About Forbes Riley – Queen of Pitch, Global Icon & Mentor to Millions

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World’s #1 Authority On

Pitching

Forbes Riley, a trailblazer in the direct sales TV industry,

has generated over

$2.5 billion

in sales and

is renowned as a master of crafting pitches for everyone from

is renowned as a master of crafting pitches for everyone from budding entrepreneurs to Fortune

budding entrepreneurs to

Fortune 100 companies.

As one of the most sought-after female motivational speakers, Forbes specializes in communication,

personal development, and leadership, inspiring audiences worldwide.

A 2X bestselling author and two-time TEDx Speaker, she is celebrated as the foremost authority on pitching,

messaging, and the art of influence.

Widely recognized as a global leader in media innovation, Forbes has built a loyal following of millions across her platforms, cementing her legacy as a transformative voice in business and personal growth.

So, how does a shy,

awkward, broke kid from New York,

transform her life

and build a Multi- Media Empire?

I started out great with two loving parents, but quickly things changed...

A badly broken nose overpowered my face, frizzy hair, almost a decade of braces, a tongue thruster that kept me from talking for two years, and I was more than “chubby.” I felt invisible and out of place, a far cry from the confident person I dreamed of becoming.

Fortunately, my dad, very much like Willy Wonka, was an eclectic inventor, magician, and a dreamer. He taught me to be outrageous and gave me permission to imagine a life without limits. Through his quirky creations and endless optimism, I learned to believe in the impossible.

Then tragedy struck when I was in high school

My dad suffered a traumatic accident that left him in and out of hospitals for three years. Our world was turned upside down. Bills piled up, and the dreams my dad had so lovingly nurtured for our family felt like they were slipping away.

My father’s doctor offered to fix my nose, the braces came off and against everyone’s suggestion I entered the Miss Teenage New York Pageant, to win a college scholarship.

Something shifted... I made a decision to save my family...

Even though the odds were stacked against me. At 16, against all expectations, I won. That victory wasn’t just about the title—it was a lifeline. The scholarship I earned meant I could go to college, and the confidence it gave me meant I could pursue my wildest dreams.

With stars in my eyes and not a penny to my name, I set out for

New York City to become an actress. I landed the lead in my first feature film, worked on a soap opera with Meg Ryan, and even acted on Broadway alongside the original Superman, Christopher Reeve.

But behind the scenes, it wasn’t all glitz and glamor. Rejection was constant. I was told I wasn’t “thin enough” or “pretty enough” to be a star. I felt like I was always on the cusp of success, only to watch it slip through my fingers.

I eventually gave myself permission to reinvent my career and moved to Hollywood. There, I stumbled into TV hosting—a job that didn’t really exist at the time—and it was like finding my soulmate.

I became the first host of ESPN’s X-Games, shared stages with legends like Robin Williams and Jerry Seinfeld, and interviewed rock stars like Clapton and Sting on nationally syndicated radio.

Then tragedy struck when I was in high school

I combined my hosting and entrepreneurial skills to pioneer the concept of selling health and fitness products on TV alongside Body by Jake, created Fit-TV, the very first network to sell products on air. The network we helped pioneer was sold to Fox for $500 million dollars and launched home shopping networks like QVC and HSN. Connecting with people through the screen and inspiring them to take action became an obsession and passion.

And then the stars aligned… Infomercials were invented, and I became the #1 female sales person in the world, aka "the Queen of Pitch," generating over $2.5 billion dollars in sales. I wrote, produced and hosted 197 infomercials and at the height, my shows ran on TV more than 400 times a week.

That’s when I discovered my true calling: connecting with people

through the screen and inspiring them to take action

With stars in my eyes and not a penny to my name, I set out for

New York City to become an actress. I landed the lead in my first feature film, worked on a soap opera with Meg Ryan, and even acted on Broadway alongside the original Superman, Christopher Reeve.

But behind the scenes, it wasn’t all glitz and glamor. Rejection was constant. I was told I wasn’t “thin enough” or “pretty enough” to be a star. I felt like I was always on the cusp of success, only to watch it slip through my fingers.

