Thursday, October 8th
Our special guest this week, Elizabeth Stokoe , Professor and Associate Vice President, The London School of Economics and Political Science, will present on:
Why Some Mediations Succeed—and Others Don’t: A General Counsel’s Perspective
Why do some conversations move disputes forward while others harden positions and make agreement impossible?
Drawing on decades of empirical research into real-world conversations — not simulations or theory — Professor Elizabeth Stokoe shows how talk actually works in moments of conflict, persuasion, and decision-making. By analyzing what people really say, moment by moment, she reveals small but consequential choices in language that can escalate resistance or open paths to resolution. This session will challenge common assumptions about negotiation and mediation, and offer evidence-based insights into how skilled professionals can use conversation itself — precisely and deliberately — to improve outcomes.
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Our presenter:
Elizabeth Stokoe is an internationally recognized expert on how conversations work and why they matter. She joined London School of Economics and Political Science in 2023 as Professor in the Department of Psychological and Behavioural Science and became Associate Vice-President (Impact) in 2024.
Before joining LSE, she was Professor of Social Interaction at Loughborough University, where she also held senior research leadership roles. She also served as Visiting Professor at the University of Southeastern Norway.
Her research uses conversation analysis to explore how talk shapes everyday life and high-stakes moments alike, from first dates and medical appointments to sales conversations and crisis negotiation. She has also brought her expertise into industry through work with Typeform and Deployed.
Beyond academia, Professor Stokoe is a gifted science communicator. She has spoken for TED, Google, Microsoft, New Scientist, and The Royal Institution, and has appeared at major festivals including Latitude Festival and Cheltenham Science Festival.
She is the author of Talk: The Science of Conversation and co-author of Crisis Talk. Her work was also featured on BBC Radio 4’s The Life Scientific.
Offered by Will Work For Food, founded by Natalie Armstrong-Motin (www.HowToMarketMyMediationPractice.com, moderated by Jeff Kichaven (www.JeffKichaven.com ) and Jean Lawler (www.LawlerADR.com), and Program Coordinator, David Shraga (www.DavidShraga.com).
This worldwide conversation will be like nothing else. Join in! Share, learn, have fun, and raise money for food banks.