Member since August 2026
Barb LeClair is the Founder of The ARK Impact Group, a leadership development and strengths based coaching firm named in honor of her late mother, whose initials were A.R.K. Barb’s work is rooted in her belief that when people understand how they are wired, how they communicate, and how others experience them, they unlock the clarity and confidence needed to lead with purpose.
Before launching The ARK, Barb served as Deputy Director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Training Center, where she led operations, marketing, and a team of 20 supporting leadership development across the National Institutes of Health. Her federal career also includes roles at the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), giving her a deep understanding of organizational culture, communication, and cross functional collaboration.
Barb’s workshops and talks are grounded in The LeClairity Model™, her signature three step framework that guides audiences through: • How you are wired (CliftonStrengths®) • How you communicate your strengths (Personal Branding) • How others experience you (Presence)
She speaks on leadership development, strengths, emotional intelligence, personal branding, and professional presence, helping teams and leaders uncover their strengths, tell their story, and own their greatness.
Barb brings warmth, energy, and a deeply human approach to every stage she steps onto.
Learn more at www.thearkimpactgroup.com.
I light up when I'm surrounded by the people and experiences that ground me. My friends and family, my husband Larry and our almost 18-year-old Corgi, Jack, who still shuffles his way through life with so much heart. I love starting my mornings with barre class, taking long walks, cooking and baking (they call me Barbie Crocker) for the people I care about, and volunteering with an organization called Future Link to support emerging talent. And yes.... I'm proud to be a Bravo reality show fan.
These moments of movement, connection, service, creativity and joy, fuel the energy and authenticity I bring to my work and to every audience I speak to.
One of my favorite speaking moments happened when I was asked to present on Personal Branding for NIH’s Management Seminar Series. As I started preparing, I realized something hilarious, the Real Housewives franchises on Bravo are actually masters of personal branding. Their opening taglines are short, memorable, and instantly recognizable. Even if you’ve never watched a full episode, you know exactly who each woman is supposed to be.
When I brought this into the session, the room lit up. Nearly everyone had seen at least one Housewives show, even a few of the men admitted they were fans! That moment taught me something important: personal branding doesn’t have to be stiff or corporate. It can be bold, fun, and deeply human.
And from that day forward, personal branding became my personal brand.
I never planned to start The ARK Impact Group — not at first. I loved my role as Deputy Director of the NIH Training Center, and I poured my heart into my team. But when I realized my time at NIH was coming to an end, something in me knew I wasn’t finished. I had more people to reach, more stories to hear, and more leaders to spark into understanding their strengths and owning their greatness.
Through long talks with my family, friends, and especially my husband Larry, I realized that what I loved most wasn’t the job title... it was the impact. And that clarity led me straight to my “a‑ha” moment.
My mother passed away in 2021, leaving an undeniable hole in my heart. She was my best friend, my cheerleader, and the person who always told me I could do anything I set my mind to. Years ago, while driving together in New Jersey, we laughed about my terrible singing and agreed I was a much better dancer. Then I asked her, “What are we really good at?” She smiled and said, “We make people feel good.”
She was right. That’s my superpower. I’m the person who says, “Good morning!” to everyone on a walk. I remember the small details people share and ask about them the next time I see them. I root for the underdog. Even when I get upset, I bounce back quickly because connection matters more.
So, when I created my company, I named it after her, The ARK Impact Group, honoring mom whose initials are A.R.K. A friend later reminded me that an “ark” carries you from one place to the next. That’s exactly what I hope to do: carry people into feeling good about themselves, understanding their strengths, and stepping into the leader they were meant to be.
This is an interactive, practical session where Barb LeClair helps professionals define who they are, what they stand for, and how they want to be known. Rooted in her signature The LeClairity Model™, Barb guides participants through the core elements of a personal brand — values, descriptive words, impact, and taglines— and teaches them how to communicate their identity with clarity and confidence. Ideal for emerging leaders, women’s leadership groups, early‑career professionals, and anyone seeking greater professional alignment, this session can be delivered as a 30‑minute talk, 60‑minute keynote, or 90‑minute workshop. Participants walk away with a clear brand statement, practical communication tools, and a renewed sense of purpose.
