from people pleaser to confident deal maker
As an author, podcast host, and trainer trusted by some of the world's largest organizations to help their teams negotiate million-dollar deals, most people assume I've always been a confident communicator.
But I wasn't born this way — I was built this way.
I've shared my story on the biggest stages and platforms in the world: how I spent years as a people-pleaser who avoided conflict, said yes when I meant no, and protected relationships at the expense of myself. The turning point came when I realized that communicating clearly, setting boundaries, and handling tough conversations aren't personality traits. They're skills. And if they're skills, they can be learned.
That insight changed everything for me — and it's the foundation of everything I teach.
Today I work with leaders who need to influence without authority, manage conflict, and communicate with confidence.
I work with sales professionals, procurement teams, attorneys, finance leaders, and anyone who negotiates regularly and needs to stop leaving money on the table.
My job is to give them the mindset and the tools to hold their ground, protect their margins, and stop discounting their way through deals.
I hosted Negotiate Anything — the number one negotiation podcast in the world for nearly a decade, with over 1,800 episodes, over 16 million downloads, and a reach spanning more than 180 countries. That show was built on one idea: that negotiation is a skill, and anyone can get better at it.
Now I've launched Big Swings Only, a different kind of show — epic stories of remarkable people who changed their lives and the world by refusing to play small. Negotiate Anything taught the skills to win at the table. Big Swings Only is how you get a seat at it.
I'm a LinkedIn Top Voice and a two time bestselling author, and I've helped leaders around the world navigate high-stakes conversations with clarity and confidence.
The best things in life are on the other side of difficult conversations. My mission is to help you get there — one conversation at a time.
HONORS & AWARDS
- Mindvalley International Speaker Of The Year 2025 (Amsterdam, The Netherlands)
- Global Gurus 2026 Top 10 Negotiation Professionals in the World
- 2x Bestselling Author (Finding Confidence in Conflict and How To Have Difficult Conversations About Race)
- Ohio State University William Oxley Alumni Award (2023)
- Winner: Columbus Podcast Awards (2022)
- Columbus 40 Under 40 (2022)
- John Glenn College of Public Affairs Young Alumni Award (2020)
- Moritz College of Law Outstanding Recent Alumnus Award (2021)
- Super Lawyers Rising Star (2017) — top 2.5% of attorneys
- Best Lawyers (2024, 2025, and 2026) — Business Law
Credentials & Expertise
- Bachelor’s in Psychology (Double Minor: Spanish & Foundations of Law)
- Juris Doctor, The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law — home to the nation’s top dispute resolution program
- Master of Public Policy
- Award Winning Lawyer & Certified Mediator
- 2x Best Selling Author
- Adjunct Professor in the nation’s top-ranked Dispute Resolution Program at the Ohio State University Moritz College of Law
- Forbes and CNBC Contributor
- Strategic thinker and competitive chess player (99th percentile global ranking; 28,000+ games)