"It was a man's world": When Shark Tank's Barbara Corcoran recalled stealing the limelight from her competitors

Shark Tank mentor Barbara Corcoran appeared on fellow Shark Jamie Kern Lima's podcast episode on December 3, 2024. The episode titled Shark Tank’s Barbara Corcoran Reveals All + Secrets to Success YOU Can Apply to YOUR Life Today! featured the female entrepreneur discussing various things.

It included recalling how she entered the business world and how it was a "man's world" back then. The host, Jamie Kern Lima, discussed being "a woman in business," she asked Barbara to share her insights related to being "underestimated" and using it to your "advantage."

"Listen, when I started, my business was a man's world. All the businesses were owned by men. They were worked by women. There was no woman in sight. So, I felt initially that I had some disadvantages, was not the case. I was invisible. There's a great power to being invisible, coming up from the rear, and taking over, and that's exactly what I did. I was able to steal my competitors, which are much bigger than me," said Barbara.

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Shark Tank mentor Barbara Corcoran discusses being in the business among "much bigger" competitors

Shark Tank's Barbara stated that when she entered the business, it was a "man's world." She felt that she was "invisible" and that it was a "great power." She mentioned that being invisible meant that her competitors couldn't see her coming. While doing that, she was also able to "steal" her "much bigger" competitors.

The female entrepreneur also recalled that by getting the "media coverage" that her competitors were not getting, she "stole" the limelight.

"That's really what I used to build my business. But certainly, being invisible is a wonderful, wonderful advantage. I can't say I ever thought of myself in business as a woman," said Barbara.

Referring to how some female individuals might have a different mindset, Barbara criticized such females and stated that she never thought being a woman was at her "disadvantage." In contrast to that, she saw herself as a fellow competitor.

Recalling an incident, the Shark Tank mentor stated if she were to sit next to a man who owned the "biggest firm" in town and if he treated her as a "nobody," then:

"I would just say quietly to myself, 'Not very nice. Wait till you see what I'm going to do to you.' I would dwell on it and really plot how I was gonna get that guy because he showed me no respect, and I wanted to get his respect. Why did I even care? I'm not even sure why."

Further in the podcast, Shark Tank investor said that there was more than one way to win "respect." She said that it was not about "saying something clever" or "wearing the most beautiful suit." According to Barbara Corcoran, it was about being "smarter" and "more aggressive."

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Fans can catch both Sharks, Jamie Kern Lima and Barbara Corcoran, on Shark Tank Season 16, streaming on ABC.