Science-Based Professional Development
Interactive Talks and Professional Development Workshops
Dr. Tatiana Astray
“Achieving negotiation success comes down to knowing what you want, being uncompromising about your core needs, and understanding your counterpart’s concerns so that you can propose trade-offs that create value for both parties. At the end of the negotiation, you want both parties to walk about knowing that they got a good deal and feeling satisfied with the interaction itself.”
I provide interactive talks and professional workshops that merge the latest scientific findings from the business and psychology disciplines with engaging and thought-provoking learning experiences. I help business professionals understand the big picture and master high-level skills in relevant scenario-based simulations. I develop and facilitate learning experiences on the topics of negotiations, interpersonal communication, and managing professional relationships.
I take great pride and satisfaction in helping professionals master the essential skills needed for personal and professional success. Talks are interactive, while workshops include ample discussion and exercises that help professionals grasp how science-validated insights can be used to overcome their individual business and personal challenges. Participants leave feeling empowered and confident in their ability to face challenges, solve complex problems, and deepen their professional relationships.
Topics include:
Negotiations
Conflict Management
Interpersonal Leadership
Gender & Power Dynamics
Sales & Persuasion
Mindfulness for Professionals
Most topics come in multiple formats, including one-time interactive talks and professional workshops (half-day and full-day) as well as multi-day programs (including lunch and learns). Delivery can be done online and in-person, COVID permitting.
Click on the section that you would like to explore next:
To request a tailored list of recommends topics that meet your organization’s needs and request a price quote, simply reach out to start the conversation.
SELECT TOPIC CATALOGUE
NEGOTIATIONS
NEGOTIATIONS 101
Learn about the two basic types of negotiations and why this distinction is important, the behaviours that differentiate expert from average negotiators, and what constitutes a “good” deal. You will additionally learn how to identify whether there is trust in a business relationship, and practice body language tools for enhancing trust.
ADVANCED NEGOTIATIONS
Custom negotiation workshop topics include: introduction to negotiations and strategy fundamentals, negotiations for entrepreneurs, cross-cultural negotiations, team negotiations, using agents, power dynamics, strategically using interpersonal emotions, conflict in negotiations, managing deception and mediation techniques.
CONFLICT MANAGEMENT
MEDIATION: AN ESSENTIAL TOOL FOR DISPUTE RESOLUTION
Learn how to use mediation techniques to resolve disputes and manage workplace conflict while keeping the relationship intact. You will practice shaping the narrative of an interaction and moving the conversation towards a common goal. Learn how to set an agenda, identify the key issues, and focus the discussion on resolving the underlying needs.
NAVIGATING DIFFICULT SITUATIONS WITH EFFECTIVE INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION STRATEGIES
You will learn to use a multi-step process to improve the chances that others will listen to their concerns and requests in difficult conversations. This process will help you identify your specific defensive communication tendencies that hinder receptivity and collaborative intentions in others. Finally, you will practice communicating in a non-defensive and assertive manner.
INTERPERSONAL LEADERSHIP
COACHING EMPLOYEES WITH GROWTH MINDSET TOOLS
Learn about the benefits of instilling a growth mindset in employees. You will gain practical knowledge regarding how to frame challenges, provide feedback, set goals, and track performance in a way that empowers and encourages employees to work towards their goals.
USING INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION TO BUILD TRUST IN PROFESSIONAL RELATIONSHIPS
You will learn how to read the interpersonal intentions behind other's expressions (facial and verbal expressions), and the ability to differentiate between cooperative and competitive tendencies in others. You will gain a better understanding of how communication dynamics influence your professional activities, including negotiation outcomes and team performance. Finally, you will practice using your emotions and communication exchanges in a manner to build trust in professional relationships and create a working environment that is conducive to collaboration and creative problem-solving.
WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING
“I loved that it was interactive and gave us real action items that we could easily take back and apply to our day-to-day. All the content and tips provided we simple changes we could make to our approach to see results. They were immediately actionable and very simple to implement. I loved the idea of writing our client’s success story - it's something simple we can do with information and conversations we already have with our clients, I've already been able to use this strategy to help build adoption with my clients. ”
— Anonymous feedback, Bonfire
— Attended: Business Negotiations
“The mentors and mentees were very impressed by the workshop and provided very positive feedback. The workshop as you may have noticed was also very eye-opening for our mentees; where they saw the value of negotiating not only for themselves but also for their peers.”
— Katerina S., Coordinator, Woodgreen Community Services
— Attended: Job Offer Negotiations
“Tatiana supported Jumpstart Refugee Talent by training refugee women entrepreneurs in negotiation skills and power dynamics as part of the HER Startup program. Tatiana gave deep and powerful insights that resonated with our audience, so much so that our female clients all reported increased confidence and a better understanding of self-worth and ability to negotiate their future business deals. Thank you Tatiana for giving the women in our program a full more powerful perspective of themselves!”
