
Bill Barnett
Career Coach • Financial Literacy Advocate • Speaker • Author of Smarter Minds
Bill Barnett’s career spans decades in media, education, and entrepreneurship—launching companies, building brands, and helping others grow. After expanding the groundbreaking Radio Aahs children’s network (which evolved into Radio Disney) and producing brand integrations for Warner Bros. TV, Bill pivoted from storytelling to skill-building.
In 2008, he founded LikeLive, a digital platform that helped students showcase themselves through video interviews—first to colleges, then to employers. The platform was ultimately acquired by ETS, the world’s largest educational testing organization.
Today, Bill leads the Smarter Minds Network and its flagship program, Playbook for Life—a fast-paced, high-impact course built to equip Gen Z with the tools to thrive. From mastering money and mindset to building networks and understanding real-world success, Bill helps young people—and the parents, educators, and communities around them—navigate the life skills schools don’t teach.
Bill’s version of success starts with one core belief: you don’t need more time—you need a better playbook. He teaches people how to turn strengths into strategy, how to recruit and leverage smarter minds, and how to recognize the difference between owned money (investments) and rented money (your paycheck). His approach is direct, relatable, and grounded in real-world wins—not textbook theory.
He reminds students that every day’s an interview, and that likability, humility, and clarity matter just as much as talent. Through workshops, speaking, and coaching, Bill provides what most institutions don’t: practical tools to build income, confidence, and long-term wealth.
He also works with transitioning veterans and underserved groups to bring financial clarity and career confidence to those forging a new path. Whether it’s a student, a spouse, or a service member, Bill’s mission is clear: demystify success, teach how money really works, and empower people to build the life they deserve.