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.

"Can you walk me through your salary expectations?"

I slid my number across the table. $127K.

The hiring manager's eyebrows shot up. "That's... ambitious for someone with your background."

My background: 8 years building revenue systems. $14M in documented value creation. Three frameworks running at my previous company.

"We were thinking more like $85K," he said. "But there's room to grow."

I folded. Took $92K. Convinced myself the title mattered more than the math.

Six months later, I'm training the new guy they hired. His starting salary? $135K. His experience? Five years. His documented wins? "Strong potential."

Same role. Same team. Same hiring manager.
Different invoice.

𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐧𝐞𝐠𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐚𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐦𝐞 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠:

They knew my number was right. They just knew I'd accept less.

They didn't negotiate my value. They negotiated my confidence.

They weren't questioning my worth. They were testing my documentation.

The script from that failed negotiation still burns:
"I appreciate the opportunity..."
"I understand budget constraints..."
"I'm flexible on compensation..."

Translation: I'll subsidize your profits with my discount.

Now? Different script entirely.

"My rate reflects the value I create."
"Here's the documentation."
"This number is firm."

No apologies. No explanations. No negotiations on my worth.

Because they don't pay you what you're worth.
They pay you what you refuse to work without.

That failed negotiation? Cost me $35K annually. $175K over five years. Before compound interest. Before opportunity cost. Before the mental tax of watching Brad make more for less.

To every Black woman about to negotiate:

Your number isn't ambitious. Their offer is extraction.
Your experience isn't lacking. Their evaluation is.
Your documentation isn't excessive. It's evidence.

Stop negotiating against yourself before they even counter.
Stop accepting their framing of your value.
Stop believing growth potential pays bills.

They have the budget. They always did.
They're just waiting to see if you know it too.

Thank You; It's True™

P.S. That hiring manager? Reached out last year for consulting help. My day rate is now triple what that annual raise would've been. He said it was "outside their budget." I said that sounded like a personal problem. Documentation has a beautiful memory.

#BlackWomensWealthLab #SalaryNegotiation #KnowYourWorth

Founder & CEO, Black Women’s Wealth Lab™ | Closing the pay gap for 1,000,000 Black women by 2040 | Turning corporate extraction into income

A poised woman with short natural curls sits on the floor in a softly lit, elegant living room. She wears a fitted nude-toned tank top and taupe lounge pants, holding a floral teacup in one hand with a laptop in front of her. Her jewelry is minimal and refined, and the neutral décor behind her creates a serene, upscale atmosphere. 

Yes, I invoiced my church $10K.

The pastor's jaw dropped. "But we're doing God's work."

"So am I," I said. "And God's work deserves proper funding."

See, they'd been running community programs for 15 years. Free financial literacy. Free job training. Free business coaching. All led by Black women who tithed, served, and subsidized.

The youth minister was teaching coding bootcamps after her 9-to-5.
The deacon's wife ran entrepreneurship workshops on Saturdays.
Sister Johnson's grant-writing saved them $2M.

All for "the glory."
None for the invoice.

𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐭'𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐈 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐡:

The coding bootcamp they gave away? Worth $5K per student.
The entrepreneurship program? Corporations pay $25K for that.
Sister Johnson's grant expertise? Consultants charge $10K per proposal.

They were sitting on $500K in annual program revenue.
Giving it away while Black women burned out.
Calling it ministry while we subsidized their mission.

I didn't just invoice them. I taught them to invoice everyone else.

Started charging corporations for diversity training they'd been doing free.
Created certification programs that companies paid to send employees to.
Turned "community service" into community revenue.

Six months later:
• $500K in program fees generated
• 12 Black women instructors now paid $150/hour
• Zero burnout, maximum impact

The pastor called it a miracle.

I called it pricing our gifts properly.

Because even in sacred spaces, Black women's contributions have value. Our expertise doesn't become free because we're in the sanctuary. Our brilliance doesn't get discounted at the church door.

That $10K invoice? It was for the framework that generated the $500K.

They paid it. In full. On time.

Because transformation costs. Whether it's in boardrooms or church basements.

To every Black woman giving away her genius for "the cause":

Your cause needs funding.
Your gifts deserve compensation.
Your service has a price tag.

Even Jesus said the worker deserves their wages.

Start invoicing. Even your church.
Especially your church.

Because we can't pour from empty cups.
But we can invoice for the pitcher.

Thank You; It's True™

P.S. Three other churches just hired me to implement the same framework. $15K each. Turns out, sacred spaces everywhere need to learn how to value Black women's work. I'm teaching them. At market rate.

