Barbara Polk

Barbara is a business executive and coach with over 25 years of experience in human resources and operations leadership. Happily married to Alex, she is a mother of a blended family with five children (4 girls and 1 boy) and one fat English Lab. A Black woman and fierce feminist, and believer of karma - she knows positive energy wins over negative every time.

As protests are occurring across the country and the deep racial wounds that exist are opened yet again - coupled with a pandemic that disproportionately impacts people of color - I think mentally people are at a tipping point. As Black wife, mother and sister...my spirit is simply sad. I am tired of worrying about my family’s safety as they just try to live their lives. Everyone must participate in the change we need in this country. Everyone needs to engage not just POC.

As the dust settles on the election... we still have to be vigilant in challenging ourselves to question and solve the problem of historic inequality and bias that ravages our society. This impacts business culture, our communities, and the world our children will inherit. 2020 has illustrated that my time on this planet is not guaranteed. I am speaking up, thoughtfully challenging the status quo and building connections and allies as rapidly as I can. I am finding the strength to face fears and no longer listening to the messaging that says a strong Black woman is somehow too much, too loud. I am claiming my voice and its power and I am finding that it is so powerful and so full of clarity. I want to help others find their voice and until they feel confident - borrow some of mine.

Board governance, Consulting, DEI, Diversity, Executive coach, Human resources, Leadership development, Mediation, Mentorship, Operations, Philanthropy, Training& Facilitation

Born to a teenage mother, I had a dysfunctional childhood - but I was a determined kid. I had big dreams - I was going to have a stable life, with nice things, and no drama. I was the first person in my family to graduate college, went to church regularly, got married, had three children. I tried my best to live my version of the American dream. Life however, has a perverse sense of humor. My marriage fell apart when I turned 40 years old. I had to start over financially, humbled by what I saw as my failure as a wife and mother. I learned how to raise three small children while climbing the corporate ladder. I was diagnosed with a chronic medical condition that I was desperate to hide so I would not jeopardize my career and new found stability. I had to learn reinvention. I had to be resilient. I needed to find joy. I continue to stretch the boundaries of what I think I am capable of doing. I love to share my fascinating, scary, challenging story so others, particularly women can see parallels and hopefully be inspired as they live their journey.

When I turned 40 years old, I created a "bucket list." This list included bungee jumping, swimming with sharks, pottery, learning how to make sushi, traveling to places I had never been, on-line dating and stand up comedy. Stand up comedy was a game changer. All of my observations and life experiences when packaged just right - made people happy. I still do open mic nights (pre-Covid) it just makes me happy to take off my business hat and be irreverent and silly. People need to laugh and who knew I would find their laughter so intoxicating.