I eventually gave myself permission to reinvent my career and moved to Hollywood. There, I stumbled into TV hosting—a job that didn’t really exist at the time—and it was like finding my soulmate.

I became the first host of ESPN’s X-Games, shared stages with legends like Robin Williams and Jerry Seinfeld, and interviewed rock stars like Clapton and Sting on nationally syndicated radio.

Then tragedy struck when I was in high school

I combined my hosting and entrepreneurial skills to pioneer the concept of selling health and fitness products on TV alongside Body by Jake, created Fit-TV, the very first network to sell products on air. The network we helped pioneer was sold to Fox for $500 million dollars and launched home shopping networks like QVC and HSN. Connecting with people through the screen and inspiring them to take action became an obsession and passion.

And then the stars aligned… Infomercials were invented, and I became the #1 female sales person in the world, aka "the Queen of Pitch," generating over $2.5 billion dollars in sales. I wrote, produced and hosted 197 infomercials and at the height, my shows ran on TV more than 400 times a week.

That’s when I discovered my true calling: connecting with people

through the screen and inspiring them to take action

But one of my proudest moments came when I risked everything. Like my dad, I invented a fitness product, the SpinGym... but unlike him, it didn’t languish and die in my garage - it became a global sensation on TV and home shopping. A tribute to my dad’s spirit, when everyone said it wouldn’t work, I poured every ounce of determination into it,

I poured every ounce of determination into it, motivated to prove them wrong.

For the next 10 years, I founded and ran a global company to sell my fitness invention, SpinGym - once again, everyone told me it wouldn’t work. Which only served to inspire me to harness every ounce of determination and perseverance I

For the next 10 years, I founded and ran a global company to sell my fitness invention, SpinGym - once again, everyone told me it wouldn’t work. Which only served to inspire me to harness every ounce of determination and perseverance I could muster, and

could muster, and

sold over 2 million units.

It’s the fulfillment of a lifelong dream inspired by my dad… to invent something and get it out into the world. I had done it for countless inventors, and finally did it for myself. Truth be told, it was a tribute to my dad.

But one of my proudest moments came when I risked everything. Like my dad, I invented a fitness product, the SpinGym... but unlike him, it didn’t languish and die in my garage - it became a global sensation on TV and home shopping. A tribute to my dad’s spirit, when everyone said it wouldn’t work, I poured every ounce of determination into it,

I poured every ounce of determination into it, motivated to prove them wrong.

I poured every ounce of determination into it, motivated to prove them wrong.

For the next 10 years, I founded and ran a global company to sell my fitness invention, SpinGym - once again, everyone told me it wouldn’t work. Which only served to inspire me to harness every ounce of determination and perseverance I

For the next 10 years, I founded and ran a global company to sell my fitness invention, SpinGym - once again, everyone told me it wouldn’t work. Which only served to inspire me to harness every ounce of determination and perseverance I could muster, and

sold over 2 million units.

could muster, and

sold over 2 million units.

It’s the fulfillment of a lifelong dream inspired by my dad… to invent something and get it out into the world. I had done it for countless inventors, and finally did it for myself. Truth be told, it was a tribute to my dad.

When the pandemic hit, I found a new mission. Locked down with my daughter, Makenna, I launched

an online business teaching my superpower: pitching. In just four years,

When the pandemic hit, I found a new mission. Locked down with my daughter, Makenna, I launched an online business teaching my superpower: pitching. In just four years, we’ve helped over 77,000 students unlock their potential and find their voice.

we’ve helped over 77,000 students

unlock their potential and find their voice.

Through every setback and triumph, I’ve learned that life doesn’t happen to us—it happens for us. My journey is proof that when you give yourself permission to dream big and embrace who you truly are, anything is possible.

Now, I dedicate my life to helping others shine.

For me as I reflect back, I needed to keep dreaming, to find strength in my struggles, and to see opportunity in my setbacks.

Today is an exciting new chapter in my storied life. I am speaking on stages around the world motivating and inspiring millions to give themselves PERMISSION to act on their dreams and that life happens for you… not to you.