Our Story, Mission & Vision

As an attorney, mediator, and arbitrator, I have sat around thousands of negotiation tables over my 20+ year career.  Off the top of my head, I was (and continue to be) the only woman in the room at 80% of those tables.  And while most of the conversations were completely innocuous, the bad ones stuck with me.  For many years, I could not figure out what to do with the feelings anger and frustration that often came up, and lingered, for me.  

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In 2016, I became ill - largely due to stress and exhaustion.  So I started meditating every day and seeking ways to better take charge of my emotions...  I enrolled in university courses to learn about positive psychology... Obtained mindfulness coach credentials...  And embarked on yoga teacher certification. 

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All the while, I also served as a behind the scenes negotiation consultant for many of my female friends and colleagues - accomplished women who are partners in law firms, entrepreneurs, doctors, artists, and scientists.  The refrain was the same for all when it came to negotiation:

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I don't want to push too hard.

They'll tell be I am being too aggressive.  Again. 

I hate negotiating for myself.

I am afraid I'll ruin the relationship / miss the opportunity if I ask for too much.

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And then something clicked for me.  My studies in mindfulness had a direct correlation to many women's experiences in negotiation.  So why not marry the two in order to create better negotiation experiences and outcomes?

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Take Charge Negotiations was born.

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Providing negotiation educational experiences is not some pet project I fell into, mind you.  My entire legal career has been devoted to promoting fairness, efficiency, and equity in dispute resolution.  I earned a Master's of Law degree from the Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution at Pepperdine University School of Law in 2005, after earning my JD five years earlier.  I've taught negotiation to thousands of people - in small entrepreneurial associations and Fortune 50 companies and large law firms. And I have personally negotiated deals ranging from five to nine figures.

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Please feel free to drop me a line.  I am honored every day that I get to do this work and would love to hear from you.

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Sincerely,

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Erin Gleason Alvarez

Founder & CEO, Take Charge Negotiations