Bring Carol Barkes to Your Stage
Carol doesn’t just deliver keynotes. She reshapes how audiences think about conflict, communication, and leadership. With a unique blend of neuroscience, storytelling, and real-world experience, her talks are engaging, immediately practical, and built to stick.
Whether she’s speaking at the United Nations, training courtroom professionals, or equipping executive teams, Carol’s presentations leave people with tools they can use and a perspective they won’t forget.
Speaking Topics That Engage, Equip, and Transform
Each talk is customized to the audience and designed to meet them where they are. From navigating tough conversations to leading through tension, Carol’s most requested topics blend cutting-edge science with strategies that work in the real world.
What if you could see inside someone’s brain during an argument? Carol explains what really happens when people shut down, lash out, or disengage, and how to shift those moments toward productive outcomes.
Learn how to talk through hard things without escalating tension. This session gives the tools to communicate clearly under pressure; ideal for leaders, parents, and teams.
This keynote reveals why the most effective negotiations happen when you drop the intimidation tactics and embrace authentic human connection instead. You’ll discover how vulnerability, empathy, and genuine collaboration create better outcomes than any high-pressure strategy ever could.
Whether you work in law enforcement, education, or healthcare, this training helps you respond to conflict without causing harm. It’s built for high-stress fields where calm saves lives.
In this powerful keynote, renowned mediator Carol Barkes reveals how changing the narratives we tell ourselves and others can transform the most challenging business conflicts into opportunities for breakthrough connection and resolution.
Carol delivered one of the most valuable presentations our CFO forum has ever hosted. Her neuroscience-based approach to conflict and negotiation was not only fascinating, it was immediately actionable. She helped our finance leaders see conflict in a whole new light: not as something to avoid, but as a tool for innovation and stronger relationships. The feedback from our members has been outstanding.
Why Audiences Trust Carol Barkes
-
Top 1% Mediator Globally
Over 14,000 cases mediated with a 95% resolution rate. -
Recognized Neuroscience Expert
Named top neuroscience-based conflict expert by Fox News. -
2x TEDx + UN Keynote Speaker
More than 2 million views on the first TEDx talk alone -
Real-World Experience
From the courtroom to corporate teams, Carol knows how to meet people where they are, and make neuroscience interesting and easy. -
Custom Content for Every Event
Each presentation is tailored to the goals, challenges, and tone of your audience. -
Speaker with Heart and Humor
Carol’s style is both grounded and engaging, leaving audiences feeling informed and inspired.
Carol’s Speaking Experience
Carol is a sought-after global speaker trusted by institutions navigating conflict at the highest level. She has delivered talks at the United Nations Headquarters and on multiple TEDx stages, where she reshapes how leaders think about negotiation, neuroscience, and high-pressure decision-making.
Her 2024 TEDx talk, The Neuroscience of Conflict, became the 19th most watched TEDx talk in the world that year, gaining over 2 million views in just eight months. It’s not just her experience that sets her apart, it’s the impact of her message.
If You’re Facing Conflict That Feels Impossible
It’s not. But you can’t settle for a checkbox agreement that avoids the real issues. You need a space where resolution feels right, clear, and complete.
Test heading