#BlackWomensWealthLab #InvoiceYourWorth #SacredAndPaid #ThankYouItsTrue

Founder & CEO, Black Women’s Wealth Lab™ | Closing the extraction gap for 1,000,000 Black women by 2040

Black background with white text quote reading 'Even Jesus said the worker deserves their wages.' Black Women's Wealth Lab logo appears at top in gold/yellow. Tagline underneath reads 'Economic justice for Black women who built the wealth.'

Wesleyne .

Sales Leadership Whisperer & Therapist | Transforming Sales Organizations By Training Sales Teams & Managers Together | Former Chemist Providing Effective, Edgy Sales Strategy | Ring My 🔔 for Sales Leadership Insights

Most CEOs don’t hire me because they need sales training.
They hire me because their sales team is underperforming and no one can explain why.

They’ve replaced leaders.
They’ve invested in tools.
They’ve tried quick wins.

But the numbers are still inconsistent.
Pipeline meetings feel like guesswork.
And only a few reps carry the weight.

That’s not a sales rep problem. It’s a leadership and system problem.

I help CEOs fix what’s actually broken.

We start with the root.
I evaluate your team across 21 core competencies.
We uncover the gaps you can’t see on a dashboard.
Then we rebuild from the inside out.

We coach your sales leaders to lead, not chase.
We align people, process, and performance.
We create a system your team believes in and can execute without micromanagement.

What does that look like in real life?
• A team stuck at 75 percent quota reached 136 percent after we restructured their strategy
• A sales manager ready to resign led an eight million dollar turnaround in sixty days
• A client closed a six-figure deal the day after one mindset session

If you don’t address the root, the cycle repeats.
More turnover. Missed numbers. Burnout at the top.
The cost is hidden, but real.

I work best with CEOs of companies where sales is complex and performance depends on leadership alignment
That includes manufacturing, industrial services, technical field sales, customer experience providers, and companies with long sales cycles and high-value deals

The sales problem won’t solve itself
But with the right system and leadership, it becomes predictable

Book a time to talk — link in the Featured section

The Transformed Sales Podcast Host

There are no comprehensive training programs for sales managers in the Science, Technology, Engineering and Manufacturing fields. Their sales teams are usually composed of technical people who have trouble simplifying complex products for prospects to understand. As a former chemist that transitioned into an international sales manager leading teams of technical sales reps, I understand the challenge of that new role.

I have developed a proprietary 7-step sales leadership blueprint based on my 12 years of experience that identifies the blind spots, gaps and inefficiencies in the process, teams and management of sales in technical fields. My coach like approach allows me to work alongside managers to develop their sales leadership and teaching skills.

Building strong teams starts with hiring the right people. My methodology equips managers with a science-based approach to identify weak links and strong salespeople within the organization. By utilizing an objective sales specific assessment tool, I guarantee candidates that are recommended will be within the top 50% of the sales organization within six months. 

Many new sales managers fail because they lack the framework to coach salespeople into sales superstars. They lean on what they did to become successful at sales and focus on the top 20% of their team that is producing the majority of the revenue. In order to overcome this, sales managers must develop a proactive sales coaching culture instead of providing ad hoc advice.  Working together, we develop a systematic and actionable sales process that any salesperson can use on day one as a roadmap to success. This allows the manager to develop individualized action plans allowing every salesperson on the team to perform at to their max potential, so they hit their monthly quotas. 

If you're a Science, Technology, Engineering or Manufacturing company & want to build a killer sales teams that hits quota monthly? contact me wgreer@transformedsales.com|281-941-7272

Wesleyne Whittaker

The hardest feedback I ever received came disguised as a quiet comment in a tense meeting.

I was leading my sales team through a rough quarter. 
You could feel the frustration settling in. 
Not loud. 
Not obvious. 
Just sitting underneath everything they said and did. 

So I asked, 
“What’s getting in your way?” 

One rep spoke up. 
“We just don’t feel seen.” 

My first instinct was to defend myself. 
To explain. 
To list everything I was doing to support them. 

But something in me said pause. 
So I did. 

And in that quiet moment, I finally heard what I had been missing. 
They didn’t need perfection. 
They needed presence. 

They didn’t want more structure or more direction. 
They wanted a leader who could sit in the truth with them without trying to fix it too fast. 

That meeting reminded me of something I’ve learned again and again. 
People rarely share their real truth first. 
They wait to see if you’re the kind of leader who can handle it. 

Listening isn’t passive. 
It’s leadership. 
It’s giving people the safety to be honest without bracing for your reaction. 

When was the last time you created enough space for someone to tell you what they really needed?

Your Sales Team Isn’t Broken. Your Strategy Is | Sales Struggles Are Strategy Problems. Not People Problems | BELIEF Selling™, the Framework CEOs Use to Drive Consistent Sales Execution

The hardest leadership lesson I learned this week had nothing to do with work. It started with me saying, I’m empty. 

