Cynthia Barnes

Founder and CEO

Salesforce

Recognized by Salesforce as one of the Top Sales Influencers to Follow 4X (2021, 2022, 2023, 2024)

 Salesforce Top Sales Influencer to Follow (4X)

Thank You; It's True.

From teaching women how to reach the top 1% to empowering them to own it—I've transformed my expertise into a revolutionary methodology that helps professional women Own Their Awesome with four simple words: "Thank you; it's true."

As the author of "Reach the Top 1%: A Strategic Game Plan for Warrior Women in Sales" and founder of the National Association of Women Sales Professionals, I witnessed firsthand how even the highest achievers struggle to own their success. This insight led to creating the transformative "Thank you; it's true" framework, which turns the simple act of accepting compliments into a powerful catalyst for authentic confidence.

Key Focus Areas:
• Transforming high-achieving women from reaching success to owning it
• Pioneering behavioral change strategies that eliminate imposter syndrome
• Delivering high-impact keynotes and workshops on authentic confidence-building
• Leading a global movement to revolutionize how women receive and internalize recognition
• Developing scalable programs that create systemic change in workplace cultures

Impact:
• Created the groundbreaking "Thank you; it's true" framework
• Built the NAWSP from inception to 15,000 members
• Featured TEDx speaker on confidence and authentic leadership
• LinkedIn Top Voice | 4X Salesforce Top Influencer

My mission has evolved from showing women how to achieve success to empowering them to fully own it. Through the power of "Thank you; it's true," I'm helping professional women transform their relationship with confidence and create lasting cultural change.

Chief Transformation Officer & Founder 

TED Conferences

• Delivered engaging keynote presentations and immersive workshops at TED Conferences to equip teams with the mindsets and toolsets for success.
• Collaborated with event organizers to tailor talks on various topics to inspire and motivate audiences.
• Received accolades for impactful talks that left lasting impressions on attendees and sparked meaningful conversations.

TEDx Speaker | Keynote & SKO Speaker

RedBoxMe in Collaboration with Cartier

RedBoxMe in Collaboration with Cartier is at the intersection of philanthropy, art, cinema, leadership, literature, sustainability, and more, all driven by deep passion and commitment from our group of members. RedBoxMe was architected by Cartier Awards Laureate and innovator Candice Pascoal alongside the President of Cartier International, Cyrille Vigneron. At its core, RedBoxMe is a platform that curates a diverse and inclusive community of thought leaders, creatives, and individuals from various backgrounds for the expansion of thought. We gather around a number of intellectual and creative opportunities, both online and in person, creating a dynamic and engaging space that goes beyond traditional knowledge consumption.

Luminary Thinker

National Association of Women Sales Professionals

∙ Built a global community of 15,000 women sales professionals, offering targeted mentorship, training programs, and resources that enhanced confidence and career advancement.
∙ Spearheaded strategic partnerships with 50+ global organizations to embed equity-focused hiring and development strategies, achieving measurable increases in diversity and retention.
∙ Designed and launched scalable programs like NAWSP:EVOLVE, addressing systemic challenges and driving industry-wide transformation.

Total Quality Logistics

• Secured and expanded pivotal freight brokerage accounts, identifying prospective clients and sealing lucrative deals.
• Exceeded growth targets by 200%, showcasing exceptional ability to set and surpass ambitious DEI goals.
• Amplified revenue streams to $2 million within eighteen months, ensuring long-term financial viability.

Senior Account Executive, Logistics

Mary Kay Inc.

• Drove customer interest and revenue for a cosmetics company through market research and successful deal closures.
• Initiated employee surveys to enhance organizational communication and understanding.

Director of Employee Engagement

Women leave millions on the table every year—in salary, promotions, and business deals—because they hesitate to ask for what they deserve.

🔹 I help high-achieving women own their worth, negotiate fearlessly, and close with confidence—whether in the boardroom, the sales floor, or their career.

🔹 As a TEDx speaker, executive coach, and Fortune 500 consultant, I’ve worked with leaders at companies like Google, Bridgestone, and New York Life to empower women to stop settling and start owning their value.

🔹 WHAT I TEACH:
✅ How to negotiate with confidence and secure what you’re worth
✅ How to own your presence, influence, and executive authority
✅ How to sell yourself, your ideas, and your expertise like a pro

📢 FEATURED KEYNOTE: “Own Your Ask™ – The Art of Getting What You Deserve”
🔥 Perfect for sales teams, corporate leadership events, and women’s executive groups.

📅 Want me to speak at your next event? Let’s talk!

DM me or visit www.cynthia-barnes.com

* Founded NAWSP to offer executive-level consultation and develop DEI-specific strategies tailored for various industries, serving both U.S.-based and international clients.
* Advised C-Suite Leadership on optimal strategies to achieve short- and long-term objectives, sharing insights on trends, best practices, and their potential impacts on business models.
* Conducted Organizational Assessments to identify areas of improvement and recommended enhanced policies, processes, and procedures to clients.
* Developed and Facilitated Customized Curriculums focusing on recruitment and retention for over 50 organizations nationally and internationally.
* Implemented Employee Training and Development Programs to foster skill enhancement and professional growth.
* Established Performance Metrics and Measurement Systems to assess employee productivity and effectiveness.
* Orchestrated DE&I Roadmaps, aligning organizational goals with actionable diversity initiatives.
Increased Representation of underrepresented populations by 64% through targeted recruiting and mentorship programs.
* Conducted Equity Analysis across the entire employment life cycle, including recruitment, retention, interviews, performance evaluations, and separations.
* Developed ERGs (Employee Resource Groups) to promote inclusivity and address specific employee needs and concerns.
* Managed Talent and Succession Planning Programs to ensure organizational continuity and growth.
* Promoted a Positive and Inclusive Organizational Culture, enhancing team member engagement and productivity.
* Focused on Risk Management to mitigate potential organizational challenges and disruptions.
* Delivered Value by creating customized curricula and training for multiple industries, enhancing organizational capability and adaptability.
* Shared Industry Insights on current and emerging trends, enabling clients to adapt and innovate in their respective domains.

