The Birth of Sheer Negotiations
The Missing Skill: How I Discovered the True Power of Negotiation
Every major conflict, every failed deal, every missed opportunity I’ve ever encountered had one thing in common: a lack of skilled negotiation.
I didn’t set out to become a negotiation expert. In fact, my early career had nothing to do with business deals or corporate influence. I worked in human rights—in refugee shelters, translating for asylum seekers, and managing budgets for a peace organisation. I witnessed the devastating effects of power imbalances first hand. People who had lost everything, sitting across from decision-makers who held the keys to their future. Conversations that could change lives, yet so often ended in frustration, misalignment, or outright failure.
At first, I thought the problem was structural—broken systems, bureaucratic inefficiencies, and competing priorities. But over time, I started to see a different pattern. In every negotiation, there were those who could bridge divides, find hidden value, and unlock solutions that others overlooked. And there were those who couldn’t. When master negotiators led the conversation, the outcome was different. Creative agreements were made, trust was built, and interests were met in ways no one initially thought possible.
That realisation changed everything for me.
Negotiation: Not Just a Skill, but a Lens
Most people think of negotiation as a tool for specific transactions—buying a house, closing a deal, or settling a contract. But in reality, negotiation is everywhere. It is not just a skill but a way of thinking—a lens through which almost any challenge can be solved.
When I moved to Australia, I started teaching negotiation at UNSW. I worked with professionals across industries—executives, entrepreneurs, lawyers, and consultants. Many of them were experts in their fields but struggled in high-stakes conversations where influence mattered. What struck me was how structured negotiation techniques—when applied correctly—could fundamentally shift the dynamics of power, decision-making, and value creation.
The problem? Most people weren’t taught how to negotiate. They relied on instinct, outdated tactics, or avoided difficult conversations altogether. And that meant they were leaving opportunities—and often, millions of dollars—on the table.
The Birth of Sheer Negotiations
I founded Sheer Negotiations in 2015 with a simple mission: to take the vast, evidence-based knowledge on negotiation and make it practical, applicable, and immediately useful for real-world negotiators.
Not through power plays or hardball tactics, but through:
Understanding interests—yours and theirs—to unlock hidden opportunities
Structuring influence—so that persuasion isn’t left to chance
Mastering the psychology of decision-making—to guide conversations toward optimal outcomes
These are the tools that separate average negotiators from exceptional ones. The difference between someone who simply “gets by” in negotiations and someone who shapes the entire playing field to achieve better deals, gain buy-in faster, and build the kind of relationships that create long-term value.
Negotiation is Not About Power—It’s About Potential
One of the biggest myths about negotiation is that it’s about power. That the person with the most leverage, authority, or dominance wins.
That couldn’t be further from the truth.
At its core, negotiation isn’t about getting more—it’s about making the right moves to unlock the full potential of every conversation. It’s about finding the non-obvious solution, designing a process that brings people closer rather than alienating them, and ensuring that agreements don’t just happen—but that they work, long after the ink has dried.
This is what I teach. This is what transforms careers, businesses, and organisations.
And this is why I love this field.
Your Negotiation Mindset Starts Now
If you’ve ever felt frustrated in high-stakes conversations, struggled to articulate your value, or walked away from a negotiation knowing you could have achieved more, you’re not alone.
The good news? Negotiation isn’t a talent—it’s a learned skill. And once you master it, the impact is profound.
Because negotiation isn’t just about winning deals. It’s about shaping your world—one conversation at a time.