Barbara Corcoran

Real Estate Mogul & Star of Shark Tank

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Biography

Barbara Corcoran’s credentials include straight Ds in high school and college and 20 jobs by the time she turned 23. It was her next job, however, that would make her one of the most successful entrepreneurs in the country, when she took a $1000 loan to start The Corcoran Group. She parlayed the loan into a $5 billion real estate business and sold it in 2001 for $66 million. Read More >

Corcoran is the real estate contributor for NBC’s Today Show, where she comments weekly on trends in the real estate market. She’s also an investor/shark on ABC’s reality hit Shark Tank. In the first season, Corcoran bought eight young businesses that she’s now shepherding to success.

Corcoran is also the author of Use What You’ve Got, an entertaining business book that has become a national bestseller, as well as Nextville, Amazing Places to Live Your Life. Her book, Shark Tales, was released January 2011 to rave reviews.

As a speaker, Corcoran brings her frontline experience and infectious energy to every group she addresses. Motivational, inspirational, and sometimes outrageous, Corcoran’s tell-it-like-it-is attitude is a refreshing approach to success. Read Less ^

Speaker Videos

TEDTalk: Rethinking Failure

Traits You Need to Be a Successful Entrepreneur

Risk-Taking, Failure, and How to Get Back Up

Speech Topics

Barbara’s Rags-to-Riches Story

After failing at 22 jobs, Barbara Corcoran borrowed $1,000 from a boyfriend, quit her job as a diner waitress, and started a tiny real estate office in New York City. Using the unconventional lessons she learned from her homemaker mom, she gradually built a $6 billion dollar business, The Corcoran Group. Now Barbara is even more famous for the no-nonsense wisdom she offers to entrepreneurs on Shark Tank, ABC's hit reality TV show. Highly motivational and sensationally entertaining, Barbara Corcoran’s recipes for success are chock-full of real life lessons. Not to be missed!

10 Ways to Lead Your Team to Greatness

Barbara Corcoran built the largest residential company in New York City, The Corcoran Group, and she did it with great people by her side. Barbara shares her best strategies for getting teams motivated and moving forward, for hiring the right people and firing the wrong ones, for creating an atmosphere of fun that breeds constant innovation, and for forging ahead, even when the chips are down. Barbara’s unique and practical lessons will help salespeople, managers, and business owners take their businesses to the next level.

How to Pitch Your Product & Build Your Brand

People DO judge a book by its cover. In today’s world, a recognizable brand determines half of your success. Barbara Corcoran, founder of the best-known brand in New York City real estate, shares her diehard advice on how to create a big image, use the press, and turn yourself into THE ‘go-to’ expert in your field. As a shark/investor on ABC’s hit reality show, Shark Tank, Barbara Corcoran has heard it all—and knows exactly what it takes to get her to open her wallet. Barbara can teach anyone to craft a perfect pitch and how to avoid the most common tripwires. Here’s the inside scoop straight from the shark’s mouth!

What are the Sharks Really Like?

Take a five-minute speed ride behind the scenes of the ABC hit reality show, Shark Tank. What are the Sharks really like? Do they get information on the businesses before the trembling entrepreneurs step on the set? How long is an actual pitch? Through dozens of photos, Barbara takes you on set at Sony Studios for all the shenanigans, bloopers, and private information that the other Sharks don’t want you to know. Barbara’s sensational stories will have you in stitches—and clamoring for more!

Testimonials

"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

"The most refreshing thing about Barbara Corcoran is that she speaks from both the head and the heart. Her keynote address to our group of small business women was full of humor, inspiration, and real tips for creating successes in your life and work. Our attendees left with a real sense of 'I can do this,' and that came from Barbara’s real ability to reach out to her audience, connect with them, and fill them up with all of the possibilities that the future has to offer. Barbara was so easy to work with, so personable and so willing to engage our attendees. She is definitely going to be a tough act to follow!"

- HSMG

"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 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 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!"

- World Association of Domain Name Developers, Inc.