Sheila Heen

Sheila Heen is a Harvard Law School professor and author, recognized for her expertise in negotiation and conflict resolution. After joining the esteemed Harvard Negotiation Project in 1993, Sheila Heen quickly established herself as a pivotal figure in developing negotiation theory and practice. She went on to co-author the New York Times bestseller, ‘Difficult Conversations: How to Discuss What Matters Most,’ initially published in 2000. This seminal work, co-authored with Douglas Stone and Bruce Patton, expanded problem-solving approaches to conflict resolution and garnered widespread acclaim.

Heen currently serves as the Thaddeus R. Beal Professor of Practice and a Deputy Director of the Harvard Negotiation Project at Harvard Law School. Building on her academic and authorial success, Heen co-founded Triad Consulting Group, a leading corporate education and consulting firm that operates across six continents. Through Triad, she has advised a diverse roster of executive teams, including Pixar, Hugo Boss, the NBA, the Federal Reserve Bank, Ford, Novartis, Converse, and American Express, on navigating conflict and improving working relationships.

In the same year, Heen contributed ‘Difficult talks spike anxiety. Learning conversations can help.’ to The Washington Post. Heen’s expertise remains highly sought after for complex negotiations, particularly those characterized by high emotions and strained relationships, cementing her status as a global authority on communication and conflict resolution.