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Rethink

Obvious

KEYNOTES that help leaders question
what seems obvious—and see what else is possible.

KEYNOTES that help leaders question what seems obvious— and see what else is possible

KEYNOTE SPEAKER · 25+ YEARS IN CONSTRUCTION LEADERSHIP · AUTHOR

KEYNOTE SPEAKER · AUTHOR
30+ YEARS IN CONSTRUCTION LEADERSHIP
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Watch Barb in Action ►

Uncovering Assumptions that Limit Possibilities, Potential, and Progress.


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“Barb’s presentation was remarkable—entertaining, engaging and actionable! … Her voice is precisely the type I think can help kickstart great conversations in any organization.”

~Nicholas Ruble, Attorney, Baker Sterchi Cowden & Rice, LLC


“Barb not only delivered, she hit a grand slam with her presentation at our Women in Construction Conference with nearly 2,000 attendees. Her talk was engaging and provided tangible takeaways that could reach all attendees. She was great to work with…
I look forward to working with her again.”

~Jordan Blair, CEO, Sacramento Builders Exchange

THE PROBLEM HIDING IN PLAIN SIGHT

When it feels like you’ve tried everything

You’ve changed the process. Changed the people. Tried a new strategy. Added another initiative. Had another meeting.

And still, the problem hasn’t moved.

That is usually the point where frustration sets in. But it can also be the point where looking at the problem from an unexpected angle changes everything.

Sometimes what keeps us stuck is something we have come to believe is true and stopped questioning. Those beliefs don’t feel like assumptions. They feel like experience, common sense, and “the way we’ve always done it.”

When you’ve tried everything you know to try, the path to a new solution may start with questioning what you think you already know.


FOR YOUR AUDIENCE

What Could Barb Help Your Audience See?


Solutions no one has considered


Ways to lead, decide, or respond more effectively


Potential in people who may have been overlooked


Possibilities that only become visible when they look beyond what seems obvious


FOR YOUR AUDIENCE

What Could Barb Help Your Audience See?



Solutions no one has considered



Ways to lead, decide, or respond more effectively



Potential in people who may have been overlooked



Possibilities that only become visible when they look beyond what seems obvious


FOR YOUR AUDIENCE

What Could Barb Help Your Audience See?

Solutions no one has considered


Ways to lead, decide, or respond more effectively


Potential in people who may have been overlooked


Possibilities that only become visible when they look beyond what seems obvious


MEET BARB


Hi, I’m Barb!


Over the course of my construction career, I faced plenty of challenges that felt nearly impossible to solve—some related to being a woman in the industry, but many others involving projects, teams, people, leadership, and the work itself.


There were times when I reached the point where I genuinely felt like I had tried everything. But then something would happen. I would see, hear, or notice something that made me stop and look at the situation from a completely different angle. And when I did, I would realize that part of what had been keeping me stuck was an assumption I had accepted as true—something I simply “knew,” or that experience had taught me to believe, but that needed to be re-examined.


That shift in perspective opened up possibilities I had missed before.


Today, I help leaders do the same—question what they “know to be true,” look at familiar challenges from an unexpected angle, and find new paths forward.


Watch Barb in Action →


Watch Barb in Action.


Honest stories. Practical insight. Unexpected humor.


THE FLAGSHIP FRAMEWORK


The practical framework at the heart of Barb’s flagship keynote, Rethink Obvious.


Notice. Question. Rethink.


01


Notice


Recognize when an opinion is being stated or treated as a fact.


Experience, instinct, and “the way we’ve always done it” can make an assumption feel certain—and harder to recognize.


02


Question


Question what seems obvious.


Assumptions are sometimes true. Questioning means pausing long enough to ask whether something is a verified fact or an opinion that has gone unquestioned.


03


Rethink


Consider what else might be possible.


Once the assumption has been recognized and questioned, leaders can begin to see the opportunities, people, and solutions that have been hiding in plain sight.

AVAILABLE KEYNOTES

Three distinct keynotes.
One common thread.

Notice the assumption, question what seems obvious, and see what may be hiding in plain sight.


01 · FLAGSHIP KEYNOTE


Rethink Obvious


Question the assumptions behind your most important decisions.


Barb’s flagship keynote applies the Notice. Question. Rethink. framework to the people and operational situations leaders face—from talent and succession, to risk, productivity, innovation, and client relationships.


Through honest stories, practical insight, and unexpected humor, Barb challenges audiences without making them feel judged—and changes how they see familiar situations and what they do next.


02 · LEADERSHIP KEYNOTE


OneLadder to Leadership


The climb isn’t the same for everyone. It’s time to build a ladder that is.


We often talk about the path to leadership as though it is both clear and the same for everyone. It isn’t.


Based on Barb’s book, OneLadder to Leadership, this keynote uses the framework of Missing, Broken, Sticky, and Slippery Rungs to show how communication, networking, perceptions of readiness, and bias can shape each person’s climb in different ways.


Through personal stories and practical insight, Barb helps leaders and climbers recognize when one of those rungs is affecting their own progress or someone else’s, understand what is getting in the way, and gain tools they can use to begin repairing it effectively.


03 · WOMEN’S KEYNOTE


The Woman Within


There is more to her story. There is more to yours.


When information is missing, we fill in the blanks—and the stories we create can quickly begin to feel like facts. We tell ourselves stories about why another woman does not like us, why she has it easier, or why we do not measure up.


Through honest, deeply personal stories, Barb invites women to question the assumptions they make about one another and the lives they see from the outside. Audiences leave encouraged to replace judgment and comparison with curiosity and grace—and practice the vulnerability that creates more honest connection.

Download Barb's One-Sheet


Things you may be wondering.

Does Barb only speak to construction audiences?
No. Construction is the source of many of Barb’s stories and insights—not the boundary of her work. The assumptions that influence decisions, leadership, and how we see people and possibilities exist in every industry. Barb speaks to audiences both within and beyond construction.
Can Barb customize her keynote for our audience?
Yes. Barb starts with a conversation about your event, your goals, your audience, and the challenges they are facing. She then adapts the stories, examples, and areas of emphasis so the keynote feels relevant to the people in the room while remaining true to its core message.
What can meeting planners expect when working with Barb?
Barb has been on the conference-planning side, so she knows how much there is to manage. She makes her part straightforward. She communicates clearly, responds promptly, meets deadlines, arrives prepared, and adapts when plans change. Her goal is simple: to make the keynote one less thing you need to worry about.
What keynote lengths and formats does Barb offer?
Barb’s keynotes are typically 45 minutes but can also be delivered in a shorter, TED-style format. Rethink Obvious and OneLadder to Leadership can be expanded into interactive workshops when your event calls for a deeper experience.
Can Barb tailor her keynotes to address women in leadership or workplace inclusion?
Yes. When women in leadership or workplace inclusion is part of the event’s goal, Barb is happy to tailor the emphasis, stories, and examples accordingly.
Does Barb offer bulk book discounts?
Yes. Bulk pricing is automatically available when books are purchased as part of a speaking engagement. It is also available for large group purchases without booking Barb to speak. Contact Barb to discuss your order.
Is there anything Barb refuses to rethink?
Raisins in cookies. She believes that’s how trust issues begin. 😉


Let’s Talk About Your Event


Tell Barb about your goals, your audience, and the challenges they’re facing that could use some rethinking.

Contact Barb