Candy Barone (the "Pull-No-Punches Accountability Powerhouse”), CEO of You Empowered Strong, is a leadership development expert, trainer and executive coach, as well as an international speaker and Amazon best-selling author.

She is a catalyst and change agent who works with executives and emerging leaders to help bring “heart” back to leadership while feeding the soul of their business. With nearly 20 years in corporate, combined with a bachelors degree in mechanical engineering, certification as a Six Sigma Black Belt, and an MBA, she is a master at building exceptional, high-performing teams, maximizing and leveraging ROI, growing emerging leaders, creating metrics for greater accountability, and catapulting individuals to achieve explosive growth.

Candy has delivered her message and leadership training into companies such as GE Healthcare, Clabber Girl, Northwestern University, Texas Tech, Northwestern Mutual, Austin Water Designs, to name just a few. She was named a 2014-15 VIP Woman of the Year by the National Association of Professional Women, was recipient of the 2015 Public Speakers Association Local Collaborator Award, and was nominated as a 2015 Profile in Power Central Texas Woman of Influence.

Candy also has been showcased in CNN, The Austin Statesman, Austin Business Journal, Be the Boss Magazine, OffBeat Business Magazine, The Chicago Tribune, ciLiving TV, along with numerous radio shows and podcasts. In addition, she serves as a call leader for the Evolutionary Business Council, a Partnering Director for the Public Speakers Association, is a member of the Good Deed Society, and volunteers within her community.

Candy currently lives in Austin with her dog, Payton, and enjoys her free time outdoors, spending time with friends, reading, or working out in the boxing gym.