Barry Daub began his career in financial services before transitioning to education, where he dedicated twenty-five years to the NYC Department of Education. Throughout his tenure, Barry held multiple leadership roles, including teacher, coordinator, assistant principal, and principal, all at P811M-The Mickey Mantle School. His deep connection to special education and his commitment to fostering positive relationships were hallmarks of his time in the NYC school system.
Barry’s leadership style was rooted in emotional intelligence. As a facilitative leader, he prioritized building strong, meaningful connections with his staff, recognizing that success in education comes from fostering an environment of trust, empathy, and collaboration. He understood that when staff feel valued and connected, they are more engaged and better equipped to inspire and support their students. This belief guided his efforts to create a cohesive, supportive school community.
Since his retirement in 2017, Barry has continued to apply this emotionally intelligent approach to leadership in his role as Chief Operations Officer at Star Factor Coaching. Collaborating with Dr. Patti, Barry has taken on key responsibilities, including serving as Chief Financial Officer and contributing to research, product development, and marketing strategies. His focus remains on helping others build their emotional intelligence, both in personal coaching and within the broader organizational development of the company.
While serving as Principal at The Mickey Mantle School, Barry was personally coached by Star Factor, fully embracing its mission of fostering emotional intelligence in leadership. He implemented the very principles that he now leads at Star Factor Coaching. Under Barry’s emotional intelligence-driven leadership, his school developed a shared language around Social-Emotional Learning (SEL), which became a cornerstone of the school’s culture. He and his team worked to integrate and sustain SEL programming that not only improved student engagement and independence but also fostered social-emotional growth for both students and staff. By emphasizing the importance of staff understanding and modeling emotional intelligence, Barry helped create a thriving, connected learning environment. His firsthand experience with Star Factor’s principles continues to guide his leadership approach today.
Barry’s philosophy of connection and emotional intelligence continues to shape his post-retirement life. His belief in open communication and teamwork, where relationships are at the core of educational success, remains a guiding principle in his coaching work. Beyond his administrative duties, Barry has also contributed as an Adjunct Faculty Member at Hunter College, CUNY, where he has helped aspiring principals and assistant principals develop the emotional and leadership skills needed to lead effectively.
Barry is currently writing a book to share his life’s work and journey, tentatively titled Leading with Emotional Intelligence: A Principal’s Journey in Life, Leadership, Entrepreneurship, and Coaching. In this book, he reflects on his experiences as an educator, leader, and coach, while also drawing from his entrepreneurial journey. He explores how emotional intelligence has been a key factor in shaping his career and continues to influence his approach to leadership and coaching. Now, with a vision to expand Star Factor’s mission to include leaders from all fields, Barry aims to extend the impact of emotional intelligence beyond education. Through personal stories and professional insights, he offers practical guidance for leaders across industries, demonstrating how to lead with emotional intelligence to build strong connections and foster growth in both personal and professional environments.