I was packing my office when Brad walked in.

"Hey, can you send me that diversity framework before you go? Leadership wants to implement it next quarter."

The same framework he called "too aggressive" in our team meeting.

The same framework they said wasn't "the right fit" when I presented it.

The same framework that would've saved them $1.2M in retention costs.

I looked at the boxes holding seven years of excellence they never saw. The awards they never celebrated. The solutions they never credited.

"Which framework, Brad? The one you said wouldn't work? Or the one from my presentation that 'made people uncomfortable'?"

He shifted. Cleared his throat. "Look, things change. Leadership sees the value now."

Translation: They need my Black excellence to clean up their diversity metrics. Again.

But this time? This time was different.

I reached into my box. Pulled out my laptop. Opened the file.

"Brad, this framework is my intellectual property. If leadership wants it, they can contract me as a consultant. My rate is $5,000 per day. Minimum engagement is 30 days."

His face went through three shades of disbelief.

"But you created it while you worked here—"

"Check my contract. I retained all rights to my frameworks. Legal signed off on it three years ago."

That's when it hit me: I wasn't tired of the work. I was tired of subsidizing their success with my brilliance at a discount.

The exhaustion wasn't from creating solutions.

It was from watching them profit from my innovation while paying me crumbs.

No more.

That framework? It's now the foundation of my consulting practice. Same framework. 10x the price. Clients who actually value it.

And Brad? Still sending emails asking for "just a quick call to pick your brain."

My out-of-office reply: "Brain-picking sessions start at $500/hour. Here's my calendar link."

To every Black woman packing up her office right now:

Your frameworks aren't company property.
Your brilliance isn't free labor.
Your exhaustion is data telling you it's time to build your own table.

Document everything. Price it properly. Invoice accordingly.

Because when you stop giving away your genius for a salary, you start building wealth with your wisdom.

They wanted your solutions at a discount.
Now they can pay full price or figure it out themselves.

Thank You; It's True™

Ready to turn your corporate IP into consulting income?

Join me on October 15th at 1 pm ET for "From Framework to Fortune: How to Package Your Corporate Brilliance into $10K Contracts."

Comment "INVOICE" below for the link.
Or register directly here now: https://lnkd.in/eeUYAEjv

#BlackWomenInBusiness #IntellectualProperty #ConsultingLife #ThankYouItsTrue

Helping 100,000 Black Women Close the Pay Gap in 5 Years | Speaker | Strategist | Founder of Thank You; It’s True™

A Black woman wearing an ivory suit. She is poised, confident, and her presence commands respect. 

They gave Brad a $50K raise for "strategic thinking."

The strategy? My framework. The one I built after they said I "lacked vision."

But yesterday, Brad made a mistake. He CC'd me on the email to leadership.

"Attached is MY diversity retention model that's projected to save us $2.3M annually."

MY model. The one I presented six months ago. The one they called "too complex" and "unnecessarily aggressive."

The one I created after tracking why we lost 73 Black women in 24 months.

I hit reply all.

"Brad, I'm confused. This looks exactly like the framework I presented on March 15th. The one you said wouldn't work because, and I quote, 'people aren't ready for this level of accountability.'"

Then I attached the original. With timestamps. With my name on every slide.

The silence was LOUD.

But here's what made me laugh:

Twenty minutes later, the CEO called. Not to apologize. To offer me Brad's job.

"We need someone who can think strategically about retention."

𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐩𝐚𝐲 𝐦𝐞 𝐁𝐫𝐚𝐝'𝐬 𝐬𝐚𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐦𝐲 𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤.

I said no.

Then I sent them my consulting invoice: $275,000 to implement the framework. $5,000/day for training Brad's team on how to use it.

They paid it. Within 48 hours.

Because suddenly, when their $2.3M savings was at risk, my "aggressive" framework became "essential."

Here's the math that should enrage you:

They offered me $127K to be Brad's replacement.
I invoiced them $275K as a consultant.
Same work. Same framework. Same brain.
$148,000 difference.

That's not a pay gap. That's a wealth canyon.

And that's why I'll never take another corporate job.

Why negotiate for 63 cents when you can invoice for full dollars?

Why beg for credit when you can bill for ownership?

Why fight for a seat at their table when you can rent them chairs at yours?

To every Black woman whose Brad is building his career on your brilliance:

Document everything.
Screenshot every email.
Save every framework.
Track every theft.

Then send the invoice.

With interest.

Because the only thing more expensive than discrimination is the bill that comes after.

They wanted my framework at an employee discount.
Now they're paying consultant prices.

And Brad? He's in my training session next week.

Learning how to use the framework he "created."

Thank You; It's True™

#BlackWomensWealthLab #IntellectualProperty #CorporateTheft #ThankYouItsTrue

Founder & CEO, Black Women’s Wealth Lab™ | Closing the Pay Gap for 100,000 Black Women by 2030 | Turning Corporate Erasure Into Undeniable Income

Professional Black woman with short natural hair, wearing a black turtleneck and pearl earrings, seated confidently at a modern desk with an open MacBook in front of her. The background shows a softly lit contemporary office with a sofa and blurred decor, creating an elegant and focused atmosphere.

They paid me $125K to lose my mind.

I just sent them the invoice for getting it back.

$500K. Plus interest.

See, I did the math on my mental breakdown. Itemized every panic attack. Calculated the compound interest on my stolen sleep.

The spreadsheet made HR nervous.
The total made Legal sweat.

