Philip Danielson
Phil’s path to teaching negotiation wasn’t planned — it was forged. Through military service, the courtroom, the classroom, and personal crisis, he discovered that the outcome of any high-stakes conversation depends on how you show up, not just what you say.
That foundation — equal parts behavioral science, practical experience, and hard-won clarity — is what he now brings to leaders, teams, and business owners who refuse to leave their most important outcomes to chance.
From Missile Control Capsules to the Courtroom to the Boardroom
Phil learned to perform under pressure long before the boardroom. As a U.S. Air Force nuclear missile officer, composure wasn’t optional — it was the job.
That foundation carried him through Harvard’s master negotiation program, a career as a trial attorney, and years as managing partner of a law firm — where he led complex negotiations and built teams responsible for multi-million-dollar outcomes.
Later, as a business school professor at the University of Maryland Global Campus in Asia and president of an executive development firm, he began translating those hard-won lessons into training others could use.
When the Playbook Stopped Working
Phil was diagnosed with Multiple System Atrophy (MSA) — a rare, progressive neurological condition with no known cure. He was told he had roughly ten years. Overnight, his career, his health, and his sense of control came to a sudden stop.
Forced to slow down, he began studying how the brain makes decisions under stress — the work of Daniel Kahneman on System 1 and System 2 thinking — and discovered why even the most capable people lose composure when it matters most. Negotiation isn’t about having the right words. It’s about training the right behaviors.
That discovery gave his work a new direction and purpose. He shifted from managing outcomes to teaching others how to shape them — not through force, but through presence. His diagnosis didn’t end his career. It sharpened it.
His Belief: Everyone Can Learn to Become Bold
Negotiation isn’t reserved for executives or dealmakers. It’s part of everyday life — asking for what you need, setting boundaries, managing conflict, or leading change.
Phil’s work exists for anyone who wants to stay clear, confident, and in control when the moment matters. His framework has helped executives, founders, attorneys, educators, and individuals learn to communicate with precision and purpose.
Whether you’re preparing for a pivotal conversation, navigating a career transition, or simply tired of replaying stressful moments in your head, Phil’s approach helps you move from reaction to response — from uncertainty to calm authority.
Background & Credentials
Harvard Negotiation Training
Trained in advanced negotiation methodology at Harvard, applying rigorous frameworks to real-world high-stakes scenarios.
U.S. Air Force Officer
Served as a nuclear missile officer in the U.S. Air Force, where composure under extreme pressure was a daily requirement.
Attorney & Law Firm Leader
Former trial attorney and managing partner. Led complex negotiations and built high-performing legal teams responsible for multi-million-dollar outcomes.
Published Author
Author of The Bold Negotiator: Taking Charge of Your Career and Life — available on Amazon and Kindle.
University Professor
Associate Professor at University of Maryland Global Campus. Taught U.S. soldiers and veterans along the Pacific rim.
Executive Trainer & Mentor
President of TBN Management Consulting. Former UVU Business Advisory Board Member. Previously mentored veterans navigating career transitions through Veterati.
Ready to Start?
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