Engagement PR & Marketing worked with Venn Negotiation to clarify Christine McKay’s messaging, elevate her visibility, and position her as a thought leader in negotiation, challenging current “Never split the difference,” style negotiation with her preference for more fair relationship-building style of negotiation where all parties get more of what they want. Her favorite saying, “Negotiation is a conversation about a relationship, and you cannot win in a relationship.”
She was poignant to note the vast differences between haggling and negotiation, which the Engagement PR & Marketing team carved into her message points across media and outreach. These strategies cemented her authority as a negotiation strategist for underdog businesses. Her evolving brand—from personal narrative to public recognition—illustrates the powerful interplay of storytelling, niche focus, and thought leadership in creating a compelling and enduring brand.
Client Overview: Venn Negotiation
- Founder/CEO: Christine McKay, a Harvard MBA and global business negotiation strategist based in Los Angeles. She has negotiated with nearly half of the Fortune 500, with and on behalf of hundreds of small to mid-sized businesses across more than 50 countries. (wheretheresawillpodcast.com)
- Mission: To empower small and mid-sized businesses—often in David vs. Goliath negotiations—to negotiate effectively, reduce risk and failure rates, and claim greater value in their contracts. (wheretheresawillpodcast.com)
- Services: VennMasters training programs, negotiation strategies, books, and In the Venn Zone podcast.
Background & Legacy
Christine’s journey is a compelling story of resilience:
- Overcame homelessness while pregnant at 19, welfare dependence by 22, and single parenthood throughout her advanced education, including Harvard.
- Earned a scholarship to Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and later an MBA at Harvard Business School—despite significant personal hardship. (Ignite Visibility)