What Barnes & Conti Associates does

Barnes & Conti Associates, Inc. is a private leadership development and organizational learning firm headquartered in Berkeley, California. Founded approximately 30 years ago (firmographic year_founded 1985; an internal timeline gives 1993) and led by CEO B. Kim Barnes, the firm designs, develops and delivers experiential learning programs covering six practice areas: Influence and Communication, Innovation and Risk-Taking, Decision-Making and Problem-Solving, Leadership Skills and Development, Internal Consulting, and Change Management. The portfolio comprises 22 core training programs built around proprietary, trademarked frameworks — most notably Exercising Influence™, Managing Innovation®, Constructive Debate™, and Consulting on the Inside™. Programs are available virtually and in-person, customized for client organizations, and supported by a global facilitator and partner network with partner hubs such as ENTHEO (UK); published materials have been translated into 13 languages. The firm serves enterprise and institutional clients across healthcare, technology, financial services, education, government, and manufacturing, with named users including Abbott Laboratories, Cisco Systems, CitiGroup, Medtronic, NetApp, UC Berkeley Haas, the U.S. Department of Energy, and San Francisco General Hospital.

The commercial model is professional services: customized, contact-priced enterprise engagements delivered by Barnes & Conti facilitators and global partners, with multi-year enterprise contracts. Revenue is supplemented by book royalties across the published IP (Exercising Influence published by Wiley; Building Better Ideas by Berrett-Koehler; Consulting on the Inside by ASTD Press; Self-Navigation; and a corporate mystery fiction series), by open-enrollment public programs and webinars (notably the recurring Exercising Influence webinar series running through 2025), and by two consumer-facing mobile reference applications. Go-to-market is primarily direct enterprise field sales with content marketing support via blog, LinkedIn, YouTube, and a gated resource library.

Technically, the underlying "platform" is human-delivered experiential learning rather than software. The defensible technology layer is intellectual property: program curricula, proprietary frameworks (e.g., the N.E.W.S. navigation model co-developed with Aviad Goz; Managing Innovation co-developed with Dr. David Francis of the University of Brighton), trademarks, and copyrighted book content. There is no public AI/ML component, API, or SDK; the digital infrastructure consists of the corporate website (barnesconti.com), virtual learning capabilities, a blog dating to 2007, and two mobile reference apps. Headcount is in the 11–50 band per firmographic data, and the company is privately held with no disclosed institutional funding, no subsidiaries, no M&A activity, and no parent entity.

Name

Barnes & Conti Associates

Legal name

Barnes & Conti Associates, Inc.

Website

https://barnesconti.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1993

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Barnes & Conti Associates is a Berkeley-based leadership development firm designing trademarked, experiential training programs in influence, innovation, change management, leadership, and internal consulting, delivered virtually and in-person to enterprise clients across healthcare, technology, finance, education, and government.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Berkeley

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Skills Training Programs: Barnes & Conti designs, develops, and delivers experiential learning programs for organizations in both virtual and in-person formats. Programs cover influence, leadership, innovation, negotiation, change management, and internal consulting. Revenue is generated through program delivery to corporate clients.
2. Book Publishing: The company publishes books through major publishers including Wiley (Exercising Influence), Berrett-Koehler (Building Better Ideas), and ASTD Press (Consulting on the Inside). Revenue from book sales supplements primary training services.
3. Public Programs and Webinars: Open enrollment virtual programs and webinars available to individuals and organizations, including the Exercising Influence webinar series for 2024 and 2025.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Barnes & Conti Associates designs, develops, and delivers experiential learning programs that build influence, leadership, innovation, negotiation, change-management, and internal-consulting skills for individuals and teams inside organizations. Offerings are delivered as customized in-house programs, public virtual programs and webinars, books, mobile reference apps, and Learning Journeys, with materials translated into more than 13 languages and supported by a global partner network. The firm sells primarily to enterprise, education, healthcare, and government clients seeking to improve interpersonal and organizational 'difficult skills' at scale.

Product overview

Barnes & Conti Associates is a leadership development and training firm offering experiential learning programs. The portfolio consists of 22 core training programs organized across six practice areas: Influence & Communication (5 programs including flagship Exercising Influence), Innovation & Risk-Taking (5 programs including Managing Innovation), Change Management (2 programs), Decision-Making & Problem-Solving (3 programs), Leadership (4 programs), and Internal Consulting (3 programs). The company also publishes books by CEO B. Kim Barnes and co-authors, offers two mobile reference apps, and provides virtual learning capabilities. Programs are available both virtually and in-person, with a global facilitator network serving diverse industries.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Exercising Influence: Flagship influence skills training program and book teaching how to accomplish more with less effort through developing effective influence behaviors.
• Managing Innovation
• Constructive Debate
• The Mastery of Change
• Inspirational Leadership
• Consulting on the Inside

