SkillFocus Consultancy

12 May 2026: International Negotiations - IDFR Malaysia
SkillFocus conducted a workshop on "International Negotiation", organized by the Institute of Diplomacy and Foreign Relations (IDFR) Malaysia, under the auspices of Malaysia Technical Cooperation Programme (MTCP) which saw the participation of diplomats and senior foreign ministry officials from 15 countries i.e. including Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Egypt, Indonesia, Lao, Kenya, Maldives, Mexico, Moldova, Myanmar, Nepal, Palestine, Timor-Leste, Turkey, and Ukraine.
SkillFocus's principal consultant Shanta facilitated the workshop.

28 July 2023: International Negotiations - IDFR Malaysia
SkillFocus conducted a workshop on "International Negotiation", organized by the Institute of Diplomacy and Foreign Relations (IDFR) Malaysia, under the auspices of Malaysia Technical Cooperation Programme (MTCP) which saw the participation of diplomats and senior foreign ministry officials from 15 countries i.e. including Azerbaijan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brunei, Cambodia, Fiji, Ghana, Kazakhstan, Laos, Maldives, Mexico, Pakistan, Philippines, Senegal, Sri Lanka and Turkiye.
SkillFocus's principal consultant Shanta facilitated the workshop.

25 July 2023: Group Dynamics and Country Introduction to Malaysia - IDFR Malaysia
SkillFocus conducted this workshop organized by the Institute of Diplomacy and Foreign Relations (IDFR) Malaysia, under the auspices of Malaysia Technical Cooperation Programme (MTCP) which saw participation diplomats and senior foreign ministry officials from 15 countries i.e. Azerbaijan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brunei, Cambodia, Fiji, Ghana, Kazakhstan, Laos, Maldives, Mexico, Pakistan, Philippines, Senegal, Sri Lanka and Turkiye.
SkillFocus's trainer Ivan facilitated the workshop at Melia Hotel KL, supported by Shanta.

20-21 September 2022: Effective Negotiation Skills workshop
For Public Private Partnership Unit (PPP), Prime Minister’s Department of Malaysia

SkillFocus Consultancy conducted a 2-day Negotiation Skills workshop for 20 senior officials involved in negotiating public private partnerships for the Malaysian government led by Dr. Eunice Yeo Huan (Pengarah Kanan, Pusat Kecemerlangan, Unit Kerjasama Awam Swasta). The interactive participatory methodology involved case studies, role plays, group discussion and dialogue. The workshop content focused on the scope of negotiation, conceptual framework, quality of individual and team input, process, preparatory tools, principled negotiation, critical thinking, positional bargaining, BATNA, common pitfalls, underlying assumptions, unconscious bias and professionalism. Negotiation factors such as time, information, power, culture and communication that help drive the negotiation were discussed. Participants concluded by focusing on actionable steps to enhance their own negotiating capacity. The workshop was facilitated by Shanta Nagendram, lead trainer and principal consultant, SkillFocus Consultancy.

Washington DC, USA: 21-25 March 2022

SkillFocus conducted another enhancement workshop on Strategic Negotiation Skills for the Hubert Humphrey Programme with the Institute of International Education (IIE) in Washington DC., under the auspices of the US State Department. This workshop was attended by 18 fellows from the Fellowship year 2021/2022 who are all leaders and professionals from Bangladesh, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Eritrea, Georgia, India, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Malawi, Mexico, Mozambique, Pakistan, Panama, The Philippines, Tunisia, Venezuela, Zimbabwe.

The SkillFocus lead trainer was Nagendram, who herself is an alumna of the Hubert Humphrey Fellowship from Tufts University, USA. SkillFocus collaborated with two mediators from the US Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS) in Washington DC, Commissioner Eileen Hoffman and Commissioner Denise McKenney.

Through this workshop we have now yet another dynamic and positive learning community with an enhanced negotiation consciousness, the ability to drill deeper into the art and science of negotiation, more aware of the need for and benefits of thorough preparation, strategy vs tactics, walk-away alternative, exploring sources of strength and power, leveraging on time, intelligence-gathering, impact of unethical practices, responding to tactics and ploys, emotional intelligence, communicating effectively and the dangers of cultural ignorance or arrogance.

Bravo and congratulations to all the fellows who are participants, organizers, guest speakers and supporters who made this a meaningful and rewarding experience.

The Power of International Education...!

16 June 2021: Introduction to International Negotiations - IDFR Malaysia

SkillFocus conducted a workshop on "Introduction to International Negotiations", organized by the Institute of Diplomacy and Foreign Relations (IDFR) Malaysia, under the auspices of Diploma in Diplomacy (DiD) Programme which saw participation of 22 diplomats from Wisma Putra, Sekretriat ASEAN, Jabatan Perdana Menteri, and Jabatan Hal Ehwal Maritim. SkillFocus's principal consultant Shanta Nagendram facilitated, supported by Ivan Kumar.

2 June 2021: International Negotiations - IDFR Malaysia

SkillFocus conducted a workshop on "International Negotiation", organized by the Institute of Diplomacy and Foreign Relations (IDFR) Malaysia, under the auspices of Malaysia Technical Cooperation Programme (MTCP) which saw participation of 20 diplomats from 9 countries including Ghana, Iran, Kenya, Kiribati, Oman, Samoa, Timor-Leste, Turkmenistan and Malaysia.

SkillFocus's principal consultant Shanta Nagendram facilitated, supported by Ivan Kumar.

We at SkillFocus would like to thank all of you who wished us well and helped us in one way or the other, we look forward to another year ahead with new opportunities to work with you. Thank you! Shanta Nagendram