In this follow up session to the keynote address, Dr. Weiss will go into greater detail on managing negotiation failure. He will talk about the seven types of failure, how to avoid them, and how best to get back to the table when possible. He will then work with participants on their examples from their experience. This will be a highly interactive session – participants should come with scenarios that did go as planned for in depth analysis in small groups.

This session is part of the She’s the Negotiator initiative.

The role of women in negotiation is an increasingly important topic. The conference theme of failure not being an option has some different implications for women. In this breakout session, we will explore how women respond to failure in negotiation and the impact it has on them, both personally and on those around them. We will examine how women perceive failure, why they fail, and how they can prepare to overcome the barriers that hold them back, leading to more successful negotiations.

In this interactive workshop, Nicola Winter, former fighter pilot, rescue helicopter pilot and ESA reserve astronaut, takes participants into the world of bomb disposal teams – where every decision counts and communication determines success or failure.

Using impressive practical examples and interactive group exercises, managers experience how clear communication, trust and agile cooperation lead to stability and security even in turbulent moments.

In teams, participants solve tasks of varying complexity under time pressure – always accompanied by structured briefings and debriefings. These not only promote reflection and exchange, but also make it possible to experience a culture of error and mutual support.

The workshop specifically strengthens the leadership qualities that will make an negotiation team successful in the future: transparent communication, confident decision-making, psychological safety and real team spirit.

At the end, the participants take away practical tools to lead their teams through challenging situations with clarity, trust and empathy – defusing instead of escalating.