Barbara Corcoran had a less-than-stellar academic record, earning straight D’s in high school and college, and had held 20 different jobs by the time she turned 23. However, it was her next venture that would prove to be a turning point in her career. She took out a loan of $1,000 and quit her job as a waitress to establish a small real estate company in New York City. This company would go on to become the Corcoran Group, a well-known and highly successful brand in the real estate brokerage industry.

Corcoran is a bestselling author, having written “Shark Tales: How I Turned $1,000 into a Billion Dollar Business!” She is also the host of the popular business podcast “Business Unusual with Barbara Corcoran.”

In addition to her successful business ventures, Corcoran is also a sought-after motivational speaker and contributor on various networks, providing insights and expertise on small business and real estate. For the past 11 seasons, she has been a “Shark” on the four-time Emmy award-winning TV show Shark Tank, investing in over 80 businesses to date