Learn to negotiate across cultures
We started Lost In Negotiation because even ordinary moments—greeting a colleague, sharing a meal, or discussing a contract deadline—can unfold in radically different ways depending on the country. We learnt this the hard way. Through our podcast and training, we help people decode those unwritten rules so they can negotiate daily life and business across cultures with confidence, not guesswork.
Why build a podcast about global negotiation?
Because a handshake in Stockholm and a handshake in Dubai carry entirely different expectations—one values brevity, the other warmth and lingering eye contact. We created Lost In Negotiation to decode the cultural signals and unspoken rules that genuinely influence deal-making, exploring one country at a time. From greetings and punctuality to shared meals and building trust, each episode equips you with the knowledge you need to succed in that particular contry.
Negotiation insights you can actually use
Olof and Jeanette bring decades of combined experience in negotiation and cross-cultural communication to every course and episode.
Olof Sjöberg
Founder, Ponto Group AB
Olof Sjöberg spent the first 20 years of his professional career in the Norwegian energy sector, where he held procurement and project management roles on projects around the world. This provided a unique opportunity to negotiate and resolve conflicts with people from different cultures and backgrounds. These experiences, combined with further studies in negotiation techniques and conflict management—such as Harvard Law School’s Master Negotiator program—led to the creation of Ponto Group AB, a company focused on building bridges—not just physical ones, but the ones we build between people. Olof is also a certified mediator from the London School of Mediation. Olof’s philosophy on how best to negotiate and resolve conflicts can be applied in any situation, from resolving family negotiations about the next vacation destination to complex business deals. www.pontogroup.com
Jeanette Ohlsson Carlborg
Founder, Kulturlänk AB
Jeanette Ohlsson Carlborg is a religious historian and cultural communicator who brings her vast expertise in intercultural communication to make people understand each other better. Jeanette has lived more than 20 years in different countries in all corners of the world where she was lucky enough to meet amazing people who showed great hospitality and took the time to explain all the things that are not so easy to understand when you have just moved to a new country. Upon her return to Sweden, she started Kulturlänk AB, a company that focuses on training both the private and public sector in the field of intercultural communication. In the 20 years that Jeanette has run Kulturlänk, she has helped countless organizations understand and develop diverse workplaces and business relationships. www.kulturlank.nu
What our participants say about our course in International Negotiations
"Solid presentation. High level of competence. Relatable and relevant experience. Friendly, interesting and dynamic presentors with ability to engage, incorporate humor and excersises well. The correct amount of pauses between presentations. Overall - very satisfied."
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"Fantastic course! Learnt so much, would highly recommend."
"I've always felt like I didn't have a chance in negotiations but now I'm able to put emotions aside and have great discussions."
40 years of insights — and we are just getting started
Whether you want to book a course or suggest a country for our next episode, we would love to hear from you.
Country-specific insights from our base in Sweden
We develop episodes and courses from Malmö, Sweden, but the world is our office. The real deliverable is cultural clarity you can use from Tokyo to São Paulo. That is what a global negotiation training session should provide.