Negotiating with Strength: Mental Health and Resilience in High-Stakes Environments

As mental health becomes increasingly recognised as essential to effective leadership and conflict resolution, the 2025 e-Conference of the Institute for Global Negotiation placed psychological wellbeing at the core of negotiation practice. With around 60 attendees per session, this two-day virtual gathering brought together practitioners, diplomats, scholars, and humanitarian experts to explore how emotional resilience, stress management, and cultural awareness shape negotiation outcomes in complex and high-pressure settings. We express our thanks to our Media Partner International Intrigue for their collaboration.

The conference opened with interactive introductions and a panel on emotional intelligence and resilience in negotiation, moderated by Dr. Randall Waechter. Distinguished speakers Dr. Fatima Akilu, Dr. Rania Awaad, and Ambassador Piper Campbell offered insights into emotional regulation under pressure, self-awareness in negotiation settings, and the role of empathy in building trust.

A highlight of the event was the keynote address by Winnie Kiiza, former Leader of the Opposition in Uganda’s Parliament and renowned human rights advocate, moderated by Dr. Vera Hampel. Kiiza shared powerful perspectives on navigating stress in political leadership, sustaining resilience in the face of adversity, and preparing future leaders to manage psychological pressure in negotiation environments.

Day two featured an interactive World Café session moderated by Lucas Steinbach, bringing together perspectives on gender, culture, and Indigenous identities in negotiation. Lucia Martelotte, Dr. Raphael Schoen, and Urooj Fatima led discussions on emotional expression across societies, cross-cultural communication challenges, and historical inequities shaping Indigenous negotiation experiences.

Participants also took part in a guided session by Dr. Jack R. Williams, President of IGN, focused on grounding techniques and practical mind-body strategies to maintain clarity during negotiation.

The final thematic session spotlighted crisis negotiation under extreme pressure, moderated by Helen Zhang. Fiorella Larissa Erni and Niko Orell shared personal experiences navigating life-and-death negotiation environments in humanitarian and security contexts, underscoring the emotional demands and ethical responsibilities faced by negotiators in the field.

Through expert-led panels, collaborative exchange formats, skills practice, and deeply personal insights, the IGN e-Conference 2025 demonstrated that mental wellbeing is not optional, but foundational for sustainable and ethical negotiation practice. By convening global leaders and emerging practitioners, the conference fostered a community committed to advancing healthier, more resilient, and more effective negotiation cultures worldwide.

The 2025 edition embodied the IGN’s commitment to bridge research and practice, aimed at empowering the next generation of global negotiators.

We thank the Project Coordinator Karoline Möller and her team – Sarah Shalash, Maximiliano Schilling, Vinicius Teixeira Carcavallo, Baniz Wasman, and Christian Trenk – for their work and dedication in organising the IGN e-Conference 2025.