Budget Negotiation Training That Actually Works
Most negotiation courses hand you theory and send you on your way. We built something different. Real scenarios from actual budget meetings. Practical frameworks you can use next week. And support from people who've sat across the table themselves.
Talk About Your NeedsHow We Got Here
Started in 2018 when three finance directors realized something was missing. Everyone taught theory. Nobody taught what to say when the CFO asks you to cut another 15% from an already tight budget.
The Beginning
Three of us met at a finance conference in Melbourne. We'd all survived brutal budget cycles and noticed the same gap—training programs taught financial analysis but never covered the human side of negotiation. So we started running weekend workshops in Canberra, testing what actually helped people.
Finding Our Method
Pandemic hit and everything went remote. Turned out this worked better anyway—people could join from regional areas, fit sessions around their schedules. We refined the curriculum based on what participants actually used. Dropped about 40% of the original content because it looked good on paper but didn't help in real meetings.
Building the Community
People kept asking if they could connect with others from previous programs. We set up a private forum and it became the most valuable part. Now participants share strategies, workshop difficult situations together, and occasionally just vent about impossible budget requests. That peer support matters more than we expected.
What's Next
We're launching specialized tracks starting September 2025. One for public sector contexts, another for corporate environments, and a third for nonprofit organizations. Each has different constraints and politics. Next intake opens in August with programs running through early 2026.
Learn Your Way
Different people need different approaches. Some want intensive immersion. Others need to fit learning around demanding schedules. We built options that actually work for how adults learn while managing full-time jobs.
Live Sessions
Eight weeks of evening sessions. Tuesdays and Thursdays, 7-9pm AEST. Small groups—never more than twelve people—so everyone gets actual practice time. You'll negotiate mock scenarios based on real situations our participants have faced.
- Practice with immediate feedback
- Ask questions as they come up
- Learn from others' approaches
- Build your professional network
Self-Paced Track
Same content, your timeline. Video modules you can watch at 3am if that's when you have time. Written frameworks you can reference during actual budget meetings. Plus monthly group sessions where you can bring real challenges you're facing.
- Access materials anytime for six months
- Join optional group sessions
- Get written feedback on practice exercises
- Work through content at your pace
Intensive Workshop
Two full days—usually a weekend—where we compress everything. Demanding but effective if you need results quickly. Heavy on practice scenarios. Participants often say they learn more about negotiation in these two days than they did in years of budget cycles.
- Immersive learning environment
- Multiple practice scenarios
- Immediate skill application
- Follow-up support sessions
Team Programs
Bring your whole finance team. We customize content to your organization's specific context—your budget process, your stakeholders, your constraints. This works particularly well when multiple people from the same department need aligned approaches.
- Tailored to your organization
- Flexible scheduling options
- On-site or remote delivery
- Ongoing team support
Skills That Matter in Real Budget Meetings
Forget abstract negotiation principles. We focus on what you need when the finance director says your department's budget request is 30% too high and the meeting ends in twenty minutes.
Everything we teach comes from situations our participants faced. And then we practice. A lot. Because knowing what to do and actually doing it under pressure are completely different things.
Reading the Room
Budget meetings have undercurrents. Learning to spot when the real objection isn't what someone's actually saying. Understanding who the decision-maker is even when they're not the most senior person there. These soft skills often matter more than your spreadsheet.
Defending Without Being Defensive
When someone challenges your numbers, your instinct is probably to get protective. We help you stay calm and strategic instead. How to acknowledge concerns while maintaining your position. When to give ground and when to hold firm. The language that builds credibility rather than eroding it.
Creating Trade-offs
Rarely can you just say no to budget cuts. But you can frame choices. "If we reduce this line item, here's what we won't deliver." Learning to present options that protect your core priorities while showing flexibility. This skill alone can change your budget outcomes.
