Chris Voss

Key speaking topics

• High-stakes negotiation
• Hostage negotiation principles applied to business
• Tactical empathy in negotiations
• Communication under pressure
• Dealing with difficult counterparts
• Negotiation strategy and preparation
• Decision-making in critical situations

Ideal for

• C-suite executives and senior leaders
• Sales and commercial teams
• Procurement and sourcing leaders
• Organisations operating in high-risk or high-stakes environments

Audience outcomes

• Clear frameworks for structuring complex negotiations
• Techniques for managing emotions and building tactical empathy
• Practical approaches to handling conflict and resistance
• Greater confidence in high-pressure conversations
• Improved preparation for critical business negotiations

Why organisations work with Chris Voss

• Direct experience negotiating life-and-death situations at the highest levels of US law enforcement
• Translates FBI negotiation principles into structured, business-relevant frameworks
• Combines operational credibility with practical tools for commercial environments
• Proven track record as a bestselling author and executive educator in negotiation

Biography

Chris Voss brings frontline hostage negotiation expertise to the business world, translating high-stakes law enforcement experience into practical negotiation strategy for senior leaders and commercial teams. As the FBI’s former lead international kidnapping negotiator, he operated at the highest levels of complex, high-pressure negotiations.

During his FBI career, he represented the Bureau on the US National Security Council’s Hostage Working Group and contributed as a subject-matter expert on kidnapping at international forums. His experience spans critical incidents and complex investigations, shaping a disciplined, structured approach to communication, influence and decision-making under pressure.

Following his government service, Voss founded The Black Swan Group, a negotiation training and advisory firm that supports organisations seeking stronger outcomes in sales, procurement, leadership and crisis environments. His work focuses on applying proven hostage negotiation principles to corporate negotiations, conflict resolution and strategic deal-making.

He is the co-author of Never Split the Difference: Negotiating As If Your Life Depended On It, a New York Times and Wall Street Journal bestseller that has sold millions of copies worldwide. In addition to his advisory work, he has taught and guest lectured on negotiation in MBA and executive education settings at institutions including USC Marshall, Georgetown McDonough and Harvard, reinforcing his credibility with both academic and executive audiences.