Cynthia Barnes

Founder and CEO

I spent 20 years building frameworks that made other people rich.

Sales methodologies that became "company best practices." Training programs that got renamed and rolled out without my name attached. Revenue strategies that showed up in Brad's promotion announcement while I got a 2.3% raise and a note about "executive presence."

I documented everything. Exposed the math. Calculated the extraction.

$847,000.

That's the average lifetime wage gap for a Black woman in corporate America. Not a metaphor. Not a feeling. An invoice that never got paid.

So I stopped asking for raises. Started building infrastructure.

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What I do now:

I build the sales architecture for Black women executives exiting corporate—so they can convert 20+ years of extracted expertise into high-ticket consulting contracts.

No pitching. No shrinking. No explaining your worth to people who've never had to prove theirs.

We don't coach. We build:
→ The offer that positions your expertise for C-Suite buyers
→ The pricing model that kills hourly rates forever
→ The proof assets that sell before you get on a call
→ The pipeline that fills your calendar without "networking"
→ The IP protection that ensures your frameworks stay yours

90 days. Proof to pipeline. Your expertise finally has your name on it.

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This is for you if:

↳ You've built frameworks inside companies that got attributed to someone else
↳ You left (or you're leaving) and you're done being the secret weapon
↳ You have 15-25 years of expertise but no language to sell it
↳ You're tired of courses that teach theory—you want assets built
↳ You understand that Brad isn't the problem; the system is—and you're ready to build outside of it

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This is NOT for you if:

↳ You're looking for mindset work, mantras, or manifestation
↳ You want someone to convince you your expertise has value
↳ You're still hoping the company will "finally see" you
↳ You need hand-holding through basic business decisions
↳ You think "putting yourself out there" is a strategy

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I'm not here to help you get a seat at their table.

I'm here to help you build your own—and send them the invoice.

The Exit Architecture™
Black Women's Wealth Lab™

Thank You; It's True.™

* 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.

Fred Diamond

💚 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.”

President and Co-Founder

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.

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The Battle

Cynthia Barnes

Fred Diamond

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