Products and services

• Exercising Influence Flagship experiential skills training program teaching influence behaviors and strategic approaches for accomplishing more with less effort across work, home, and community settings; widely described as the company's most popular influence training program.
• Constructive Negotiation Training program focused on negotiation skills and techniques for achieving mutually beneficial outcomes.
• Influential Negotiation Advanced negotiation program combining influence techniques with negotiation strategies.
• Conflict: From Prevention to Resolution Program addressing organizational conflict management from preventive measures through resolution strategies.
• Art of Communication Training program developing expressive and receptive communication skills for professional settings.
• Managing Innovation Skills training program for leaders and managers on driving innovation and creating value in organizations, co-developed with Dr. David Francis of the University of Brighton.
• Intelligent Risk-Taking Program teaching skills to identify, assess, and manage risks associated with innovation and change initiatives.
• Creating a Culture for Risk & Innovation Program helping organizations build environments that support and encourage innovation and intelligent risk-taking.
• The Influential Innovator Training program combining influence skills with innovation capabilities for driving new ideas forward.
• Applied Creativity Program developing creative thinking skills and techniques for generating innovative solutions.
• Mastery of Change Comprehensive change management program helping individuals and organizations navigate transitions effectively.
• Talking Straight Program focused on direct communication and feedback skills for handling difficult conversations.
• Strategic Thinking Program developing analytical and strategic thinking capabilities for better decision-making.
• Puzzles, Mysteries, and Muddles Problem-solving program using analytical techniques to address complex organizational challenges.
• Constructive Debate Program teaching teams to engage in productive debate that improves ideas and leads to better decisions while maintaining positive relationships.
• Inspirational Leadership Leadership development program focused on developing skills to inspire and motivate teams toward exceptional performance.
• Leading World-Class Teams Program for building high-performing collaborative teams with shared purpose and values.
• Leading Remote Teams through Influence Program addressing unique challenges of remote team leadership using influence-based approaches.
• C.O.A.C.H. for Peak Performance Coaching methodology program providing a structured framework for developing peak performer behaviors.
• Consulting on the Inside Skills training program helping internal consultants build effective consulting practices within their organizations.
• The Influential Internal Consultant Program focused on influence skills specifically for internal consulting and change agent roles.
• Facilitating Forward Program developing facilitation skills for leading productive meetings and group sessions.
• Exercising Influence (book) Guide for making things happen at work, at home, and in your community; Third Edition published by Wiley, featuring updated examples and new chapters on social media, team influence, and neuroscience research.
• Building Better Ideas (book) Book on constructive debate methodology showing teams how to eliminate obstacles to honest discussion and create better ideas and outcomes.
• Consulting on the Inside (book) Practical guide for internal consultants, Second Edition published by ASTD Press, covering role design, client relationships, and practice development.
• Self-Navigation (book) Guide for navigating life and career using a personal compass model based on the N.E.W.S. methodology; co-authored with Aviad Goz.
• Murder on the 33rd Floor (book) Corporate mystery novel featuring internal organizational consultant Sarah Hawthorne as protagonist.
• Murder on Retreat (book) Sequel corporate mystery novel continuing the Sarah Hawthorne detective series.
• Lead the Pack (book) Innovation book by Nelson Soken and Wil Wengert exploring psychological factors influencing innovation from customer and company perspectives.
• Influence Reference App Mobile application providing quick access to influence skills reference materials and techniques.
• Managing Innovation Reference App Mobile application for accessing innovation management frameworks and reference materials.

Quantifiable outcome

• 65% of executives are disappointed with their ability to stimulate innovation (McKinsey survey cited in article)
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• ENTHEOcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2007London, UK-based innovation and change agency joining Barnes & Conti's global partner network. ENTHEO focuses not just on the 'what?' of innovation but the 'how?' - helping companies achieve innovation outcomes. Represents Barnes & Conti's expansion of European reach through a strategic partner specializing in innovation and change.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• FranklinCovey: Global training and consulting firm offering leadership, influence, and performance programs (e.g., The 7 Habits). Directly comparable to Barnes & Conti in delivering enterprise leadership development programs with branded IP and global delivery.
• Center for Creative Leadership (CCL): Nonprofit leadership development provider offering programs, assessments, and coaching for executives and teams. Comparable to Barnes & Conti in focus on experiential leadership training and serving enterprise clients across industries.
• DDI (Development Dimensions International): Global leadership and talent development firm offering training, assessments, and consulting for leadership pipelines. Directly comparable to Barnes & Conti in enterprise leadership training with proprietary methodologies.
• The Ken Blanchard Companies: Management training and consulting firm built around Blanchard leadership IP (e.g., Situational Leadership, The One Minute Manager). Closely mirrors Barnes & Conti's model of trademarked leadership programs delivered to enterprise clients via global facilitators.
• Dale Carnegie Training: Long-standing global training organization offering courses in leadership, communication, influence, and interpersonal skills. Directly comparable to Barnes & Conti in skills-based training for professionals with branded global delivery.
• Wilson Learning: Global provider of leadership, sales, and interpersonal skills training with proprietary frameworks. Comparable to Barnes & Conti in delivering branded skills programs to large enterprises via a global network.
• Crucial Learning: Training company formed from the merger of VitalSmarts and The Other 80, offering courses on influence, dialogue, change, and leadership skills. Directly overlaps with Barnes & Conti's core focus areas of influence, change management, and interpersonal skills.
• BTS Group: Strategy execution and leadership development consulting firm working with global enterprises. Comparable to Barnes & Conti in experiential leadership and change programs delivered to Fortune 500 clients, though with a heavier simulation/methodology focus.

Broad incumbents

• Korn Ferry: Global organizational consulting firm with a substantial leadership and professional development practice. Comparable to Barnes & Conti in serving enterprise leadership development needs, but operates at much larger scale and as part of a broader consulting portfolio.
• Heidrick & Struggles (Leadership Advisory): Global leadership advisory firm offering executive coaching, leadership development, and culture services. Comparable to Barnes & Conti in leadership development offerings for senior executives, though broader in scope as part of an executive search and advisory platform.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/barnescontimedia
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/barnesconti
• Xx.com/BarnesConti

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Barnes & Conti Associates