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

With straight D’s in high school and college plus 20 jobs by the time she turned 23, Barbara’s beginnings may have seemed lackluster but it was her next job that would catapult her to meteoric success. She borrowed $1,000, quit her job as a waitress and started a tiny real estate company in New York City. Over the next 25 years, Barbara built a $5 billion real estate business, The Corcoran Group.

Leading Your Team to Greatness

Highly motivating and sensationally entertaining, Barbara shares her strategies to get your team pumped up and moving forward with new ideas and fresh solutions. Barbara’s unique and practical lessons help salespeople, managers and business owners lead their enterprises to the next level.

Survive in Troubled Times

Can you build a business through a crisis and still come out on top? Barbara survived three recessions while growing The Corcoran Group and knows the ins and outs of weathering the storm. Her expert tips will help your business adapt to change quickly and emerge even stronger on the other side.

Make Resilience Your Superpower

Barbara has mastered the art of bouncing back from failure, and she knows there’s always an upside if you stay in the game. Resilience is key when coming out of tough times. Barbara will motivate the audience and share her tricks for making the most of a comeback.

Behind the Scenes of Shark Tank

Take a deep dive behind the scenes of Shark Tank and get your most riveting questions answered. Do the Sharks invest their own money? What are the traits of successful entrepreneurs? What makes a business flop? What is Kevin really like? Barbara spills all the secrets of the tank in this candid and captivating presentation and reveals never before scene photos of what it’s really like in the entrepreneurial waters.

Interview with Barbara: Ask Me Anything!

Turn the tables on Barbara in this suped-up Q&A session. Barbara puts herself in the hot seat by answering your questions on entrepreneurship, building a successful business, what it’s like to be on Shark Tank and more. Your very own company executive is invited to lead this engrossing discussion.

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.