NEGOTIATING WHILE BLACK | A Busboys and Poets Books Presentation

A real-world, one-of-a-kind resource for anyone who has ever been underestimated, overlooked, or misunderstood at the negotiating table—whether you’re haggling for a car, asking for a promotion, or advocating for your kids—to help you leverage your unique strengths and walk away with the best deal possible.

There’s no shortage of negotiation books that advise you to “get to yes,” urge you to “never split the difference,” and entreat you to “ask for more.” But none of them take into account the very real implicit bias in the room when a non-white, non-male negotiator sits at the table. Simply put: a one-size-fits-all negotiation style doesn’t work in a complex, multifaceted, multicultural world. The only constant in every negotiation is you. So you’d better learn to leverage who you are to your advantage.

Negotiating While Black is the book lawyer and mediator Damali Peterman wishes had existed as she was faced with the kind of situations that other negotiation scripts just don’t consider, like navigating workplaces where she was the only Black woman or advocating for her young son in his all-white classroom. Drawing on decades of training and experience as a negotiator in high-stakes situations, Peterman has developed successful strategies that will help you become the best communicator that you can be—like the Foundational Five skills all negotiators need, and the Negotiation Superpowers that will lift you to the next level. She also takes readers out of the boardroom and into real life, showing the application of negotiation and how everything is potentially up for discussion—from the trade-in value of your car to the permission for your kid to use the employee bathroom in the back of the store.

At every step, Peterman acknowledges that the unique way you show up in the world will impact your negotiations in all sorts of surprising ways…and that this can in fact be a good thing. Because when you show up prepared and proud of who you are, you’ll reap the rewards.

Damali Peterman is joining us on the Busboys to teach how to be who you are to get what you want. Copies of the book will be available for purchase during and after the event, and Peterman will be signing following the program.

This event is free and open to all. Our program begins at 6:00 pm, and will be followed by an audience Q&A. Copies of NEGOTIATING WHILE BLACK will be available for purchase before and after the event. Please note that this event is IN PERSON and will NOT be livestreamed.

We ask that guests RSVP in order to receive direct updates about the event from Busboys and Poets Books

Damali Peterman, Esq. is the CEO and founder of the prominent global conflict resolution firm, Breakthrough ADR.

As an attorney, mediator and educator, with over 20+ years experience, Damali saw a need to teach people how to listen, negotiate and resolve everyday situations. Damali serves as a mediator, arbitrator and ombudsman for the prestigious ADR firm, JAMS, Inc. Damali is an adjunct professor at Howard University School of Law teaching Basic Mediation Training. She is also a judge for global mediation competitions.

Breakthrough ADR specializes in alternative dispute resolution, creating innovative and engaging ways to help individuals, companies, government agencies and educational institutions prevent, manage and resolve conflict. Breakthrough ADR offers three core services: mediation, training and consulting. Organizations that work with Breakthrough ADR report increased company efficiency and talent retention.

Damali has trained hundreds of New York police officers in mediation and conflict de-escalation techniques. She travels globally to teach workshops in negotiation and mediation and judge mediation competitions. She also virtually teaches students, educators and other professionals on 6 continents.

Globally recognized as a conflict resolution expert, Damali has been featured in/on Forbes, Essence, NBC, CBS, FOX, ABC, In Touch Weekly, People, Black Enterprise, Medium, MadameNoire, CEOWorld, Daily Mail, New York Post and more.

Damali has a certificate from Harvard Business School Online's Negotiation Mastery program and Cornell University ILR School's Professional Neutral Development Program. Damali also completed the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses Program and is a Tory Burch Foundation Fellow. Damali is an adjunct professor at Howard University School of Law.

Damali is a graduate of Spelman College (BA), Middlebury Institute of International Studies (MA), and Howard University School of Law (JD).

Host or Publisher Busboys and Poets