In the first-ever episode of How My Friends Negotiate, host Professor Andrea Schneider sits down with acclaimed television and film producer Nikki Silver, whose career spans more than 25 years and includes multiple Emmy-winning projects. From producing the beloved PBS series Reading Rainbow and thought-provoking documentaries to bringing powerful stories like The Giver and The Watsons Go to Birmingham to the screen, Nikki has negotiated creative vision, collaboration, and impact in every corner of the entertainment industry. Through candid stories and practical insight this episode reveals how negotiation isn’t just about deals — it’s about relationships.

Leadership expert and author Ruth Gotian joins for a conversation on negotiating at the highest levels. Ruth shares the behind-the-scenes story of negotiating her book advance and publishing deal, offering candid insights into what it takes to advocate for your value. She reflects on the early days of working remotely—long before it was common—and how creating flexibility sometimes requires negotiating norms that don’t yet exist. The conversation also dives into salary negotiation strategies, especially for high achievers who may struggle to ask for more. At the heart of the episode is Ruth’s powerful framework for opportunity creation: find a need, show the need, and demonstrate how you can fill that gap. Drawing on her research studying Nobel Prize winners, astronauts, Olympic and NBA champions, and senior executives, she explains how top performers don’t wait for doors to open; they build them.

Andrea Schneider sits down with two-time Olympic champion rower, attorney, and negotiator Caryn Davies to explore how the mindset and skills of elite athletes translate to negotiating in life and business. Caryn dives into a compelling negotiation story from her own practice, mentoring a client through a tricky dispute over who owned the rights to an educational course and whether it could be sold. By getting to the heart of what was truly driving the negotiation (each party’s “why") they were able to break through the stalemate and find a resolution. Then, Caryn reflects on her life as an athlete and negotiator, sharing lessons from life in the boat that have shaped her approach to feedback, teamwork, and conflict. From knowing the right and wrong times to give feedback after a race to the core lesson that “we’re all in the same boat,” she reveals how competitive rowing taught her more than just how to win, it taught her how to collaborate, communicate, and negotiate under pressure.

Andrea Schneider sits down with Robert "Bob" Bordone, Senior Fellow at Harvard Law School, founder of the Harvard Negotiation & Mediation Clinical Program, and a leading voice in conflict resolution, to talk about negotiating his own book deal and what he’s learned from decades in the field. From high-stakes disputes to everyday conversations, Bob shares what great negotiators consistently do and how to navigate even the most challenging conversations with clarity and purpose.

John Elefterakis—founding partner of Elefterakis, Elefterakis & Panek—talks about why preparation is everything, how to push back effectively, and why a little bit of math can go a long way in evaluating outcomes. A top trial lawyer who has secured over $1B in verdicts and settlements, John also shares when he first recognized the true power of negotiation—and how that perspective shapes his work today. A proud Cardozo alumnus and member of the Board of Overseers, he remains deeply committed to mentoring the next generation of lawyers.