For high-growth entrepreneurs, success often comes down to one thing: your ability to negotiate what you need—capital, partnerships, talent, terms, and trust. Yet most founders are never formally trained in negotiation, relying instead on instinct in moments where the stakes are highest. The result? Missed opportunities, unfavorable terms, and leaving value on the table.

The Nasdaq Center is excited to be joined by Attia Qureshi (University of Michigan) and John Richardson (MIT), authors of the forthcoming book Never Settle: Persuasion and Negotiation Skills to Get What You Want. Drawing from decades of experience teaching at top institutions—and insights from high-stakes environments including FBI hostage negotiation and U.S. State Department negotiations—this conversation will focus on how founders can turn negotiation into a practiced, repeatable skill. Designed specifically for entrepreneurs navigating investor conversations, enterprise deals, and strategic partnerships, this session will go beyond theory to explore how negotiation actually plays out in real-world, high-pressure situations.

Key Takeaways:

• Learn how to approach investor terms, partnerships, and enterprise deals with clarity on your goals—and the confidence to pursue them.
• Discover how reciprocity, credibility, and understanding stakeholder interests can strengthen outcomes and long-term relationships.
• Move beyond zero-sum thinking to craft creative solutions that unlock more value for all parties involved.
• Understand how to build negotiation as a performance skill—so you’re prepared when the stakes are high.
• Learn how to say no, navigate rejection, and turn challenging conversations into opportunities.