Sue Williams is one of the world’s most experienced hostage negotiators. A former senior detective at Scotland Yard, she led both the Kidnap and Hostage Crisis Negotiation Units and played a central role in the UK’s national crisis response to overseas abductions -regularly advising Prime Ministers and senior ministers during high-stakes incidents. Over her career, she has helped resolve hundreds of hostage situations - on land, at sea, and in conflict zones.Sue is an Associate Fellow at Oxford University’s Saïd Business School, where she teaches negotiation strategy through the lens of crisis negotiation. She also lectures at Harvard University and works with humanitarian actors on crisis planning and response. Awarded the Queen’s Police Medal for her service, she now advises private organizations, companies, and families navigating critical incidents such as extortion, cyber threats, and abductions.In this episode of Conflict Power and Persuasion, Sue, takes us from the front lines of international hostage cases to the world of business - revealing the deep overlap between crisis negotiation and strategic leadership.

Some topics discussed include…

• Her personal approach to preparation before entering high-stakes negotiations

• Why establishing proof of life is a critical early step

• The danger of labelling individuals as “hostages” -and the importance of humanizing them to build empathy

• How hostage negotiation dynamics have evolved, including the impact of copycat scenarios and modern communication channels• Practical strategies for de-escalation in volatile situations

• Which crisis negotiation skills translate effectively into business or workplace contexts

• The ongoing need to build and maintain trust throughout the negotiation process

• The critical role of personal security planning and mitigation training in high-risk environments

• And much more…

Links:

Pip decks Negotiation Tactics: Explore Negotiation Tactics – a deck co-developed by Sue, applying negotiation tactics to everyday decision-making.