Humanity is at a crossroads. Climate change, rising authoritarianism, and deeply stubborn hierarchies of gender, racial, and economic inequality are all symptoms of an outdated patriarchal culture, one that is dying but not going quietly.
Collaborative Hardball is both a rallying cry and a practical guide for women--and anyone who supports the rise of the feminine--to reclaim power, redefine negotiation, and dismantle the systems holding us back.
Seasoned negotiation expert Susan Coleman asserts that the ways we negotiate-- whether in the boardroom, the bedroom, or on the global stage--matter now more than ever. Blending actionable tools with powerful stories from her own life and the lives of other inspiring women, Coleman introduces a revolutionary "New Negotiation" that blends the strategic mastery of collaboration with a feminine-infused strength that comes from knowing who we truly are.
This isn't your typical negotiation manual. It's a manifesto for systemic change. Whether you're navigating high-stakes deals, personal relationships, or global movements, Collaborative Hardball will sharpen your voice, ignite your confidence, and equip you to lead with purpose in every arena of your life.
About the Author :
For over thirty-five years, Susan Coleman has worked from war zones to boardrooms teaching people negotiation skills, mediating conflict, and supporting clients in collaborative change initiatives through facilitation and coaching. She has worked with tens of thousands of people in thirty-four countries, on just about every continent, and with hundreds of organizations, governments, teams, and individuals including the United Nations, NASA, Senior Women Leaders of the Government of Afghanistan, and Columbia University.
Her initiative with the UN ultimately resulted in over one hundred thousand professionals being trained in collaborative, intercultural negotiation, one of the largest peacebuilding initiatives on the planet. She started her professional journey as a litigator in New York City but detoured to the negotiation and conflict resolution field after attending the Kennedy School at Harvard.
Coleman was born into one of the oldest colonial American families, where she has had a front row seat to the ironies of privilege, power, and patriarchy. Throughout her life, she has been an activist for evolutionary social change with a deep respect for both the diversity of humans and the natural world.
Review :
"This book is pure feminine fire. Susan Coleman doesn't just teach negotiation--she reclaims it. Collaborative Hardball is a pleasure- fueled, truth-telling, system-shaking call for women to stop settling for crumbs and start leading from radiance, desire, and unapologetic power. Read it, rise with it, and remember who the hell you are."
--Regena Thomashauer, aka Mama Gena, founder of the School of Womanly Arts; author, Pussy: A Reclamation
"In Collaborative Hardball, Susan Coleman offers a vital next chapter in the evolution of negotiation. Building on the foundations of Getting to Yes, she shows how women--standing in both strength and empathy--can lead us toward more just, collaborative, and lasting agreements. At a time of global conflict and deep division, this book reminds us that real power lies not in domination but in grounded clarity, deep listening, and the courage to change the rules. A powerful guide for a world that urgently needs new ways forward."
--William Ury, author, Possible: How We Survive (and Thrive) in an Age of Conflict; co-author, Getting to Yes
"Collaborative Hardball is a book for everyone who wants to know how to negotiate, including negotiating with those still stuck in a domination worldview. It is a practical and important tool for cultural transformation from domination to partnership."
--Riane Eisler, author, The Chalice and the Blade, The Real Wealth of Nations, and Nurturing Our Humanity
"In Collaborative Hardball Susan Coleman asks us to reimagine tough negotiations as thrilling activism. Powered by cutting-edge research, unforgettable stories, and step-by-step tactics, Coleman offers us the essential playbook for toppling stale hierarchies as we advance gender equity, make climate progress, and get you that raise you totally deserve."
--Zoe Chance, PhD, professor, Yale School of Management, and bestselling author, Influence Is Your Superpower
"In Collaborative Hardball, Susan Coleman offers more than a new way to negotiate--she offers a call to evolve. Her compelling framework challenges outdated systems of power and charts a path toward inclusive leadership rooted in strength, empathy, and gender equity. Coleman's 'New Negotiation' approach reclaims voice, rebalances power, and pushes us to create a more inclusive and collaborative world. This book is essential reading for anyone ready to lead with both courage and conscience."
--John Barkat, PhD, mediator, International Monetary Fund, and former UN assistant secretary-general
"After decades as a mediator and coach, Susan Coleman consolidates her wisdom and vast understanding of best practices in negotiation, conflict resolution, and large-scale systemic change into a tour de force, Collaborative Hardball. Her contribution is a call for women, and all who champion a new way forward, to lead with clarity, courage, and mutual collaboration. Coleman calls us to higher levels of healing and integrity and invites us into the struggle for justice and peace with ferocity and pragmatism. I believe Susan's voice will resonate far and wide as people look for practical guidance on how to serve life at this urgent time."
--Amy Elizabeth Fox, CEO, Mobius Executive Leadership
"If you're ready to stop giving your power away and rewrite the rules, Collaborative Hardball is your guide. Susan Coleman shows us that true power comes from knowing who you are and negotiating from that place."
--Barbara Stanny, author, Secrets of Six-Figure Women and Overcoming Underearning
"Filled with practical guidance and inspiring stories, Susan Coleman offers a powerful roadmap for women ready to lead with clarity, courage, and compassion. Her AEIOU model is both practical and profound--inviting us to negotiate not through 'power over' but through authentic connection and shared purpose. Collaborative Hardball is a vital guide for women--and anyone--committed to transforming systems and stepping into leadership that truly serves."
--Peggy Holman, author, Engaging Emergence; co-author, The Change Handbook
"In Collaborative Hardball, Susan Coleman offers a bold, necessary invitation to reshape how we lead, negotiate, and connect--especially as women. With clarity and conviction, she shows that reclaiming power is not about domination but about deep relational engagement and authentic presence. This is more than a book on negotiation; it's a guide to transforming systems from the inside out, grounded in the values of empathy, equity, and collective wisdom."
--Nadine B. Hack, CEO, beCause Global Consulting; author, The Power of Connectedness