Because when you quantify sanity in dollars, suddenly they understand the violence.

They paid me to manage million-dollar accounts.
But charged my mental health the difference.

Paid me to save their operations.
But cost me 3 AM panic attacks about their deadlines.

Paid me for 40 hours.
But extracted 80 hours of availability.

𝐇𝐞𝐫𝐞'𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐝𝐨𝐧'𝐭 𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐥 𝐲𝐨𝐮:

When your salary stops matching your sanity, you're not crazy.
You're just awake.

Awake to the fact that they budget for our bodies but not our breakdowns.

Awake to the reality that "competitive compensation" never accounts for therapy bills.

Awake to the extraction disguised as opportunity.

I tracked it:
- Sunday scaries: 52 weeks × 4 hours = 208 hours stolen
- Microaggression recovery: 319 hours documented
- Unpaid emotional labor: 400+ hours annually
- Sleep lost to their emergencies: Priceless

Total: They paid me $125K but cost me $500K in peace.

That's a -$375K ROI on my life.

But here's what changed everything:

I stopped negotiating salary.
Started invoicing for sanity.

Now? My consulting rate includes a peace premium.
My contracts have mental health clauses.
My boundaries have late fees.

Because when you realize they've been stealing your sanity at a 4:1 ratio, you stop asking for raises.

You start requiring reparations.

To every Black woman whose salary and sanity stopped matching:

That gap isn't your failure.
It's their theft.

And we're done subsidizing their success with our suffering.

Your sanity isn't a business expense.
It's your most valuable asset.

Price it accordingly.

Black Women's Wealth Lab™

#BlackWomensWealthLab #MentalHealthMatters #KnowYourWorth #CorporateSanity #ThankYouItsTrue

Founder & CEO, Black Women’s Wealth Lab™ | Closing the pay gap for 1,000,000 Black women by 2030 | Turning corporate extraction into income

Professional Black woman in sleeveless black top sitting at a modern white desk with MacBook laptop and black coffee mug, hand thoughtfully placed under chin, wearing elegant jewelry including hoop earrings and bracelets, with natural curly hair, against a backdrop of neutral curtains and olive green wall, embodying executive presence and contemplative leadership.

I tracked every microaggression for 6 months. The data made my boss cry.

Not tears of shame. Tears of fear.

See, I wasn't just documenting. I was building a case study in corporate gaslighting.

January 3rd, 9:47 AM: "You're so articulate" after my strategy presentation.
Translation: Surprised the Black woman can form sentences.

January 18th, 2:15 PM: "Can I touch your hair? It's so... interesting."
My scalp isn't a petting zoo, Sharon.

February 2nd, 4:30 PM: "You're being too sensitive" when I flagged pay disparities.
The data showed I made 68% of Brad's salary. Same role. Less experience on his end.

March through May? 247 documented incidents. Screenshots. Timestamps. Witnesses.

But here's what broke him:

I didn't just track the microaggressions.
I tracked the macroimpact.

Every "Where are you really from?" cost 12 minutes of productivity.
Every "You're so well-spoken" derailed focus for 23 minutes.
Every excluded meeting meant 2.5 hours recreating context.

Total productivity loss: 319 hours.
Total financial impact: $67,000 in lost output.

That's just MY data. One Black woman. Six months.

I slid the presentation across his desk. Watched him scan the numbers. The charts. The correlation between microaggressions and turnover rates.

"This is..." his voice cracked.

"Expensive?" I finished. "Yes. Discrimination always is."

He saw what I'd been trying to tell them for years:

Racism isn't just morally bankrupt.
It's literally bankrupt-ing your business.

Those weren't tears of empathy.
They were tears of liability.

Because now it was documented. Quantified. Undeniable.

The kicker? He asked if we could "work together to address this."

I smiled. Slid my consulting contract across the table.

"Absolutely. My DEI consulting rate is $5,000 per day. Minimum 30-day engagement."

Funny how they find budget when lawyers get involved.

To every Black woman tracking microaggressions:

Don't just document the disrespect.
Calculate the cost.

Make them see our exhaustion in their own language: Lost dollars.

Because when they realize racism is expensive, suddenly they're interested in solutions.

And we? We're done giving those solutions away for free.

Track it. Price it. Invoice it.

Thank You; It's True™

Ready to turn your trauma into invoices?

Join me October 15th at 1 PM ET for "From Framework to Fortune: How to Package Your Corporate Brilliance into $10K Contracts."

I'll show you exactly how to make them pay for what they stole.

Comment "INVOICE" below for the link.

#BlackWomenInBusiness #CorporateEquity #DataDriven #ThankYouItsTrue

A poised, confident woman sits, dressed in an elegant black sleeveless suit. She holds a white pen thoughtfully beside her face, her gaze calm and commanding. A silver MacBook rests on her lap, symbolizing focus and power. The soft, shadowed lighting and charcoal background create a luxurious, editorial atmosphere — timeless, intelligent, and effortlessly refined. 

They asked me what my expertise was worth.

I pulled up my bank statements from the previous 5 years.

$67,000. $72,000. $78,000. $82,000. $89,000.

That's what I charged when I called it a salary.

Then I started calling it consulting.

$50,000 for 2 days. $75,000 for a framework. $175,000 for implementation.

Same brain. Same expertise. Same Black woman.
Different invoice.

𝐇𝐞𝐫𝐞'𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐟𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐮𝐬:

My annual salary for creating frameworks: $89,000
My daily rate for explaining them: $25,000

They paid me $89K/year to build their future.
They pay me $25K/day to understand it.

Last month, I invoiced $175,000 to three companies.
For teaching them systems I built while making 63 cents to their dollar.

One CEO called it "highway robbery."

I called it market rate for highway construction.

Because I didn't just build their systems. I built the roads their entire business runs on.

