Storytelling for Leadership
Barb Smith CEO & Founder of Find My Team & Courtside Leadership
The most influential leaders are not always the loudest in the room. They are the ones courageous enough to own their story. In this powerful and motivating Keynote, you will discover how storytelling can become one of the greatest leadership tools you possess. Whether leading a business, a team, a family, or a movement, authentic stories create connection, build trust, and inspire action. This session will empower attendees to move beyond fear, comparison, and self-doubt and step confidently into the influence their voice was meant to carry.
Led by Barb Smith, a former Division I student-athlete, accomplished Division I basketball coach, motivational speaker, author, entrepreneur, and nationally respected leadership expert, her life’s work has centered on building resilient people, high-performing teams, and transformational leaders.
With more than 30 years of experience coaching at the Division I level, Barb has led teams through championship seasons, NCAA Tournament appearances, adversity, heartbreak, and breakthrough moments that shaped not only athletes, but lives. Her journey has been defined by resilience, courage, and the unwavering belief that leadership is revealed most powerfully in moments of challenge. From the excitement of conference championships and back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances to navigating the devastating loss of a player to spinal meningitis, Barb understands firsthand the strength, unity, and character required to lead through both victory and adversity.
As the Founder of Courtside Leadership, Barb inspires organizations, teams, coaches, and leaders to pursue peak performance through trust, connection, accountability, and purpose-driven leadership. Her work focuses on creating team cultures where individuals thrive together, communicate effectively, and rise beyond talent alone to achieve lasting success.
Barb is also the Founder and CEO of Find My Team, an organization dedicated to empowering student-athletes and families through the college recruiting journey. Built “for student-athletes, by student athletes,” Find My Team helps young athletes develop confidence, discover their voice, and find the college fit that aligns with their unique goals, values, and future. Through expert guidance and authentic mentorship, Barb and her team have helped hundreds of families navigate the recruiting process with clarity, confidence, purpose, and success.
A passionate advocate for leadership development and team dynamics, Barb is also the author of the book Beyond the Talent: Profile of a Winning Team, which explores the foundational principles behind successful teams and sustainable excellence.
Barb earned her degree in Health Education from The Ohio State University and completed her MBA in Organizational Behavior at Iona College. Today, she continues to inspire audiences nationwide with a message rooted in resilience, leadership, teamwork, and the power of finding one’s voice.
When not working, Barb enjoys family, nature, birding, cycling, traveling, attending sporting events,meeting new people, and playing with her two rescued greyhounds.
Breakout
Sessions
Our incredible breakout session will enhance your ability to communicate and connect with your audience, allowing you to lead from a place of empowerment and take pride in your voice and your mission.
Frequently Asked Questions
Our breakout session speakers and topics are coming soon, but in the meantime, what can you expect?
Where do you find your speakers?
Our breakout session speakers are carefully selected from a mix of community leaders, past She Said alum, authors, and industry-experts who are passionate about sharing their knowledge. Our speakers are local to cities where we have launched That's What She Said, and are involved with our mission to elevate the voices of women within our communities. If you are interested in becoming a speaker, let us know and we'll get in contact with you.
What topics do you cover in your breakout sessions?
Our breakout sessions vary from year to year, but we always try to offer a mixture of topics that focus on both personal and professional development. Past topics have focused on personal growth, storytelling, wellness, leadership, and empowerment. You can visit last year's website to see some more example's of past topics.
What will I take away from my sessions?
You can expect to come away from your sessions with new insights, tools, connections, and knowledge that can help you continue to pursue growth on the topic. These sessions are crafted not just to be attended and forgotten, but to leave you inspired and reflecting on how you can continue to develop and grow throughout your daily life. You'll come out of the conference feeling a new sense of empowerment and a deeper connection to the She Said community.
How many sessions can I attend?
All of our attendees will have the opportunity to attend our Keynote Session along with 3 breakout sessions. We offer 2 different tracks for each breakout session so that you can customize your experience to match your interests and make the most of this exciting opportunity.
Don't Miss Out
The Power of Storytelling Conference is an opportunity you simply can't afford to miss. Secure your ticket now and immerse yourself in a world of inspiration, learning, and connections. Join us for this transformative event, where you'll discover the strength of your own narrative, forge meaningful connections, and empower yourself to drive positive change both personally and professionally. Let the power of storytelling guide you on a journey of self-discovery and celebration of the incredible impact of women's voices.
© 2026 The She Said Project, All Rights Reserved.
The contents, experiences, and opinions shared by the speakers and presenter at the conference are their own and do not reflect the views of The She Said Project.
The She Said Project upholds that every woman has a right to be heard.