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About Barbara
Empowerment Coach and Story Weaver
Barbara Bray is an award-winning author, podcast host, and international keynote speaker with over 30 years of expertise empowering women, educators, and thought leaders to navigate meaningful life transitions with clarity and confidence. As a cancer survivor and Story Weaver, she is known for listening deeply and helping people uncover purpose and possibility within their lived experiences. Through her Grow Your Why Collective and signature Purpose ShiftTM Values Framework, Barbara guides clients to reclaim their voice, self-advocate, and become unstoppable—amplifying their influence, impact, and income, even in uncertain times.
Why Purpose Matters
In 2017, she launched the Rethinking Learning podcast, exploring stories and ideas that define who we are as humans—and why purpose matters. These conversations became the foundation of her book, Define Your Why: Own Your Story So You Can Live and Learn on Purpose, which encourages individuals to claim their stories and live with intention. This book includes Barbara’s story and 26 vignettes from educators, innovators, and changemakers, plus activities, tips, and questions for readers.
As her work evolved, Barbara expanded her focus to learner agency, advocacy, and transferable skills—helping educators, leaders, and learners reach their fullest potential in an ever-changing AI world.
A Bridge Between Hearts
Barbara’s self-published book, Grow Your Why: One Story at a Time, features 23 personal stories from inspirational contributing authors who overcame obstacles to live on purpose. Through these stories, readers discover how purpose becomes a bridge between hearts—and a catalyst for meaningful change. The contributing authors poured their hearts into the story that mattered to them and narrated their chapter for the audiobook. This book has received amazing testimonials, a glowing Book Shelfie review, and a “Best Book” Award Finalist for nonfiction narratives.
Life Changing Event
In 2023, Barbara was diagnosed with lung cancer, had a lower right lung lobectomy, and is in a 5-year clinical trial. She never smoked and realized life can change in a moment. Having cancer changed Barbara when she realized how little time we really have. She decided to focus even more on her WHY: to inspire others to share their stories. That’s when she ramped up her podcasts, writing, and coaching others. She started the Real Talk with Barbara and Nicole podcast about Authenticity in a Polarized Society with Nicole Biscotti.
Growing Her WHY
Barbara explored human skills in an AI world and was a founding member of the Human Intelligence Movement. She wrote about feelings using AI as a thought partner, writing the story and co-designing the illustrations in her children’s book, “Emma’s Magical Feelings Journey" to be released soon.
The people Barbara interviews expand her thinking by listening more deeply and supporting her guests with coaching and mentoring. Through Grow Your Why and her Signature Purpose Shift: Values Framework, Barbara guides women, educators, and thought leaders experiencing pivotal life moments to move from feeling stuck to becoming unstoppable—amplifying their influence, impact, and income, even in uncertain times.
Reach out to Barbara so you can define and grow your WHY to live and learn on purpose, even in these uncertain times.
Contact Barbara
Cell: (510) 593-7835
Email: barbara.bray@gmail.com
- Host, Rethinking Learning Podcast
- Author, Define Your Why: Own your story so you can live and learn on purpose
- Co-Author, Make Learning Personal and How to Personalize Learning (link)
- Co-Host, Real Talk with Barbara and Nicole” Podcast
- Author, Grow Your Why… One Story at a Time
- Publishing Website, Why Press Publishing
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