American Negotiation Institute Partners with Nationwide and Baker Hostetler for Groundbreaking Communication Skills Training
COLUMBUS, OHIO — In a powerful demonstration of commitment to professional development and effective communication, the American Negotiation Institute (ANI) recently partnered with Nationwide Insurance and Baker Hostetler to deliver specialized training on navigating difficult conversations and building meaningful connections in the workplace.
The event, titled "How to Have Difficult Conversations: Building Bridges to Connection," brought together approximately 200 professionals at Nationwide's Jeffers Auditorium in Columbus, with additional participants joining virtually from across the country.
Forward-Thinking Collaboration
This collaborative initiative united three organizations at the forefront of their respective industries. Nationwide, a leading insurance and financial services company with over $322 billion in assets, and Baker Hostetler, a premier law firm with more than 1,100 attorneys across 18 U.S. offices, partnered with ANI to bring cutting-edge negotiation and communication training to their teams.
The program focused on equipping participants with practical frameworks for approaching sensitive topics with confidence and effectiveness, emphasizing skills that can be immediately applied in both professional and personal contexts.
Interactive Approach to Skill Development
Kwame Christian, Esq., M.A., founder and CEO of the American Negotiation Institute, led the 90-minute interactive session using the innovative Mentimeter platform, which allowed both in-person and virtual attendees to participate through polls and anonymous questions.
The training centered on ANI's renowned Compassionate Curiosity Framework, a methodology designed to help people navigate difficult conversations authentically and effectively. This approach, which puts practicality over theory while remaining firmly grounded in science, has been adopted by Fortune 500 companies, government agencies, and millions of professionals worldwide.
Building Bridges Across Organizations
The event highlighted the importance of building bridges between individuals and strengthening connections across teams and departments—themes that resonated particularly well with both organizations' corporate values and goals.
For Nationwide and Baker Hostetler, the training represented an investment in creating a workplace culture where meaningful conversations can flourish, even around sensitive topics.
Impact and Future Initiatives
The success of this collaboration demonstrates how organizations can work together to provide meaningful professional development opportunities that strengthen both individual skills and organizational capabilities.
The American Negotiation Institute continues to be a strong leader in the field of negotiation and conflict resolution training, having trained over 2 million professionals worldwide through its various programs, including the #1 negotiation podcast "Negotiate Anything" (10M+ downloads) and 48 LinkedIn Learning courses reaching over 2.38 million learners globally.
This event represents just one example of how ANI's practical, accessible approach to difficult conversations is transforming workplace communication and conflict resolution across industries.
For more information about the American Negotiation Institute and upcoming training opportunities, visit www.negotiateanything.com.
Media Contact:
Ashley Wilson
Head of Communications | awilson@americannegotiationinstitute.com
