Calendar of Events

Presentation Description

Description of Topic/Presentation:

At this event, we will discuss Never Split the Difference: Negotiating as if Your Life Depended on It by Chris Voss and Tahl Raz. Drawing from his experience as an FBI hostage negotiator, Voss presents a framework for navigating high-stakes conversations in both professional and personal contexts. We will examine the psychology behind effective negotiation, learn tactical empathy, and uncover counterintuitive strategies that challenge conventional wisdom. Voss’ approach will resonate with project managers and leaders seeking to strengthen communication and decision-making under pressure..

Click here to learn more about the PMI-OC Book Club!

Learning Objectives from the Book:

1. Negotiating as a core leadership skill - Explore how tactical empathy, calibrated questions, and emotional intelligence can elevate your ability to influence outcomes in high-stakes conversations.
2. The psychology of persuasion - Understand how human behavior, cognitive biases, and subtle cues shape negotiation dynamics.
3. Listening as a strategic advantage - Learn how active listening and mirroring techniques can build trust, uncover hidden information, and shift power in negotiations.

Learning Objectives from the Meeting:

1. Strengthen business acumen in negotiations for practical use in real-world project management and leadership scenarios.
2. Discuss the book with others.
3. Gain more perspective through integrating the perspectives of others..

If You Have Questions/Need Help

If you have any questions or need help, please reach out to the Book Club team at book-club@pmi-oc.org.

Speaker Bio

Chris Voss

A 24 year veteran of the FBI, Chris Voss is one of the preeminent practitioners and professors of negotiating skills in the world. He is the founder and principal of The Black Swan Group, a consulting firm that provides training and advises Fortune 500 companies through complex negotiations. Voss has taught for many business schools, including the University of Southern California’s Marshall School of Business, Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business, Harvard University, MIT’s Sloan School of Management, and Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management, among others.

Tahl Raz

Tahl Raz is a storyteller of big ideas in business, technology and the social sciences that are transforming the way we work and live. An award-winning journalist and best-selling author, he has edited and published in everything from Inc. Magazine and GQ to Harvard Business Review and the Jerusalem Post. Management guru Tom Peters called his first co-authored book, “Never Eat Alone,” one of “the most extraordinary and valuable business books” of recent history. The book is still in hardcover over a decade later and is now used as a textbook in MBA programs around the world. He has held roles as a Chief Content Officer, CEO of an online education company called MyGreenLight, and founder and editor-in-chief of Jewcy Media. He lives in New York City with his wife, daughter, and a very fat Pug named Bibi.

Location

This session will be delivered via online webinar. The link will be sent to all registered attendees before the book club meeting begins. 

PDU Accrual

This book's length is 288 pages, with an expected reading time of eight (8) hours. You may personally report a maximum of eight (8) PDUs to PMI for completed reading of this book. The Book Club asks that you please completely read the book prior to attending the virtual event. Additionally, your attendance to the virtual meeting will result in one (1) PDU which will be reported to PMI on your behalf, via a PMI-OC volunteer, 2-3 days after the event. Completed reading of the book and event attendance may result in a maximum of nine (9) PDUs total. If you register for this event, but do not attend, you may still report PDUs for reading the book but may not report or receive additional PDUs for event engagement.

Time

5:50 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. - Early Login/Networking

6:00 p.m. - Event Start

6:00 p.m. to 6:05 p.m. - Book Club Introduction

6:05 p.m. to 6:15 p.m. - Book Overview

6:15 p.m. to 6:20 p.m. - Initial Book Rating

6:20 p.m. to 6:55 p.m. - Discussion

6:55 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. - Post-discussion Book Rating

7:00 p.m. to 7:05 p.m. - Upcoming Events

7:05 p.m. to 7:10 p.m. - Next Book, Door Prize, Feedback Survey

7:10 p.m. to 7:20 p.m. - Group Photo & Networking/LI Profile Sharing

7:20 p.m. - Event Concluded & Adjourned

Cost

Registration Cutoff Date and Time: Must register by February 17, 2026 @ 11:59 p.m.

This will allow us time to send the meeting link to all participants at once.

PDUs: 9 - Business Acumen (1 PDU for Meeting Attendance, 8 PDUs for Completed Reading)