COLLABORATIVE
HARDBALL
Using the Power of
a New Negotiation as Women
to Change the World
“Susan Coleman is one of our field's most accomplished conflict resolution practitioners. Her pioneering work in school and organizational conflict resolution and social justice with Ellen Raider, and her enduring commitment to creating safe, fair and constructive environments for children and adults is outstanding.
In particular, her multi-year project to enhance the negotiation, mediation, and cross-cultural communication skills of United Nations employees worldwide is one of the most important initiatives of its kind. Her programatic models and trainings are well-informed, supported by research, and extremely practical and accessible. As a facilitator and consultant, she is unsurpassed.”
Peter T. Coleman Ph.D.
Director, International Center for Cooperation and Conflict Resolution (ICCCR), Teachers College, Columbia University
Collaborative Hardball
Book Talk
Using the Power of a New Negotiation as Women to Change the World
Join me for an engaging conversation around my book, "Collaborative Hardball." In this intimate session, I’ll share key themes, read a powerful excerpt, and connect the book’s message to your world. Expect insights, stories, and a lively Q&A that brings how we navigate differences — and why it matters—fully to life.
Keynote Topics & Outcomes
I offer dynamic keynote experiences tailored to your event. Choose from:
Negotiating in Systems Not Designed for You
Many women are told to “lean in” without acknowledging that the systems they’re navigating were not built with them in mind; this keynote offers practical tools and strategic clarity for building influence, resilience, and structural change from within. Participants leave understanding how to negotiate power in environments shaped by legacy norms — without losing themselves in the process.
Collaborative Hardball:
Using the Power of a New Negotiation as Women to Change the World
In a time of polarization, burnout, and democratic strain, Susan introduces Collaborative Hardball — a bold new model of negotiation that blends firmness and relational intelligence to help women claim power, drive change, and reshape the systems that shape us. This keynote shows how everyday negotiations — at work, at home, and in public life — are the building blocks of a more just and sustainable world.
A New Model of Power: What Feminine-Infused Leadership Actually Looks Like
This keynote reframes “feminine leadership” as strategic, systemic, and world-shaping — not soft — and demonstrates how integrating relational strength with clarity and courage transforms negotiation, culture, and collective outcomes. It offers a concrete vision of leadership capable of meeting today’s global challenges.
Target Audience:
Executive leadership teams, forward-thinking corporations, mixed-gender audiences, foundations, global conferences, and leaders exploring next-generation models of power and collaboration.
Too many women are held back by outdated power dynamics and unequal negotiation norms.
With decades of experience as a negotiation expert, author, and advocate for gender-balanced leadership, I help women reclaim their seat at the table.
When you listen to me speak, you’ll gain practical tools to confidently negotiate, fostering empowerment for women everywhere.
Women, when they negotiate on behalf of others, often outperform men—yet when advocating for themselves, they tend to hold back. This reveals that the issue isn’t capability—it’s systemic conditioning.
Once women learn to apply that same boldness to their own power and ambitions, the shift is transformative.
Hi, I’m Susan.
I’ve built a career spanning decades in negotiation and conflict resolution, working globally and across sectors.
I focus explicitly on empowering women, through my book, podcasts, and work.
I model what I teach: I’m not only a practitioner, but I’ve lived the journey of navigating and reshaping power dynamics
And I’m brave: whether backcountry skiing the Eklutna Traverse or windsurfing in challenging waters, I push boundaries. I help others step into that same boldness in negotiation and leadership. And defying the gravity of patriarchy
Susan In Action…
Here's the transformation you'll experience at every level.
Women
The transformation is stepping into their power, learning to negotiate without apology, and breaking through barriers that may have felt insurmountable. They leave with tools to claim space, advocate for themselves, and foster more equitable environments.
Mixed-gender Audiences
The transformation is a shared understanding of how gender dynamics affect negotiation. They walk away not only with practical negotiation skills but also with a greater capacity to create partnerships that embrace inclusion, empathy, and mutual empowerment.
“Susan Coleman has consistently provided highly relevant materials and informed leadership for the beginning of NASA's five day International Project Management Program as well as a reality-based context for subsequent speakers to build on for the remainder of the program.”
Dale Crossman, Ed.D.
Program Manager, NASA International Project Management Program