Today we’d like to introduce you to Barbara Khozam.
Hi Barbara, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I didn’t set out to become a professional speaker and consultant — it just sort of happened. I’ve always been fascinated by people and communication, but I actually started my career in a chemistry lab. Yep — a B.S. in Chemistry and ten years as a chemist! The only part of that job I truly loved was training others — especially teaching sales reps how to use medical diagnostic equipment in real-world settings – which was maybe 10% of my work. The rest? Not so much.
So, I did something wild — I quit. (Don’t do that! 😄) I had no plan and no prospects. Eight long, quiet months later, I joined a seminar company that sent trainers around the world teaching professional development. And from the very first day, I knew. That was it. I had found the thing I was meant to do. Inspiring people, making them laugh, and seeing those “aha!” moments — it filled me with joy.
For ten years, I spoke for that company while simultaneously living another dream — playing professional beach volleyball on the AVP tour. Talk about learning discipline, focus, and resilience!
After a decade, I was ready for more — more creativity, more freedom, and, frankly, better treatment. So I quit (again!) without a plan. A month later, I attended a training seminar for Constant Contact, where I happened to meet a woman looking for a trainer for her healthcare consulting company. Boom. That’s how I found my niche.
It made perfect sense. My mom spent much of her life in and out of doctors’ offices and hospitals, so I had seen firsthand how powerful both extraordinary and not-so-extraordinary service can be. Working in healthcare allowed me to blend purpose with passion — helping people communicate better and care more deeply.
Now, through Barbara Khozam, Inc., I work with healthcare organizations (about 80% of my business), as well as wineries, equipment rental companies, veterinary practices, dental and optometry offices, call centers, and even plumbers and waste management companies. My work is guided by one simple motto:
“Bringing manners back to business.”
Because when leaders treat employees well, employees treat customers well. Period.
“Blow their mind, just be kind.”
“The more you explain, the less they complain.”
These aren’t just fun rhymes — they’re philosophies that shape how I live and work every single day.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Oh boy, where do I start? I feel like I still have challenges every day.
In my chemistry years, the challenge was finding joy in work I didn’t love. I made the best of it by focusing on my coworkers, staying positive, and doing things I loved after hours — like volleyball. That perseverance came from my dad, a hardworking law enforcement officer (and eventually the county sheriff!). He taught me the value of showing up and doing your best, no matter what.
Running my own speaking and consulting business is incredibly rewarding — but it’s not easy. I do everything myself: marketing, travel, finances, proposals, content creation. And like many entrepreneurs, I’ve been distracted by “shiny object syndrome” — new programs, coaches, courses, tools. I’ve spent thousands trying to “crack the code,” but the truth is simpler: focus on a few things and do them really well.
Most of my business still comes from referrals and repeat clients. I’ve learned that while it’s great to have a beautiful website and fancy tech tools, none of that matters if people don’t trust you or see your value.
“Technology is nice, but trust is better.”
And of course, the pandemic threw everyone a curveball. When live events disappeared, I had to reinvent my business overnight — going virtual, reworking content, and finding ways to keep audiences engaged on a screen. It was scary, but it made me more adaptable and creative than ever.
As you know, we’re big fans of Barbara Khozam, Inc.. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
Through Barbara Khozam, Inc., I help leaders and teams improve customer and patient experiences through interactive training, customized consulting, and a healthy dose of humor. I’m known for my deep research — mystery calls, visits, and interviews that reveal what’s really happening in an organization before I ever step on stage or lead a session.
That preparation allows me to design presentations that aren’t just inspiring, but relevant and actionable. I don’t just tell people to “be nice.” I show them how to build workflows and habits that make excellent service the natural outcome — not the exception.
What sets me apart is energy, empathy, and authenticity. Whether I’m speaking to doctors, managers, or frontline staff, my message is the same: kindness and accountability can coexist — and when they do, magic happens.
“When people feel valued, they act valuable.”
If we knew you growing up, how would we have described you?
I grew up in a little town in Northern California called San Juan Bautista, on a ranch with horses, cattle, and wide-open space. My horse, Shu-Shu, was my psycholog What were you like growing up? Personality wise, interest wise, etc.
ist — I’d ride her almost every day and tell her everything.
I was the youngest of four and, believe it or not, painfully shy. I’d literally hide behind my mom’s skirts when she talked to people. But she made sure we tried everything — ballet, tumbling, bowling, ice skating — you name it. I wasn’t great at any of it, but I loved the variety.
Then, one day in high school, something shifted. I saw a sticker on a classmate’s notebook that said, “Why Be Normal?” and it hit me: Yeah — why? From that day forward, I stopped worrying about what others thought and started being my goofy, silly self. My mom said I came home a completely different person.
I loved that phrase so much I even bought the bumper sticker — and later, a personalized license plate that read “LMRN B Y” (“Why Be Normal” spelled backwards!). Yep, I was all in.
That lesson carried into my speaking career. At first, I tried to copy other speakers — polished, serious, lectern-bound types. But that wasn’t me. Then I saw a speaker run up the aisle, full of energy and authenticity. That’s when I realized — it’s okay to be me.
I started playing volleyball at 25 (late bloomer!), worked my way up from novice to open level, and eventually played professionally on the AVP Tour from 2000 to 2005. Those years taught me persistence, humility, and how to laugh through the sand burns.
Through it all, my mom’s advice stuck:
“Kill them with kindness.”
She meant: lead with grace, patience, and a genuine desire to understand others. It works on coworkers, customers, family members — pretty much everyone. And on the rare days it doesn’t? Kindness still keeps you grounded, centered, and proud of how you showed up.
Through all of that — the shyness, the “Why Be Normal?” awakening, the horse therapy rides, the late-blooming leap into volleyball, and eventually standing on stages all over the world — I learned that joy, kindness, and authenticity are real superpowers. And that’s the heart of my work today. I help people communicate with compassion, lead with humanity, and remember that work can actually be fun. Because when we let ourselves be real and treat others with kindness, everything gets better — at home, at work, everywhere.
Why be normal when being yourself is so much more fun — especially when you’re kind.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://barbarakhozam.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bnkhozam/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/barbarakhozam
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/barbarakhozam/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/BarbaraKhozam
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@barbara.khozam
