CASE STUDY
Customer
Industry: European Ecosystem Hub for Female Entrepreneurship
Project: Negotiation Enablement for Lead F and Grow F Cohorts
Company: Female Founders
Contact persons: Elisabeth van Holthe tot Echten, Program Manager, Female Founders
Challenges
- Overcoming the “Negotiation Gap”: Female founders often viewnegotiation as innate talent rather than a learnable skill.
- Confidence Gap: Male-dominated investment environments create psychological pressure, leading to defensive engagement.
- Transforming Perceived Disadvantage: Shifting the mindset from “underdog” to leveraging difference as a strategic advantage.
Our Approach and Execution
Tactical Knowledge & “The Negotiator’s Toolkit”
Provided robust, practical frameworks and demystified negotiation by breaking down complex deals into manageable tactics.
The “Safe-Space” Simulation Lab
Created a secure environment for live negotiation simulations, allowing participants to test new personas and tactics without real-world risk.
Individualized Debriefs & “Real-Life”Integration
Conducted intensive debriefs and provided tailored feedback on current challenges,
ensuring immediate applicability to real investor meetings and leadership hurdles.
Results and Impact
- 100 NPS (Net Promoter Score, runs from -100 to +100).
- ++ Rapid transformation within live simulation.
Key Highlights
- Rapid shift from defensive to proactive negotiation within hours of live simulation
- Founders became strategic architects of their deals, not just better negotiators
- Practical frameworks and role-play led to measurable confidence gains
Key Learnings
- Unlocking the “Confidence Reserve”: The most effective way to bridge the confidence gap is through shared, low-stakes victories.
- Professional support is not just about tactics, but about creating a safe space for leaders to realize and unlock their existing capabilities.
About the collaboration
Our participants enjoyed her session on Negotiation In Action which imparted them with the confidence to get what they want. Petra shared her most important negotiation techniques, practical exercises as well as a confidence – building framework that the leaders can put into practice right away!
Elisabeth van Holthe tot Echten, Female Founders
The sheer talent and intellectual depth within the Female Founders community is immense, yet it is often held back by the misconception that negotiation is an innate gift rather than a structured skill. By providing a clear, tactical framework, I saw an incredibly rapid transformation in the cohorts – moving from hesitation to high-level strategic maneuvering in just a few sessions. It is deeply rewarding to see these founders realize that when they combine their technical excellence with a proven negotiation methodology, they become an unstoppable force at the bargaining table.
Petra Wolkenstein, CEO Konsultori