The Framework Value Formula™:

Take your last salary.
Divide by 2,080 (work hours/year).
That's what they paid per hour for your genius.

Now multiply by 100.
That's your consulting hourly rate.
Because scarcity creates value.
And you're not their employee anymore.

Real numbers from Black women using this formula:

• Former salary: $95K → Consulting rate: $4,567/hour
• Former salary: $120K → Consulting rate: $5,769/hour
• Former salary: $78K → Consulting rate: $3,750/hour

One woman invoiced her former employer $182,000.
For a 10-day engagement.
Teaching them the system she built for $78K/year.

They called it "excessive."
She called it "retroactive market adjustment."

They paid it. Because their new hire couldn't figure out her documentation.

To every Black woman wondering what to charge:

Your expertise isn't worth what they paid you.
It's worth what they can't function without.

Your knowledge isn't valued at employment rates.
It's valued at replacement cost.

Your frameworks aren't priced by the hour.
They're priced by the millions they generate.

Stop letting them rent your brilliance at employee prices.
Start selling it at market value.

The formula is simple:
What they paid you ÷ What you saved them = The crime
What you charge now × Their desperation = The correction

Invoice accordingly.

Thank You; It's True™

P.S. My client just sent her first $100K invoice. Her former salary? $72,000. Their response? "When can you start?"

Your expertise has always been expensive. You just haven't been billing correctly.

#BlackWomensWealthLab #ConsultingRates #InvoiceYourWorth #ThankYouItsTrue

Black woman with short natural curls, wearing a sleeveless white top with black trim, gold hoop earrings, and a gold necklace, seated at a dark desk with an open notebook, holding a pen near her face and looking confidently at the camera. 

I just watched it happen again.

A Black woman's framework—documented, timestamped, proven to save $3.2M—presented by someone else at a major tech conference.

The presenter got a standing ovation.
The creator got erased.

But here's what's changing the game:

We're building an economy of evidence.

Not representation metrics. Not diversity theater. Attribution backed by blockchain-level proof.

When I started tracking this pattern in 2019, the extraction was invisible. Now? 

Every Slack message = timestamped.
Every framework = version-controlled.
Every idea = documented origin.

The brutal truth: They've been reselling our brilliance for centuries. But digital fingerprints don't lie.

Here's what I'm seeing founders do differently:

• Recording every strategy session
• Watermarking frameworks with metadata
• Building IP portfolios before they build products
• Creating audit trails that lawyers salivate over

One founder I know invoiced her former employer $450K.
For using her customer retention model.
That they said "wouldn't scale."
Until it scaled to $8M in savings.

She had the receipts. They paid within 72 hours.

This isn't about revenge. It's about economics.

When attribution becomes enforceable, extraction becomes expensive.

When documentation becomes standard, theft becomes traceable.

When Black women treat ideas like assets, corporations learn to license instead of steal.

The next civil rights movement won't march on Washington.
It'll march into boardrooms with invoices.

Because receipts aren't just power.
They're compound interest on centuries of unpaid brilliance.

Document everything. 
Price accordingly.

Thank You; It's True.™

Black Women's Wealth Lab™ #BlackWomensWealthLab #ThankYouItsTrue

A professional Black woman with short natural hair wearing a beige blazer and gold hoop earrings looks directly at the camera with a confident expression. She appears to be holding or positioned behind a large quote graphic that reads "Receipts = Power, Evidence = Equity" in bold burgundy text on a white background. The Black Women's Wealth Lab logo appears in the top left corner. The image conveys authority, professionalism, and the message of documenting and valuing Black women's intellectual contributions in corporate spaces.

Fred Diamond

Institute for Effective Professional Selling (formerly IES)

The mission of the IEPS is to help B2B and B2G sales leaders engage teams, elevate leaders, and empower success. Companies with over 100 sales professionals commonly join the IEPS and participate in our programs.

Our Premier designations, including our Premier Women in Sales Employer designation help recruiters, HR leaders, and sales leaders create the optimal workplace for top sales professionals.

Subscribe to my Sales Game Changers podcast on iTunes. I interview successful sales leaders about their career journey and solicit tips about how you can sell better.

The IEPS is of service to sales professionals worldwide. Join the IEPS to get access to thought leader presentations, mentoring programs and access to great content. You will get better, stay sharp, and sell more.

The IEPS also holds the sales industry's only award program that recognizes corporate and organization sales excellence.

The IEPS Women in Sales program is the only program of its kind.

If you're a sales professional, the IEPS is for you.

President and Co-Founder

Love, Hope, Lyme Podcast

I published a book for Lyme disease survivors and their family members and friends called “Love, Hope, Lyme: What Family Members, Partners, and Friends Who Love a Chronic Lyme Survivor Need to Know." I don't have Lyme but wrote it when I decided to learn more about what someone I loved at the time was going through. I've met thousands of people from the Lyme community since it was published. Was written for the people in your life who may not understand what it's like to live with chronic Lyme. The e-book is free for Lyme survivors.

Podcaster, Author

Sales Game Changers Podcast

I host the Sales Game Changers podcast and produce daily webcasts attended by sales professionals around the globe.

I also published two books. 

"Insights for Sales Game Changers: Lessons from the Planets Top Sales Leaders" features sales improvement tips and ideas from the over 500 Sales Game Changers Podcast episodes we have produced featuring global sales leaders from companies such as Salesforce, IBM, Hilton, Oracle and Nestle. You'll become a better sales professional after reading this book and applying the lessons in it.

