Barb Monson is a Leadership and Career Advisor who helps ambitious professionals get the visibility and influence their work deserves. A former CFO (yes, the accountant who doesn’t act like it), Barb brings practical insight and a sharp sense of humor to topics like visibility, influence, and organizational dynamics.
She works with high performers who do excellent work but don’t always get credit when everything runs smoothly. Barb helps people translate their value into language decision-makers recognize, adapt how they show up in different rooms, and get noticed without becoming louder, flashier, or someone they’re not.
4 reviews
Chris D.
September 25, 2023Barb gave a terrific presentation to our women’s conference this weekend. She was fun, engaging and energetic and offered many gold nuggets to help me in my business. I highly recommend her for your events.
Hired as: Business Motivational Speaker
Barb Monson / Move Your Mountain
Thanks for the review, Chris! I am so glad you found value in what I taught on goal setting, despite being quite an expert yourself. :)
It was a pleasure getting to know more about you and the great work you're doing!
Sara D.
September 7, 2023Barb Monson is an incredibly passionate and connected speaker. She knows how to read a room and work a room. I saw her speak in July 2023 and her perspective on goal-setting was so valuable. As someone who resists "SMART" goal-setting, Barb's talk made me feel like I could still "move mountains" by setting goals in a way that would work for ME. I highly recommend you hire Barb for your next corporate event, conference or event. She's incredible!
Hired as: Leadership/Success Speaker
Barb Monson / Move Your Mountain
Sara, that was such a fun event and I'm so blessed to see you there! Thanks for the feedback... and I can't wait to see where your goals take you!
Barb
Michelle S.
September 7, 2023I appreciated Barb's approach for her authenticity and humor, and she really encouraged the audience to focus on the steps she provided for personal development. Her empowering speaking resonated with anyone in the audience facing challenges (and who is NOT facing some sort of challenge?)
Hired as: Business Motivational Speaker
Barb Monson / Move Your Mountain
Michelle, getting to know you has been a delight! I'm so glad you were positively impacted by what I delivered. Thank you!!
Barb
Wendy B.
August 3, 2023Barb spoke to my group about bridging the expection gap between employees and the leadership team. She was engaging and funny. She honed in on how to communicate in a way that is respectful of boundaries, brought out insightful ways to feel seen and heard (on both sides of the coin) and helped unify the workplace. Would definitely recommend hiring Barb for your next event!
Hired as: Business Motivational Speaker, Leadership/Success Speaker
Barb Monson / Move Your Mountain
Thanks for your feedback and the opportunity, Wendy! You have a special ability to gather great people in the room. It was an honor and pleasure!
Price range: $2500 - $7500
Languages: English
Gig length: 30 - 90 minutes
Barb offers two versions of her signature speech, "Chameleons & Peacocks: How To Stand Out At Work, a 45 minute speech and a 3.5 hour workshop.
Influence and opportunity require visibility, but being visible at work isn't about becoming louder or more polished. It's about knowing when to blend in, when to stand out, and how to communicate your unique value in both moments.
Barb's 45 minute session addresses a common challenge for professionals whose work often goes unnoticed when everything runs smoothly: how to gain visibility without feeling "showy."
1. Here are some of the key takeaways after hearing Barb talk:
2. Learn when to blend in vs. when to stand out, and how to adapt each one to your style
3. Learn how to position yourself for opportunity based on your value
4. Learn how to navigate the connections that drive advancement
The audience walks away with a practical framework to create a workplace visibility strategy that leads to real influence and opportunity.
Barb's 3.5 hour interactive workshop expands on the core Chameleons & Peacocks framework, guiding participants through practical exercises to identify what truly sets them apart and how to use it intentionally at work and beyond.
Through a hands-on values exercise and guided writing, participants clarify the professional strengths and principles they want to be known for, then turn that insight into language they can use in conversations that matter: interviews, networking, team meetings, and performance reviews.
Following the workshop participants will be able to:
1. Identify and prioritize personal superpowers that drive their best work.
2. Translate their strengths into clear, authentic language that communicates their value (both in the room and online).
3. Learn specific strategies to demonstrate visibility in four contexts: current role, LinkedIn presence, networking, and job search.
4. Understand how and when to use each technique without becoming someone they're not.
Participants walk away with a complete visibility strategy, ready-to-use talking points, and the confidence to stand out for the right reasons, in this job and the next.
Barb Monson is a Leadership and Career Consultant who helps professionals cut through the noise and finally get noticed at work. A former CFO (yes, the executive who doesn’t act like one), Barb brings an insider’s perspective on what leaders and decision-makers really look for—without the jargon or the boring slides.
With 26 years in corporate finance and executive leadership, Barb knows firsthand the challenges of standing out in high-pressure environments and earning influence with different leadership styles. Today, she translates those experiences into lively, practical talks that equip audiences to build visibility, influence, and confidence in ways that actually stick.
Her signature keynote, "Chameleons & Peacocks: How To Stand Out At Work," gives participants a fresh, funny, and deeply practical framework for showing up authentically while commanding attention in any professional room. Whether she’s coaching rising leaders one-on-one, guiding teams through transitions, or speaking on big stages, Barb’s superpower is helping people see what’s possible—and giving them the tools to make it real.
Audiences describe her as insightful, relatable, and refreshingly candid. She leaves people with those “aha” moments that spark real change, along with strategies they can put to work the very next day.
TECHNICAL REQUEST
THANKS for your interest in hiring Barb Monson for your event. Below are her setting and AV requirements. Please send Barb a message with any questions or concerns.
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1) Settings: Please schedule Barb Monson’s presentation in a well-lit, climate-controlled room free from public address announcements, music, heavy foot traffic and other noises and distractions.
2) Audio Visual:
a. Projector and screen for slides
b. Stage lighting and/or spotlight to make certain Barb is visible on stage
c. Sound system to amplify Barb’s voice and through which to play sound (when necessary) from the computer adequate for the entire audience to hear
d. Remote control to advance slides
e. Headset microphone preferred. Lavalier microphone second preference. Handheld microphones are acceptable if the other two are not available.
Business Motivational Speaker
