The Negotiation CouncilGeneva, together with the Schranner Negotiation Institute, proudly participated in its first Geneva Peace Week, attending various panels, meetings, workshops, and training sessions. It became clear that building bridges between the public and private sectors was more important than ever; business strategies, tactics, and directness enriched peace, security, and humanitarian negotiations, while the public sector’s long-term perspective, inclusivity, and attention to local contexts offered valuable lessons for business negotiations. . We also explored key topics such as the changing nature of diplomacy, Geneva’s role as a hub for dialogue and innovation, strategies for difficult negotiations in times of crisis, pathways to peace and reconstruction, and engaging the next generation of negotiators and more women.
Our engagement at the GenevaPeace Week concluded with a renewed appreciation for cross-sector collaboration and a shared commitment to continue fostering dialogue, learning, and partnerships across sectors to address complex global challenges.
High-level leaders from both public and private sectors joined the Negotiation Council Geneva and theSchranner Negotiation Institute at the “We Are in the Same Boat” event, along with moderators from top academic institutions in Switzerland. Following an inspiring keynote speech by Matthias Schranner on collaborative diplomacy and the importance of breaking silos between the private and public sectors, participants engaged in small group discussions exploring critical negotiation questions: Should one publicly share negotiation information (process vs. content)? What is the role of time? Should one avoid saying“yes, but...” in difficult, high-stakes negotiations? And how can we bring more women to the negotiation table? Our learning: even though many similarities exist between peace and business negotiations, and both perspectives can strengthen mastery, certain tactics need to be customized for the negotiation at hand.
There is enormous potential for both sectors to continue learning from each other.
Matthias Schranner gave an interactive lecture about critical negotiation strategies and tactics to apply under pressure to students at the prestigious Geneva School of Diplomacy.Through hands-on exercises and challenging break-out group discussions, participants(i.e., Bachelor and Master students) explored key behaviors and language for high-stakes negotiations, the psychological dynamics of understanding both oneself and others, and the role of emotional control in making effective strategic and tactical decisions. The session provided practical tools for students to navigate challenging negotiations with confidence and insight.
This event is evidence ofNegotiation Council Geneva's commitment to capacity building for the next generation.
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