When I decided to learn more about the Lyme disease that afflicted someone I loved, my life changed. I read every book on Lyme, joined Facebook groups, attended webinars and podcasts and quickly realized that I knew hardly anything about what Lyme disease survivors go through on a daily basis. "Love, Hope, Lyme: What Family Members, Partners, and Friends Who Love a Chronic Lyme Survivor Need to Know" will offer those who love someone with Lyme ideas and tips to support this beloved person. The book features a foreword by the top Lyme doctor on the planet, Dr. Richard Horowitz. If someone you love has been afflicted with Lyme disease epidemic, read this book now.

The podcast was recognized by YesWare as the top sales podcast for 2022!
It's a high-energy audio podcast where I interview top Business to Business sales leaders. On the podcast, they discuss their journey, career highlights and offer tips for emerging sales professionals and leaders to grow their careers.

I am an engaging, energetic professional who spent time as an in-demand party DJ when I started my career. This experience, coupled with my rich experience as a senior marketing and sales professional at Apple, Compaq, and as a consultant to hundreds of high-growth software and tech firms, bodes well for an exceptional podcast experience.

I also host the popular "Love, Hope, Lyme" podcast for the tick-borne illness community.

Award-Winning Podcast Host and Two-Time Published Author

The Sales Experts Channel

We are excited to be a sponsor of the The Sales Expert Channel in 2021. We are hosting a weekly show, called The Diamond Group, every Monday at 5PM EST featuring some of the top sales leaders in the world tackling the challenging sales problems of the day. Check it out!

Webinar/Podcast Host, "The Diamond Group"

Diamond Strategic Marketing

I often get engaged/hired by tech (enterprise software, cyber-security, mobile, device) and professional services CEO's around the world because they increase sales, generate more revenue, bring new products to market, or grow into new markets. They realize that a more effective way to go-to-market will help accelerate sales.

I've had the privilege of helping hundreds of tech and professional services firm CEOs get their vision into the market place by designing, developing, and implementing smarter go-to-market strategies for them. My tagline, "Marketing that does not lead to revenue reward is a HUGE waste of time and money"​ has been widely acclaimed by CXOs around the world and shows that I know it's about SALES

With expertise garnered at world-class firms such as Apple, Compaq, Microsoft, and Compuware, I am the outsourced marketer of choice for CEOs looking to get their vision into the marketplace and sales leaders who know that their companies can go-to-market better.  My approach to marketing has especially been well received by international companies looking to enter US markets.

DIAMOND Strategic Marketing helps companies grow business in the right vertical markets, such as public sector markets, by designing, developing, implementing, and managing sound, smart, and strategic marketing efforts that accelerate business development. “Marketing that does not lead to revenue reward is a HUGE waste of time and money”—resounds with executives and sales leaders at technology and professional services firms pursuing those markets.

Clients include Microsoft, Pleasant Valley Business Solutions, Contact Solutions, Clovis Group, Tectura, and Oracle.

Our services include the following:

Cloud Computing Product Marketing
Strategic Market Planning and Implementation Outsourcing
Product Marketing Service Engagements
Marketing Communications and PR Projects
Marketing Training and Consulting

Principal

OneSoft

I took advantage of the "new economy" by joining two pre-IPO e-commerce firms as senior marketing director. At OneSoft, once a high-flying e-commerce applications company, I helped the company get its messaging together in preparation for IPO. Also prepared the IPO Roadshow presentations and ensured that the CEO and CFO were well-rehearsed. The effort was world-class and historic.  Built a marketing team of 12 strong players managing all areas of corporate and product marketing including PR, lead generation, sales support, and brand management.

When OneSoft was acquired, I then spent a few months at a data storage/network attached storage company called Network Storage Solutions that was trying to become the next Network Applicance. Had a contract with Hitachi Data Systems. Times were tough. 9/11 happened and the company pretty much wound down and ended in the middle of the night. But it moved me to create DIAMOND Marketing, which has helped close to 100 companies grow and achieve their marketshare goals.

Senior Marketing Director

Compuware

Created, developed and instituted software product marketing plans and programs for international markets. Products ranged from mainframe to client/server to Internet offerings.  Managed great teams. Kicked off marketing programs in Europe, Asia, Australia, and North America. Travelled around the world spreading the gospel about software quality and automation testing.

Implemented new marketing strategies such as putting customers on video, internal marketing campaigns, and marketing analytics.

International Product Marketing

Compaq Computer Corporation

When Apple decided to reduce its staff by 3,500 in the summer of 1993, many of my friends in the public sector marketing world quickly called me about Compaq’s emerging initiatives to grow its public sector presence. Compaq had grown quickly to be known as the industry’s leading high-end PC manufacturer and in order to reach the next level had decided to strategically focus on certain vertical markets, such as public sector (Government, Education), SOHO (small office, home office), and retail. For vertical marketing professionals, it was a fun time to join Compaq.

My main task was to run the marketing efforts for the Federal Sales team. These included developing and implementing the marketing communications plan, GSA reseller authorization and marketing strategies, and the sales/marketing integration plan. It was a great experience working with the field sales team, the corporate marketing group, and Compaq’s growing ranks of resellers and systems integrators.

The marketing communications plan was crucial in helping grow Compaq’s Federal revenue from $18 million to $250 million in three years.

SOME HIGHLIGHTS

• We developed and implemented the industry’s top marketing communications plan which featured robust schedules in the government trades (Federal Computer Week, Government Computer News, Washington Technology, etc.) as well as first class exhibiting at the industry’s leading trade shows.

• Developed relationships with Oracle and Microsoft to produce industry-leading marketing programs that are still in effect today.

• Developed the industry’s first minority-owned business reseller program which included teaming with the distributors and top resellers for fulfillment.

• Developed and measured the GSA “letter of supply” strategy. Tasked our key resellers with growth objectives and worked with them to ensure success.

