Say Less, Get More: Mastering Effective Negotiation

Diversity and Inclusion Office | LLMC 2024 | FR

Time: 1:00 pm - 2:30 pm ET

Event Description

Join us for an engaging and transformative Masterclass. This Masterclass will empower participants with the essential negotiation skills to achieve successful outcomes in various professional scenarios. In the complex and multifaceted world of public service and defense, mastering the art of negotiation is crucial for advancing strategic goals, resolving conflicts, and fostering collaboration. Through this session, gain valuable insights into the principles of effective negotiation, learn how to navigate challenging conversations, and develop the confidence to achieve win-win solutions.

This Masterclass will equip you with the tools to negotiate with clarity, precision, and effectiveness.

Masterclass Teacher - Fotini Iconomopoulos

Fotini Iconomopoulos, Speaker, Trainer, Advisor, Author

Nicknamed “the negotiator” as a child, Fotini has been practicing these skills her whole life. Whether it was school fundraisers or after-school jobs, she’s been honing persuasion and communications for as long as she can remember. Later, after a decade of owning and managing small businesses in the retail sector, she refined my negotiation skills in the corporate world in the consumer-packaged goods industry before becoming a management consultant. Fotini created a successful negotiation advisory practice for another global firm before branching off on her own. Though she didn’t intend to start her own business again when former clients began reaching out it was hard to resist, especially when HarperCollins called asking her to write her first book! As a result of the incredible relationships she has built, Fotini has turned a passion to help people into a career.

Fotini is passionate about helping people develop the confidence to take on whatever challenges come their way, and she has a particular interest in empowering women and disadvantaged groups. When not with clients or students she looks for ways to offer her experience to meaningful non-profit initiatives such as Up With Women to help recently homeless women to rebuild their careers faster; the Network of Executive women to advance all women; and her own empowerment camps for girls to close the gender gap before it begins. Fotini was named one of the Greek America Foundation’s Top 40 Under 40 and awarded the Network of Executive Women (now NextUp) National Inclusion award for her efforts.

An unparalleled commitment to excellence has been the key to millions of dollars of profits for corporate clients who engage Fotini. In consulting and training a one size fits all approach just isn’t enough to help people reach their goals. Theories and models aren’t enough to help people achieve their goals, it’s her practical connections to the real world that make the lessons transferrable to unique circumstances.

Listening to, and empathizing with, students led to consistently high course evaluations from Fotini’s MBA students and accolades from the Dean and faculty at the Schulich School of Business.

Public speaking audiences engage with Fotini’s content because it applies to everyone in the room, not just a dominant group. That commitment to excellence is matched with a commitment to give the audience something they can apply the minute they walk out of the room. The consistent positive feedback, success stories, and personal messages from audience members are confirmation of her insights at work.

Co-hosts

Samantha Moonsammy, Section Head Lead Advisor for Diversity and Inclusion, Materiel Group, National Defence

Samantha has spent over 20 years in the public service working in numerous communications, outreach and engagement initiatives that focus on the people side of business. But Samantha is much more than that. Her layers include being a woman, mother, partner, daughter, sister, community builder and immigrant.

As an Indo-Caribbean Canadian, she was born in Guyana, South America and immigrated to Canada as a toddler. From a young age, dating back to elementary school to the present, Samantha has been a leader in diversity, inclusion and equity, always helping to amplify the voice of others and create sustainable change in organizations to build deeper respect and understanding for all humans. Samantha lives in the Ottawa area and spent some time in Toronto and Barbados during her Master’s degree in Communications and Culture. She is a passionate world traveller who has worked and studied in India, China, France and the Caribbean. Her daily mantra:  Be the change you wish to see in the world.

Suzan Richards, Senior Program Advisor, Office of the ADM, Settlement, Integration and Francophone Affairs, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada

Founder of The Cultural Arts Studio,  Suzan is also professional artist and a cultural knowledge keeper in the area of Afro-Caribbean dance. She is committed to preserving and sharing Afro-Caribbean culture to this day and currently providing workshops at the National Arts Center where dances from Africa & The Caribbean are shared and celebrated.

In addition, Suzan is on the Board of Directors with Multicultural Arts In Schools and Communities (MASC), a local non-profit organization that offers schools and communities artistic experiences that awaken the creative process, deepen cultural awareness, encourage engagement, and give a vivid demonstration of Canada's diversity. You can also find her on Rogers-22 as host of Caribbean Calendar as part of their Cultural Mosaic programming.

Suzan is a proud recipient of a 2022-100 Most Accomplished Black Canadian Women Award by the Honourable Dr. Jean Augustine and Canada International Black Women Excellence (CIBWE) - Top 100 Black Women to Watch of 2022.