knows that bad times are the best times to move ahead. She survived and prospered amid 18% interest rates, the near-death bankruptcy of New York, subprime mortgage crisis and the tragedy of 9/11. Barbara built The Corcoran Group with a $1000 loan into NYC's #1 powerhouse. With her innovative, outside-the-box thinking, she continues to turn her Shark Tank companies into success stories every day. In this session, Barbara shares lessons from the trenches to demonstrate her leadership methodology on how to adapt quickly, pivot and turn every obstacle into the new opportunity it wants to be.

How to Bounce Back from Failure

BARBARA CORCORAN has mastered the art of bouncing back and knows that resilience can be taught. It’s the most important skill that gets you through constant change, tough times and inevitably lands you on top. Barbara will motivate your team leaders with her no-nonsense methodology to overcome failu ...

BARBARA CORCORAN has mastered the art of bouncing back and knows that resilience can be taught. It’s the most important skill that gets you through constant change, tough times and inevitably lands you on top. Barbara will motivate your team leaders with her no-nonsense methodology to overcome failure and move ahead. She'll teach your audience to overcome the obstacles that get in the way and how to master the art of the comeback!

'Shark Tank' Unfiltered

Ever wonder what really happens in the Tank? Do the sharks really invest their own money and how much money do they win and lose? How many businesses fail outright out of the gate, and which are the most successful? What are the traits that successful entrepreneurs have in common? What goes wrong, a ...

Ever wonder what really happens in the Tank? Do the sharks really invest their own money and how much money do they win and lose? How many businesses fail outright out of the gate, and which are the most successful? What are the traits that successful entrepreneurs have in common? What goes wrong, and what’s Kevin really like? What unexpected and ridiculous antics happen on set that the audience never gets to see? A fast-paced, photo-packed, fun-filled peek behind the scenes on Shark Tank with BARBARA CORCORAN.

Fireside Chat: Ask Barbara Anything

Got a question? Turn the tables on Barbara in this suped-up Q&A session of your choice! Invite your own company executive to lead the discussion and have your audience ask what's on their mind. BARBARA CORCORAN's takes the hot seat, entertaining your audience with her unorthodox stories and her ...

Got a question? Turn the tables on Barbara in this suped-up Q&A session of your choice! Invite your own company executive to lead the discussion and have your audience ask what's on their mind. BARBARA CORCORAN's takes the hot seat, entertaining your audience with her unorthodox stories and her always candid, often unexpected answers.

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Books by Barbara Corcoran
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Biography

Barbara Corcoran’s credentials include straight D’s in high school and college and twenty jobs by the time she turned twenty-three. It was her next job that would make her one of the most successful entrepreneurs in the country when she took a $1000 loan to start The Corcoran Group.

As one of the “Sharks” on ABC’s hit TV show, Shark Tank, Barbara has ponied up her own money and invested in twenty-two businesses, competing to make those deals for all to see, then shepherding them to success.

Her newest book, Shark Tales, takes you behind the scenes of her life and business and her ‘seen on TV’ venture capitalism. Barbara is famously brash and blunt, bold and courageous, and a brilliant identifier of opportunity and talent (often invisible to others). She also hosts the Business Unusual podcast, which was named to Forbes' 21 Podcasts to Listen to in 2021 list.