Public Sector Marketing Manager

Apple

I was thrilled when one the leading recruiters on the east coast called to say that Apple was looking to place a new manager of technical customer services in its new Federal Systems Group in Reston, VA.  I knew nothing about the Federal Government, was not an engineer, and never worked in a sales group before, but it was Apple Computer and I jumped at the chance.  Apple was one of the top companies in the world at the time, and I could feel the positive energy in everyone I met there. 

I had three different roles at Apple, all which were challenging, fun, and worthwhile:

(1) Technical Customer Service Manager (TCSM), Federal Systems Group
(2) New Product Development, Service Product Leader for the Quadra and PowerBook lines
(3) Channel Development Manager, Enterprise and Government, my first real job in marketing

SOME HIGHLIGHTS

• As TCSM, I got to travel all over the US helping our government customers and the partners that were servicing them make the most out of their Apple investment. I learned was that it was all about sales and that my job was to remove any objections prospects might have. One way we achieved this was by creating the prototypical Apple champion program, called the Federal Support Coordinator program. We identified a few hundred Federal Apple fans and offered them extra support to ensure that they could help us develop business within their agencies. Program was huge.

• Working on the product development team for PowerBook Duo was an incredible experience. My job was to prepare the support and service world for when the products were launched and work to lower the warranty costs of the product.

• My final job was to put together the government channel of sales distribution strategy, including optimum GSA strategy and state contract policies. Saw a lot of politics, worked with a lot of ambitious people, understood the role of sales contract development, and tried to figure out how to balance all of the above.

Channel Manager

McGraw Hill

I look back on my years at the McGraw Hill division Datapro fondly. Datapro produced loose-leaf technical product guides that were bibles for IT professionals who needed up-to-date product and market information. Today, you just go to the search engine and type in “top laptops,” and you get a million pages. Back then, it wasn’t so simple.

Datapro produced guides on dozens of technology segments ranging from mainframes to software to copiers.  We produced reports on entire markets and individual products. Our “comparison charts” were scrutinized by tens of thousands of IT buyers around the world.

I worked in the new product development department during my tenure at Datapro, which gave me a great appreciation on how large firms decided which products to bring to market. During that time, we produced half a dozen new loose-leaf books on telecommunications, data communications, and information services.

The best experience for me was being an editor on “Datapro Reports on Information Security.” I wrote product reviews on encryption devices, physical and information access control solutions, and bank security solutions. Although I started with no knowledge AT ALL of any of the solutions I was tagged to cover, I quickly got up to speed on all of the technologies. I made trips to vendors, attended dozens of conferences, and read whatever I could. I remember taking a trip to Manhattan with a vendor to a half dozen Wall Street banks to see how they secured their assets.

The highlight of my time there was when the company president returned from a trip to Russia. During his meetings, his customers were most interested in the articles I had written on the imminent changes to the Data Encryption Standard (DES), which I estimated would have cost vendors millions. He said they wanted to know all about “Meester Diamond.”

Working at Datapro exposed me to the new personal computer market and attracted the eyes of the recruiters searching for Apple. Read more above.

Industry Analyst

💚 Author of “Love, Hope, Lyme: A Book about Chronic Illness Support” and “Insights for Sales Game Changers” ✔ Ask about the “Premier Women in Sales Employer” designation ✔ Host, Sales Game Changers Podcast

My Institute for Effective Professional Selling (IEPS), formerly the Institute for Excellence in Sales, helps B2B and B2G employers around the globe better engage teams, elevate leaders, and empower success. Our Premier Sales Employer and Premier Women in Sales Employer designations help companies be seen as great employers for top salespeople and saves millions in retention costs. I am an ally for women in sales.

My two books are “Insights for Sales Game Changers” and “Love, Hope, Lyme: What Family Members, Partners and Friends Who Love a Chronic Lyme Survivor Need to Know.”

The IEPS was created to helps companies solve the retention challenge with our live, virtual, and specialized programs such as our Women in Sales Leadership Forum, Premier Sales Employer designation, Sales Game Changers Podcast and Young Sales Professionals program.

Subscribe to the Sales Game Changers Podcast at http://bit.ly/sgcitunes. Thanks! You won't regret it.

My favorite quote is "Only a life lived in the service to others is worth living," Einstein.

SOME PERSONAL BACKGROUND

I'm an advocate for chronic Lyme awareness and treatment. I've written multiple blogs for LymeDisease.org, wrote a best-selling book and host a podcast for family members of Lyme disease survivors.

Before co-founding the IEPS, many people knew me as a world-class marketing consultant to companies such as Microsoft and Oracle. I helped companies develop vertical, product, and revenue-generating marketing strategies and execution programs for tech and professional services firms.

However, my motto was “Marketing that doesn’t lead to revenue reward is a huge waste of time and money” demonstrated that it's about accelerating the sales process. “It’s about sales.”

The mission of the IES is to help employers attract, retain, motivate and elevate top tier sales talent. The IES helps sales teams improve their performance in the art and science of professional, B2B and enterprise selling. 

Our Premier designations, including our Premier Women in Sales Employer designation help recruiters, HR leaders, and DEI leaders create the optimal workplace for top sales professionals.

Subscribe to my Sales Game Changers podcast on iTunes. I interview successful sales leaders about their career journey and solicit tips about how you can sell better.

The IES is of service to sales professionals worldwide. Join the IES to get access to thought leader presentations, mentoring programs and access to great content. You will get better, stay sharp, and sell more.

The IES also holds the sales industry's only award program that recognizes corporate and organization sales excellence.

The IES Women in Sales program is the only program of its kind.

If you're in sales or BD or are a service professional who needs to make it rain, the IES is for you.

🤔 QUESTION: Have you ever worked with someone who appeared at just the right time and helped your business or sales career grow?

🎂 I saw today on LinkedIn that it's sales expert, author, and speaker Ian Altman, B2B Growth Advisor's birthday. Ian was one of those guys in many ways at the Institute for Effective Professional Selling (formerly IES) when we were starting out.

