As a negotiator, trainer, and coach, Derek advises clients on how to improve interpersonal communications, therefore accelerating deal-making. Through tactical empathy, he has honed a style of negotiating that is humanistic and compassionate. Similarly to the content in his novel, Ego, Authority, Failure, he helps managers to connect with their employees. For corporate and public audiences alike, his stories are captivating, straight from the front line of negotiations.
Derek Gaunt
Leadership Expert. Lead Washington D.C. area Hostage Negotiator. Author of Ego, Authority, and Failure
Derek Gaunt is a top negotiation keynote speaker, leadership expert, and the lead hostage negotiator in the Washington D.C. area. He has delivered seminars, workshops, and in-house training to a variety of corporate clients including Jetblue, Google, Facebook, Harris and Kronos.
Derek Gaunt Keynote Speaker Fee Fee range is for U.S. events, depending on location and organization type
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Derek Gaunt Keynote Speaker Fee Fee range is for U.S. events, depending on location and organization type
Please Inquire
About Keynote Speaker Derek Gaunt
Derek Gaunt is the former leader and commander of hostage negotiations teams in Washington DC for 20 years, the author of Ego, Authority, Failure. Derek is a lecturer, coach, author, and trainer with 29 years of law enforcement experience.
He is a hostage negotiation and incident command subject matter expert, well versed in de-escalating emotions and returning people to a normal functioning level for better decision-making and behavioral change. Derek’s passion for interpersonal communications began when he was selected as a detective in the Criminal Investigations Section of a municipal police agency.
Derek spent the majority of his law enforcement career in the Criminal Investigations Section as a detective, supervisor and eventually commander of major crimes. In 1997, he took his passion for interpersonal communications to the next level, becoming a hostage negotiator. Once he became a supervisor, his passion transitioned from “doing” to teaching the concepts to others.
Derek frequently speaks at hostage negotiations conferences across the country. He is now working for the Black Swan Group, strategic business advisory company, traveling the US and around the world, instructing organizations in how to apply hostage negotiations practices and principles to the business world.
He has delivered seminars, workshops, and in-house training to a variety of corporate clients including Jetblue, Google, Facebook, Harris and Kronos. He has also instructed at national and international business schools. His presentations are engaging and filled with useful techniques for understanding human behavior to improve relationships and accelerate business outcomes.