— Mustafa Alio, Managing Director, Jumpstart Refugee Talent
— Attended: Negotiation, Gender & Entrepreneurship
“I wanted to express how inspirational you are to women like me - who can certainly improve on my negotiating skills such as job offers and life in general. You make me want to be a stronger and better person. Thank you.”
— Santina B., Attendee, Woodgreen Services
— Attended: Job Offer Negotiations
CUSTOMER SATISFACTION
NEGOTIATIONS 101
Interactive Talk
Overall review of ‘Negotiations 101’: 92.8% (4.64/5)
Overall review of the workshop includes: content is valuable, take-aways are clear, relevant to participant’s role, and would recommend the workshop to a friend or colleague.
Overall review of the presenter Tatiana Astray: 95% (4.75/5)
Overall review of presenter includes: Tatiana is engaging, knowledgeable, made content accessible and would be interested in taking another workshop with Tatiana.
— Canadian Venture Capital and Private Equity Association - YCP Event
NEGOTIATIONS, GENDER & ENTREPRENEURSHIP
Workshop
Overall review of ‘Negotiation, Gender & Power for Entrepreneurs’: 100% (5/5)
Overall review of workshop includes: content is valuable, take-aways are clear, relevant to role, and would recommend the workshop to a friend or colleague.
Overall review of the presenter Tatiana Astray: 97.5% (4.87/5)
Overall review of presenter includes: Tatiana is engaging, knowledgeable, made content accessible and would be interested in taking another workshop with Tatiana.
— ACCES Employment - Entrepreneurship for Women Program
BODY LANGUAGE & MANAGING RELATIONSHIPS
Interactive Talk
Overall review of ‘Reading body language and enhancing trust in professional relationships’: 80% (4/5)
Overall review of the interactive talk includes: content is valuable, take-aways are clear, relevant to participant’s role, and would recommend the workshop to a friend or colleague.
Overall review of the presenter Tatiana Astray: 81.66% (4.08/5)
Overall review of presenter includes: Tatiana is engaging, knowledgeable, made content accessible and would be interested in taking another workshop with Tatiana.
— Canadian Venture Capital and Private Equity Association - YCP Event
BUSINESS NEGOTIATIONS
Workshop
Overall review of ‘Business Negotiations’: 94% (4.70/5)
Overall review of the workshop includes: content is valuable, take-aways are clear, relevant to participant’s role, made immediate changes to negotiation practices, and would recommend the workshop to a friend or colleague.
Overall review of the presenter Tatiana Astray: 98.6% (4.93/5)
Overall review of presenter includes: Tatiana is engaging, knowledgeable, made content accessible and would be interested in taking another workshop with Tatiana.
— Bonfire
NEGOTIATIONS, GENDER & ENTREPRENEURSHIP
Workshop
Overall review of ‘Negotiation, Gender & Power for Entrepreneurs’: 90% (4.5/5, Note: last minute online delivery due to COVID-19)
Overall review of workshop includes: content is valuable, take-aways are clear, relevant to participant’s role, and would recommend the workshop to a friend or colleague.
Overall review of the presenter Tatiana Astray: 88.2% (4.41/5)
Overall review of presenter includes: Tatiana is engaging, knowledgeable, made content accessible and would be interested in taking another workshop with Tatiana.
— Syrian Canadian Foundation and Jumpstart Refugee Talent - HER Startup Program
Format Options
Interactive Talk
Option One
During interactive talks, participants will have a chance to participate in short exercises, interact with each other and ask questions. All talks include science-validated insights and practical takeaways.
Time commitment:
1 hour to 3 hours
What’s included:
Supplementary material to share with participants depending on the topic chosen
Feedback assessment
Professional Development Workshop
Option Two
During workshops, participants will gain hands-on experience by completing a negotiation simulation tailored to the company’s needs. All workshops include science-validated insights and practical takeaways. A high-level agenda is provided once the topic is chosen.
Time commitment:
3 hours (half-day training)
6 hours (full-day training)
What’s included:
Negotiation simulation
Summary of the workshop to share with participants
Feedback assessment
Additional options:
Professional questionnaires
Individualized body language assessment
Multi-day Programs
Option Three
Multi-day programs are custom-made to the company’s needs. Participants develop their knowledge in specially selected exercises and thought-provoking group discussions. Science-validated insights and practical takeaways are woven throughout the program to help participants develop a deep understanding of the topic. A high-level agenda is provided once the topic is chosen.
Time commitment: Custom multi-day formats include
30 minutes to 1 hour (Lunch and learns)
3 hours (half-day training)
6 hours (full-day training)
What's included:
Interactive exercises
Professional questionnaire
Summary of the topic to share with participants
Feedback assessment
Additional Information
Availability: In-person and online delivery COVID permitting. Availability provided upon request.
Deposit: There is a 30% non-refundable deposit (retainer fee) when talks and/or workshops are reserved. The remaining 70% of the total is due 30 days following the event.
Delivery: Zoom link provided
Additional notes: No recordings