For nearly two decades, Barbara was the executive director of The HOPE Program, one of New York City's most effective workforce development nonprofits. Under her leadership, HOPE received the following: Charity Navigator’s highest four-star rating; “Best in America” seal of approval from the Local Independent Charities of America; the JPMorgan Chase Foundation award for “Best Practices in Workforce Development”; and was designated as one of The Economist Group’s “US Charities”; GE/NBC’s Women’s Network nonprofit partner; Goldman Sachs Capacity Partner and won the Robin Hood Hero award.

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Prior to coming to HOPE, Barbara worked in market research at AT&T, taught computer science to adults with physical disabilities at the University of Miami and math at Panama Canal College. In Iran, she was the founder and executive director of Community Adoption Services. Barbara has a BA in Mathematics and a MA in Experimental Psychology.