This is an engaging, strengths-based session where Barb LeClair teaches leaders, teams and employees how to understand how they are wired, communicate with clarity and create a professional presence that inspires trust and connection. Using elements of her signature The LeClairity Model™ and the CliftonStrengths® assessment, Barb helps participants identify their natural talents and translate them into confident, authentic leadership behaviors. Designed for emerging leaders, mid-level managers, senior leaders, high-potential employees and teams, this session can be delivered as a 30-minute teaser, 60-minute keynote, three-hour workshop or full or half-day session. Participants walk away with practical tools to elevate their confidence, strengthen relationships and make an impact that lasts long after the conversation ends. The session is highly valuable for organizations seeking stronger communication, collaboration and leadership effectiveness. Barb has delivered this session in-person or virtually to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Association of Surety Bond Producers (NASBP) and the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) of Maryland.
One of my favorite speaking moments happened when I was asked to present on Personal Branding for NIH’s Management Seminar Series. As I started preparing, I realized something hilarious, the Real Housewives franchises on Bravo are actually masters of personal branding. Their opening taglines are short, memorable, and instantly recognizable. Even if you’ve never watched a full episode, you know exactly who each woman is supposed to be.
When I brought this into the session, the room lit up. Nearly everyone had seen at least one Housewives show, even a few of the men admitted they were fans! That moment taught me something important: personal branding doesn’t have to be stiff or corporate. It can be bold, fun, and deeply human.
And from that day forward, personal branding became my personal brand.
I never planned to start The ARK Impact Group — not at first. I loved my role as Deputy Director of the NIH Training Center, and I poured my heart into my team. But when I realized my time at NIH was coming to an end, something in me knew I wasn’t finished. I had more people to reach, more stories to hear, and more leaders to spark into understanding their strengths and owning their greatness.
Through long talks with my family, friends, and especially my husband Larry, I realized that what I loved most wasn’t the job title... it was the impact. And that clarity led me straight to my “a‑ha” moment.
My mother passed away in 2021, leaving an undeniable hole in my heart. She was my best friend, my cheerleader, and the person who always told me I could do anything I set my mind to. Years ago, while driving together in New Jersey, we laughed about my terrible singing and agreed I was a much better dancer. Then I asked her, “What are we really good at?” She smiled and said, “We make people feel good.”
She was right. That’s my superpower. I’m the person who says, “Good morning!” to everyone on a walk. I remember the small details people share and ask about them the next time I see them. I root for the underdog. Even when I get upset, I bounce back quickly because connection matters more.
So, when I created my company, I named it after her, The ARK Impact Group, honoring mom whose initials are A.R.K. A friend later reminded me that an “ark” carries you from one place to the next. That’s exactly what I hope to do: carry people into feeling good about themselves, understanding their strengths, and stepping into the leader they were meant to be.
This is an interactive, practical session where Barb LeClair helps professionals define who they are, what they stand for, and how they want to be known. Rooted in her signature The LeClairity Model™, Barb guides participants through the core elements of a personal brand — values, descriptive words, impact, and taglines— and teaches them how to communicate their identity with clarity and confidence. Ideal for emerging leaders, women’s leadership groups, early‑career professionals, and anyone seeking greater professional alignment, this session can be delivered as a 30‑minute talk, 60‑minute keynote, or 90‑minute workshop. Participants walk away with a clear brand statement, practical communication tools, and a renewed sense of purpose.
This is an engaging, strengths-based session where Barb LeClair teaches leaders, teams and employees how to understand how they are wired, communicate with clarity and create a professional presence that inspires trust and connection. Using elements of her signature The LeClairity Model™ and the CliftonStrengths® assessment, Barb helps participants identify their natural talents and translate them into confident, authentic leadership behaviors. Designed for emerging leaders, mid-level managers, senior leaders, high-potential employees and teams, this session can be delivered as a 30-minute teaser, 60-minute keynote, three-hour workshop or full or half-day session. Participants walk away with practical tools to elevate their confidence, strengthen relationships and make an impact that lasts long after the conversation ends. The session is highly valuable for organizations seeking stronger communication, collaboration and leadership effectiveness. Barb has delivered this session in-person or virtually to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Association of Surety Bond Producers (NASBP) and the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) of Maryland.