One thing we are known for is putting on live events for sales teams in the #Washington DC region every month.

In the early days, we would bring a top sales author or speaker to town every month, provide a hearty breakfast, and then do a mini-workshop on a sales topic. We would get hundreds of sales professionals and business owners every month.

We continue to hold our "Selling Essentials Workshops" monthly but now hybrid with the in-person portion being held at the Carahsoft Conference and Collaboration Center in Reston and virtually around the globe.

Ian was our very FIRST speaker ever and then graced the stage a half-dozen times. He also was the emcee at our annual award event for a few years. Our 16th annual event will be in April 2026.

We were grateful to have Ian help us launch the business and build our reputation as the premier place to help B2B and B2G selling organizations Engage Teams and Customers, Elevate Leaders, and Empower Success.

!yadhtrib yppAH, Ian.

⁉️ Want to shout out someone who helped you like he helped us help thousands of selling professionals?

I Run the Most Important B2B/G Sales Leadership Organization in the World ✔ Host, Sales Game Changers Podcast ✔ “Women in Sales” Ally ✔ Author of “Insights for Sales Game Changers" 💚 Lyme Disease Expert and Advocate 👍

🤔 QUESTION: Have you ever changed just one word in a LinkedIn title search and seen it unlock a whole new world of opportunities?

🏨 On today's Sales Game Changers Podcast, special #SalesStoryAndATip episode, a leader from Hilton shared how a small tweak in his team’s LinkedIn search, simply adding “executive meetings” to their keyword list, led to a new contact, a fresh RFP, and a new stream of business for one of Hilton’s luxury properties.

🎤 EPISODE 793: How a Fresh LinkedIn Job Title Search Led to New Business for Hilton’s Shawn Parker
🎧📖 Listen to the show and read the transcript at https://lnkd.in/eav7Sev4
🎥 Watch on YouTube at https://lnkd.in/exbQ83mF.

SHAWN SAID:
“It might seem like a stroke of luck, but when you really break it down, it’s about being hungry, curious, and humble enough to admit we don’t know what we don’t know and using the tools and drive to go find it. Sometimes the biggest breakthroughs come from the smallest shifts in how you look for opportunity."

⁉️ What’s one creative way you’ve used LinkedIn (or another tool) to uncover hidden opportunities?

#SalesGameChangers #LinkedInTips #SocialSelling #SalesLeadership #Hilton #B2BSales #ProfessionalSelling #CuriosityInSales

🤔 QUESTION: Is there anything else besides your work and customers that you're passionate about? Maybe a completely other community that you're involved with?

💚 In addition to running the Institute for Effective Professional Selling (formerly IES), I also am an active advocate for #LymeDisease treatment, care, and support. I was fortunate to present my book, "Love, Hope, #Lyme: What Family Members, Partners, and Friends Who Love a Chronic Lyme Survivor Need to Know" at the International Lyme & Associated Diseases Society (ILADS) Scientific Conference last week. Great conference run by Sarah Meltzer Quillen CFRE. The PR team led by Alexandra Moresco did a great job.

In the photo is Tanya Hoebel, host of the Lyme and Beyond podcast.

I also do a biweekly podcast called the Love, Hope, Lyme podcast. Today's show dispelled the myth that Lyme disease is only found in New England. The show featured Korine Kolivras, a geography professor at Virginia Tech.

She's done groundbreaking research that challenges the long-held belief that “we don’t have Lyme here.” "Here" is fill in the blank.

It's on YouTube at https://lnkd.in/ePRzv9se.

⁉️ Anything else besides your work you'd like us to know about?

If you know anyone who struggles with Lyme, let them know about my book. The pdf is always free.

🤔 QUESTION: Should you be in planning right now to make 2026 your best sales year ever? 

🙋🏻 Of course you should be. In fact, you should be thinking about your future sales goals and initiatives all the time.

And we're going to make it easy for you. The upcoming Institute for Effective Professional Selling (formerly IES) Selling Essentials Workshop will be happening on Thursday, November 20 in person at the Carahsoft Conference and Collaboration Center in Reston, Virginia, and virtually for anyone outside the area.

Our sales leader panel will feature three of the top sales leaders around:

Andrew Schnabel, VP of Federal for Zscaler.
Melissa Adamson, Director Public Sector Partnership Sales for Snowflake
Darryl E. Peek II, Vice President Partner Sales for Elastic Public Sector

Register now at https://cvent.me/rmNYZ1.

The panel will address:

☑️ How to lay out a great plan
✅ What you as a selling professional need to do to make sure you are set and ready to go
☑️ Who you'll need to help you make it happen.

Sign up now! It'll be great.

Register now at https://cvent.me/rmNYZ1.

⁉️ What questions do you have for the panel? What questions do you need to answer to plan accordingly?

🤔 QUESTION: How do we prepare the next generation of sales leaders, those specifically attending college right now, for a world driven by AI, data, and adaptability?

🙋🏻 Right? There are a lot of new variables thrown into the education mix with the evolution of AI tools. How has this impacted the curriculum and how we're preparing the young adults for a career in professional selling?

🎓💡That’s the question I explored with Semiramis (Semira) Amirpour, at the Center for Professional Sales at the The University of Texas at Dallas, on our latest Office Hours - Sales Professors Unplugged episode. This podcast is a sub-brand of the popular Sales Game Changers Podcast.

🎤 EPISODE 795: Inspiring Future Sales Professionals at UT Dallas with Semira Amirpour
🎧📖 Listen to the show or read the transcript at https://lnkd.in/e6mpRyEh
🎥 Watch the video on YouTube at https://lnkd.in/e5VTBvuC.

