Barbara Guterman Career Highlights
- At the young age of 23, Barbara saw an untapped market opportunity in the telecommunications industry and co-created one of the nation’s first competitive local phone companies. At the age of 30, Barbara’s company was the first in her industry to go public and was regarded by Wall Street as a” leading edge” company. Under her team’s leadership, the company raised over $80 million dollars and grew to over 5000 employees, providing competitive local and long-distance voice and data services to customers nationwide. She was widely recognized for these achievements and was featured in the September 1995 edition of Forbes magazine as a “Woman with a Mission”.
- Barbara has the distinction of being the first person to don the cover of Readers Digest, where she was highlighted as a distinguished woman entrepreneur. In addition, she was recognized as Ernst and Young’s 1997 Florida Entrepreneur of the Year, for her efforts in building Intermedia Communications. Barbara received her bachelor’s degree in Telecommunication from the University of Florida in 1985 and an MBA from the University of South Florida in 1993, where she was also named USF’s Entrepreneur of the Year in 1993.
- Barbara is currently a Mentor and Partner in several startup businesses and runs a Women’s speakers series called Teach Give Inspire Fridays, a platform that allows women the opportunity to empower themselves, their families, and their communities. TGIF now in its 8th year has delivered its powerful community events to over 2,500 women highlighting 75 powerful women speakers.
- Barbara is passionate about helping women and non-profits find their authentic voices in the community and in life through public speaking coaching business, Barbara Guterman Consulting.
- Barbara is an active advocate and proud supporter for many causes She has served on the board of KEEN Greater DC as its Vice President for the last 16 years. She is the immediate past president of Congregation Bna’i Tzedek in Potomac Maryland having served from 2022 to 2024. She is currently President of the Board of So What Else, LLC, and the current Chairman for the Menorah Life Foundation Board in S. Petersburg Florida.