I had a hard conversation with someone this week. 
Not a blow up. 
Not a conflict. 
Just the truth I’ve avoided saying out loud. 

“I’m emotionally tapped out. 
I don’t have anything else to give right now.” 

Those words felt heavy. 
Because I am used to being the strong one. 
The steady one. 
The one who keeps showing up even when my tank is past empty. 

But this week reminded me of something leadership and entrepreneurship have taught me again and again. 
You cannot keep giving from a place you refuse to acknowledge is drained. 

In sales we talk about follow through. 
In leadership we talk about support. 
In entrepreneurship we talk about grit and resilience. 

But we rarely talk about capacity. 
We rarely admit when the weight is too much. 
We rarely say, “I can’t keep carrying this alone.” 

That conversation taught me something important. 
Honesty creates alignment. 
When you name your limits, the right people rise to meet you. 
They decide whether they want to be part of the support or part of the strain. 

Sometimes the bravest thing you can say isn’t yes. 
It’s “I’m empty.” 
Because that’s the moment where real leadership begins. 

When was the last time you told the truth about what you no longer have the capacity to hold?

Seven years ago, I started Transformed Sales with more questions than answers. 
I didn’t have a blueprint. 
I didn’t have a team. 
I just had this quiet conviction that wouldn’t let me go. 

In those early days I kept wondering why talented people weren’t performing at the level they were capable of. 
And then I saw it up close. 
Not in the metrics. 
In the people. 

Most teams don’t struggle because they lack skill. 
They struggle because they don’t believe they can do more than what they’ve always done. 
The root always shows up in the fruit. 

I’ve worked with solopreneurs. 
I’ve worked with publicly traded companies. 
Different worlds. Same pattern. 
People grow first. 
Performance follows. 

The moment I understood that, everything shifted for me. 
My business. 
My leadership. 
My impact. 

I stopped fixing surface problems. 
I started helping leaders see what was happening inside their people. 
That’s when the real transformation happened. 

Seven years later, I’m grateful. 
For the clients who trusted me. 
For the rooms I never imagined I’d walk into. 
For the courage to keep going when it would’ve been easier to stop. 

If there’s one thing these seven years taught me it's 

Your next level won’t come from a new tactic. 
It’ll come from the version of you willing to believe differently about yourself. 

Seven years in. 
And I’m just getting started. 

What’s one belief you had to outgrow to reach your next level?

A client told me no and it forced me to face a truth I didn’t want to see.

I once met with a client I knew I could help. 
I brought the data. 
The results. 
The message I thought would land. 

And they still told me no. 

It stung. 
Not because I lost the opportunity. 
But because I knew I had missed something important. 

So instead of wrapping up and moving on, I asked, 
“What made you decide that?” 

The client looked at me and said, 
“You’re focused on selling the solution. 
You’re not focused on what we’re actually struggling with.” 

That sentence hit harder than the no. 

I went back and rebuilt my discovery process from the ground up. 
Less proving. 
More understanding. 
Less talking. 
More listening. 

Three months later, that same client came back and said yes. 
Not because the offer changed. 
Because I did. 

That’s when I learned no isn’t rejection. 
No is redirection. 
No is feedback. 
No is information. 
No is an invitation to grow. 

What could your last no be trying to teach you?

Here’s why most people struggle in sales

 
❌ They’re pitching on the first call
❌ Selling to everyone
❌ Showing 6–7 offers at once
❌ And creating proposals in a language the buyer doesn’t even use.
 
No wonder closing feels heavy.

One of the simplest frameworks I teach is the Two-Call Sales Process, and while chatting with Kris Ward on the Win the Hour Win the Day Podcast, I broke down exactly why it works and why so many sellers are unintentionally adding friction to the buyer journey.
 
📌 Niche until it hurts.
Stop trying to sell to the world.
The smallest niche you can confidently reach will always convert better than a massive one you can’t.
 
📌 First call is a discovery, NOT a pitch.
Not slides. Not demos. Not information-dumping.
Just connection, curiosity, and understanding your buyer’s world in their own language.
 
📌 Fewer offers equals fewer barriers
Have one clear offer, not five.
Buyers gain confidence when choices are simple.
You don’t need more packages.
 
📌 Proposals should sound like the client wrote them.
Mirror the buyer’s language so they feel seen, heard, and understood.
When buyers read their own language reflected back, they immediately feel alignment.
 
If you’ve been feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or like your sales calls aren’t converting the way they should, this episode will shift the way you think about selling forever.

Listen to the full episode https://lnkd.in/dYuMjFBx

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The Battle

Cynthia Barnes

Wesleyne Whittaker

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

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