What stood out to me most was Semira’s balance between innovation and realism in teaching sales. Her students aren’t just learning theory, they’re using AI tools, mastering CRM systems, and working directly with corporate partners to secure real-world sales experience before graduation.

Semira also shared a powerful message for young sales professionals:
“Take feedback as a gift. If I didn’t want you to be successful, I wouldn’t take the time to give it.”

That mindset of curiosity, coachability, and continuous improvement is exactly what defines the next generation of sales game changers.

⁉️ Do you think the growth of #AITools has made it harder to educate students going into sales?

#SalesEducation #ProfessionalSelling #SalesLeadership #AIinSales #UTDallas #FutureofSales #SalesGameChangers #OfficeHours University Sales Center Alliance Sales Education Foundation Dr. Howard Dover

Loved meeting the young adults studying professional sales at McCoy College of Business at Texas State University.

Thanks to Linda Alkire (née Nasr) and Juan Holguin, Jr. for hosting me.

Center for Professional Sales at Texas State University

View company: Center for Professional Sales at Texas State University

We had the incredible privilege of welcoming Mr. Fred Diamond, author of Insights for Sales Game Changers, President, and co-founder of the Institute for Effective Professional Selling, and a respected voice in the world of sales, to our sales classes this week!

Students were fully engaged as Mr. Diamond shared practical advice, tips for future sales professionals, and honest insights into the evolving landscape of sales. 

He took time to sign copies of his book, answer questions, spark conversation, and encourage students to think critically about what it means to build trust, deliver value, and grow a successful career in sales. 

Moments like these remind us of the power of bringing industry leaders into the classroom. They bridge the gap between theory and practice and inspire students to see what’s possible.

Thank you again, Mr. Diamond, for your generosity, authenticity, and the impact you made on our students.

🤔 QUESTION: Are your first meetings laying the groundwork for real deals, or just polite conversations?

Sales professionals love to focus on closing techniques. But as my Sales Game Changers Podcast guest Lee Salz reminds us today, weak deals often trace back to weak first meetings.

Lee’s new book, "The First Meeting Differentiator," flips the script on traditional “discovery.” It challenges salespeople to move beyond gathering information and start delivering meaningful value from the very first conversation.

He brought one of his customers from Filterbuy on the show to discuss how he's implemented Lee's strategies.

🎤 EPISODE 794: Creating Meaningful Value on the First Sales Call with Lee Salz and Wesley Amann 
🎧📖 Listen to the show or read the transcript at https://lnkd.in/eeiK5NTP.
🎥 Watch the video on YouTube at https://lnkd.in/ekYP5CnE

Key insight:

“Discovery needs to die. The first meeting should be a consultation where both sides walk away wiser. You must provide meaningful value at this meeting." Lee

We also heard from Wesley Amann, VP of Sales at Filterbuy, who’s put Lee’s ideas to work. His team built a 50-page playbook and achieved 50% year-over-year growth by turning routine sales calls into valuable consultations.

Wes shared a great insights including:

“Salespeople need to listen. That’s one of the big problems. If they listen, they’ll get the information they need to better differentiate themselves.”

⁉️ How successfully do you differentiate yourself at the first meeting? Are you conscious of doing so? Do you always leave with a follow up?

#SalesGameChangers #ProfessionalSelling #SalesLeadership #FirstMeetingDifferentiator #LeeSalz #SellingDifferently #SalesGrowth #B2BSales Tina LoSasso

🤔 QUESTION: Do you agree that one of the big problems with #AI in sales today is that we're throwing more and more tools at our selling professionals while discarding better workflows? Load on the tools, forget about the process?

🙋🏻 I'm asking because Franci Hirsch, Vice President, Sales Operations and Enablement at Cvent was featured on a panel at last week's Center for Elevating Women in Sales Leadership (CEWL) #WomenInSales Elevation Conference chaired by Gina Stracuzzi. The panel discussed best practices for AI utilization at the sales team and organizational level.

Harkened me back to her appearance on a recent #AIForSellingEffectiveness Podcast with Zeev Wexler.

Her take on AI adoption stopped me in my tracks. She said:

“Workflow is the North Star. Don’t give sellers something extra to do. Make AI part of what they already do every day.”

That’s why Cvent earned our AI for Sales Effectiveness Award earlier this year. They embedded it into the way their sellers prospect, plan, and engage.

🎤 EPISODE 780: Inside Cvent’s Award-Winning AI for Selling Effectiveness Strategies with Franci Hirsch
🎧📖 Listen to the show or read the transcript at https://lnkd.in/gmumeTbJ.
🎥 Watch on YouTube at https://lnkd.in/eWa_CrwJ

Franci’s team focused on integration, making tools like ZoomInfo Copilot, Salesloft, and custom AI prompts part of one seamless selling motion.
The result? Faster ramp time, more productive reps, and higher adoption rates.

If you’re a sales leader exploring AI, take this to heart: AI succeeds when it disappears into the workflow.

⁉️Is it about the tool or the workflow?

#SalesGameChangers #AIforSales #SalesEnablement #WorkflowDesign #SellingEffectiveness #SalesLeadership #Cvent #AIIntegration

taplio

The Battle

Cynthia Barnes

Fred Diamond

Followers

Posts

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Performance ScoreCynthia Barnes's LinkedIn Performance

Performance ScoreFred Diamond's LinkedIn Performance

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taplio

The Battle

Cynthia Barnes

Fred Diamond

Followers

Posts

Engagements

Likes

Performance Score.css-goub6s{font-size:var(--chakra-fontSizes-md);font-weight:500;color:var(--chakra-colors-gray-600);display:block;margin-top:var(--chakra-space-1);}Cynthia Barnes's LinkedIn Performance

Performance ScoreFred Diamond's LinkedIn Performance

Ready to grow your LinkedIn presence?

Performance ScoreCynthia Barnes's LinkedIn Performance