Barbara Stoker Bio

Barbara Stoker’s expertise is in leadership, new business/product development and intelligent risking. She is devoted to helping individuals, teams and organizations find success by connecting the right dots, in the right way, at the right time. She has 30 years of corporate experience as a former executive for Hallmark Cards, Mattel Toys, Coors and Walt Disney. Barbara is a technical rock and ice climber as well as a paragliding pilot. Barbara’s background along with her consulting, speaking, research and writing allows her to bring a solid and diverse foundation of knowledge, wisdom and understanding to meet your goals.

Full Bio

Barbara Stoker is a former executive for Disney, Hallmark, Mattel and Coors. She is one of the most influential thinkers on personal leadership and risk, specializing in new business and product development.

Today Barbara speaks, consults and writes using an Appreciative Inquiry model. She is the author of Intelligent Risking for Women (2004), A Woman with a Minute… (2005) and Positive Risk (2006). Her newest book, LINK Thinking, is still in development and will be available in 2007.

Stoker acquired her expertise through an impressive career that involved: licensing several Disney movies, launching Hallmark Card’s Gift Business, starting Mattel Toy’s collectable business by developing Porcelain Barbie and selling a ‘can’t be sold’ product for Coors with an opening order of one million dollars.

Barbara’s years of corporate experience with these four innovative Fortune 500 companies have provided her with a solid and diverse foundation that includes: sales, marketing, customer service, licensing, merchandising, store design, new product development, engineering, strategic planning and new business development. Stoker understands professional risks and has the reputation for getting things done because of her unconventional approach, her ability to link information in unique ways and her willingness to take intelligent risks.

Barbara’s credentials go beyond her professional experience. Her personal adventures include being an avid technical rock and ice climber as well as a paragliding pilot. In addition, she is also the single mother of three sons, well acquainted with the difficult choices and risks women must face as they manage their multi-dimensional lives. Stoker was selected by the Rocky Mountain News as ‘50 & Fabulous’ based on the nomination of her three sons. She is also a wish grantor for the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

Stoker’s success on the lecture circuit is based on her dynamic, interactive style that encourages individuals to adopt a new perspective in the way they link information. Stoker provides the information and inspiration for teams to choose the right mountain, rediscover their courage, tap into their wisdom and take those risks that will make a difference.