Barbara Ann Corcoran

 Barbara Ann Corcoran was a speaker, investor, and businesswoman from the United America. The Corcoran Group, an NYC real estate brokerage, was founded by Corcoran. NRT bought it in 2001 for $66 million. Corcoran then exited the business. Corcoran was one of ABC's initial Shark investors, has been a part of every episode of Shark Tank. In February of 2020, she has made 53 deals with the show, the largest being a $350,000 investment for 40 percent of Coverplay. Corcoran was born in Edgewater, New Jersey, the second child of 10 in a working class Irish-Catholic family. Florence, her mother, was an exemplary homemaker. Edwin W. Corcoran Jr. her father, was a multi-talented worker throughout Corcoran's childhood. Her family sometimes relied upon free food delivery from a nearby grocery store. Corcoran recalls her father as one who occasionally consumed too much alcohol and did her mother a disservice and contempt, particularly when he'd been drinking. Corcoran was a struggling student throughout school. Later, she discovered she was dyslexic. She was a student at a local Catholic elementary school, and then began high school at St. Cecilia High School in Englewood. Corcoran was absent from several classes in her first year, and then transferred to Leonia High School where she was an A student.