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.

Barbara 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 Stoker'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.

Barbara'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.

Barbara is a best selling and award winning author. Her books include:

• Positive Risk , released nationally 1/06 by Jossey-Bass
• A Woman with a Minute... , released nationally 3/06 by Andrews McMeel
• IntelligentRisking for Women , released 1/04 by IntelligentRisking, Inc.
• LINK Thinking , is her newest book and scheduled for release 1/07

Leaders understand that no one reaches any summits without taking some chances! To be a great leader requires that you make hard choices and take a stand. This requires courage, wisdom and the ability to take smart risks. All of Barbara's programs help teams, individuals and organizations rediscover these qualities within themselves so that they can uncover new opportunities.

Presentations are dynamic and interactive, blending information with inspiration. Her refreshing genuine style challenges and engages her audiences to help them discover a new perspective, spark their imagination and ignite their spirit. They leave inspired to find new ways to link information as well as the courage to take those risks that will make a difference to their customers, their organizations and themselves.

Keynote: IntelligentRisking

This IntelligentRisking program is based on Barbara Stoker's 30 years of corporate experience and 10 years of research. It focuses on helping individuals, teams and organizations take the risks required for success in this extremely competitive world. If you find that you continue to keep coming up with the same answers to the same old questions then it is time to start getting uncomfortable and taking some chances.

During this presentation, you will step beyond theory becoming actively involved and focused on the mountains you are tackling in your own life. You will explore the risks you face, how you define success and where you'll find the courage to see it through. You'll also look at the Courage Ratio and the Invisible Risks you may be taking without knowing.

There are 4 IntelligentRisking Strategies

• Choose Your Mountain
• Plan Your Route
• Build Your Courage
• Climb Strong!

You will also look at the critical questions every person should ask themselves to ensure they are taking the right risk in the right way. You'll leave this program challenged to take those risks that will make a difference to your business, your customers and yourself.

This program uses Appreciative Inquiry , as its approach to focuses on uncovering and exploring what 'is working' for you. It enables you to build upon your existing skills, talents and strengths.

Keynote: A Woman with a Minute...

• Do you ever worked all day and still wondered why you didn't get more done?
• Are you as kind to yourself as you are to your friends?
• Do you hold yourself up to an unrealistic standard of perfection?
• At the end of the day do you fall asleep amazed at how awesome you are?

This fun lighthearted keynote that truly captures the essence of life for today's woman is based on Barbara Stoker's best selling book, A Woman with a Minute ... Barbara blends visuals from her book along with audience participation to create a memorable event. It is a direct reflection of Barbara's style which is down-to-earth, dynamic and inclusive.

If you find there are times that you are too hard on yourself or lose sight of just how talented and successful you really are then this program will change your life. If you have ever gotten 95 out of 100 things done and still gone to bed frustrated, then this program is one you need.

This program is pure 'edutainment' and will help your group recognize their accomplishments, see their talents and appreciate their uniqueness. It is just what the doctor ordered to help everyone in the audience make new friends and find more support. Barbara has a unique way of allowing her audiences to see the humor in the craziness of life while delivering a powerful message to start giving themselves more credit.

What People Are Saying

Merril Lynch "Your IntelligentRisking program was a breath of fresh air. The inspiration you provided was exactly the right balance to the days of information our team had received. You gave us the perfect ending by challenging each of us to Climb Strong!." Jodi Rollins, V.P.

Voice Stream Wireless Communication "Thank You, Thank You, Thanks You: for sharing your inspiring stories with us, for encouraging our sales force to push their limits, and most of all, for making me look like a star." d'Alene Meardon, Manager, PCS East

Iowa Soybean Association "You not only made me look like a hero but your program also had a significant financial impact for our association. Just last week our Indiana group came through with the funding we needed for next year. They specifically attributed their decision to your program." Kirk Leeds, Executive Director

Ford Motor Company "You gave a group of employees, who recently heard job security was diminishing, a mountain to climb. You could hear a pin drop in the room during your presentation as everyone was on the edge of their seat. You're timing and humor was excellent." Tom Brewer, Regional Manager

National Apartment Association "The session evaluations do not lie'our attendees loved your presentation! 97.6% - Excellent We hope you'll come back next year. Sally Scott, Assistant Director of Education

U S Steel "IntelligentRisking is an excellent piece of documentation as a learning curve to enhance one's risk management." H. L. Willis, Area Manager

Women's Success Forum "You are an extraordinary asset for us. You continue to inspire and delight our audiences around the country. You have received the highest workshop scores of any of our speakers with a 4.9 out of 5. This score should be almost unattainable' for all but you. Cindy Solomon, President and Founder

CoBank "I have been involved in many leadership and team-building activities in my 35-year career and your Cardboard/Duct Tape Boat Race resulted in an extraordinary degree of success. It allowed our people to exercise risk taking, collaboration, resource utilization, trust and vision" Douglas D. Sims, C.E.O.

Houston Apartment Association "The evaluations of your program were among the highest we have ever received for any speaker or program in our association's history. The enthusiasm and excitement that came across in comments from the attendees was unlike anything I have ever seen. Jeff Hall, Vice President & General Manager

Regal Hotels International "Any time you have a room full of skeptical, analytical, conservative, risk-averse executives and see them open up and discuss opportunities, fresh approaches, new perspectives and potential... You have SUCCESS! Barbara, thank you." Leslie, Carlson, Vice President

Lexmark International "You deeply touched many people and made them stop and look at their own lives in terms of intelligent risk taking. The evaluations for your program were the highest we have ever received. ." Gary Millsap

Glenborough Realty Trust Incorporated, "When you walked in the door and started speaking the whole room changed: people paid attention, they listened to what you had to say and they were rather suddenly able to verbalize their views on sensitive subjects. I consider this to be an extraordinary talent." Skip Corsini, Director, Corporate Services

TCI "Barbara is fantastic! Very dynamic and a joy to listen to - very inspirational!" Patti Dolberg, Project Administrator

Xerox "This program and your concepts on risk taking were Great!" George Dozier,Organizational Development

Jupiter Western National Property Management "The ratings you received for your presentation were the highest of our conference and rightly so. You did an outstanding job of involving everyone in your program including our C.E.O. Great Job!" Bob Couch, Vice President

Sun Microsystems "You did an amazing job connecting IntelligentRisking with Sun's business culture. I feel particularly privileged, Barbara, to have had the opportunity to work with you." Mary Beseda, Program Manager

U S West "IntelligentRisking is right on for individuals undergoing rapid or significant change." David Dawson, Marketing Director

Proctor and Gamble "Barbara, you took a difficult concept and made it easy to understand." Mark Ziegert, Director

United States Dept. of Interior "Your enthusiasm and ability to captivate an audience was great. Your suggestions were not only worth listening to, but worth taking to heart and using to make changes in our lives. Joseph Alston, Superintendent, National Park Services

ComputerWorld "Barbara it was amazing how you had the entire audience spellbound and eating out of the palm of your hand. Your program was sensational." John Corrigan, VP.