EXPERT ON:
◉ Motivation & Mindset
◉ Goal Setting & Achievement
◉ Overcoming Adversity
◉ Entrepreneurship & Innovation
◉ Customer Experience & Branding
◉ Leadership Development
◉ Effective Communication
◉ Decision-Making & Emotional Intelligence
◉ Faith in Action
◉ Legacy & Calling
EXPERIENCE:
◉ Transformed adversity into advantage, rising from poverty and addiction to a successful career in radio and playing a key role in launching Taylor Swift’s career through bold thinking and unconventional strategy.
◉ Dynamic keynote speaker known for his “Weird Wins” philosophy—teaching audiences how to leverage their uniqueness, navigate change, and make powerful pivots that create new opportunities.
◉ Early tech adopter and AI educator who has guided students, educators, and organizations on using emerging technology as a competitive advantage, empowering them to adapt, innovate, and lead in a rapidly changing world.
Rick Barker is proof that adversity can become an advantage when you stop hiding from your story and start owning it. Raised on food stamps, bouncing between schools, and battling addiction in his early years, Rick learned early that life doesn’t hand out shortcuts.
After getting clean, he rebuilt from the ground up, first through coaching soccer, then spending over 15 years living his dream in radio, and eventually helping launch the career of Taylor Swift. What made the difference wasn’t luck; it was Rick’s willingness to pivot, do things differently, and refuse to let his past dictate his future.
Today, Rick brings that same real-world resilience to stages across the country. His message blends personal transformation, high-impact storytelling, and practical tools for navigating change. Known for his “Weird Wins” philosophy, Rick shows audiences how their differences are their superpower and how bold pivots can open doors they never saw coming.
As a speaker who has embraced technology from the early days of MySpace to the rise of AI, Rick now teaches students, educators, and organizations how to use AI as a competitive advantage, not something to fear. His talks empower people to make smarter decisions, adapt quickly, and lead with confidence in a world that changes faster than ever.
