Melissa Fortunato, Founder and Chief Negotiation Officer (CNO) of Alchemy-Team, tells us about her 23-year FBI career as a Crisis Negotiator and Undercover Agent. Melissa is a graduate of Quantico’s famed negotiation training program and tells us how active listening and well-designed questions brought her remarkable success in resolving hostage for ransom, political kidnappings, and off-kilter abductions. On the show this week, she tells Paige and David how a “romantic” trip to Thailand led to a fake wedding and the chauffeur-driven apprehension of a large band of international arms dealers.
Melissa also dives into some of the benefits of being a woman in crisis negotiation and how her background in psychology helps her de-escalate high-stakes risks. Melissa remains committed to empowering others through transformative negotiation training in her current role.
“Humanness shows up in the strangest situations.” – Melissa Fortunato
“Crime is as old as time. We’re always chasing; they’re always evolving.” – Melissa Fortunato
“You can’t meet anger with anger. It gets you nowhere.” – Melissa Fortunato
This week on Disarming Data:
- How Melissa moved from being a counselor to becoming an FBI Agent
- Melissa shares all about her fake wedding on a yacht and how it led to the apprehension of a large group of criminals
- The duel-edged sword of building connections and a rapport with people they end up arresting
- The difference between crisis response and hostage negotiations on an emotional level
- The kidnap for ransom case of a U.S. citizen in Afghanistan involving the Taliban that Melissa was involved in
- Melissa gives the real story of whether or not people should pay a ransom if someone or something is taken
- The importance of reaching out for help if you’re a victim of ransomware or tech crime
- The transition from undercover to hostage negotiator and why she stopped doing undercover work to focus on hostage negotiations
- Melissa’s new company Alchemy Team and her role as a negotiation consultant for businesses
- Melissa shares her book recommendations for people who want to improve their negotiation skills
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Zoomers 2 Boomers is a podcast where Paige, a tech-savvy Zoomer, and her dad, a classic car-loving Boomer, bridge the generational gap through engaging conversations. Each week, they dive into topics relevant to both generations, from the latest in tech and culture to timeless debates that spark family discussions. Join them and their diverse guests for candid chats, sharing insights and perspectives with humor and heart, promising to leave you with a smile and a fresh take on the generational divide.
