Rolling Through Negotiations: First Nations Leadership, BJJ & Business Strategy
🎙 Welcome to Rolling Through Negotiations, the podcast where strategy and resilience meet negotiation mastery.
Hosted by Matthew Karakoulakis, one of Australia’s top lawyers, this podcast blends the principles of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ), First Nations wisdom, and business strategy to help you negotiate like a pro.
Featuring insights from:
âś… First Nations leaders sharing traditional knowledge that strengthens negotiation techniques
âś… Brazilian Jiu Jitsu athletes revealing how discipline, adaptability, and mindset shape decision-making
âś… Top business leaders and legal professionals breaking down high stakes negotiation strategies
We explore how mental resilience, business growth, leadership, and personal development are all connected. Whether you're in the boardroom, on the mats, or negotiating in everyday life, Rolling Through Negotiations brings you powerful strategies, transformative stories, and practical tools to sharpen your negotiation skills.
Rolling Through Negotiations: First Nations Leadership, BJJ & Business Strategy
Andrew Bacon on First Nations Leadership, Governance and Community Impact
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🥋 How do you stay strong when negotiations start from a place of disadvantage?
In this episode of Rolling Through Negotiations, we sit down with Andrew Bacon, a proud Yamaji man, governance and cybersecurity professional, and advocate for Indigenous affairs to talk about the power of voice, self-awareness, and foundations that last.
From boardrooms to remote communities, Andrew’s work bridges the corporate and the cultural. With over a decade of experience in governance, risk, compliance, and cyber security, Andrew brings lived experience, inner strength, and a passion for creating space where community voices can be truly heard.
We explore how deep listening, mental health, martial arts, and culturally safe practices can shape a better future for all of us navigating high-stakes decisions and internal negotiations.
Key Takeaways:
- Why “listening” is more than a skill, it’s the foundation of respectful negotiation.
- How mindfulness, movement, and martial arts build inner resilience for difficult conversations.
- What Indigenous governance can teach us about leadership, innovation, and protecting community.
This episode is a reminder that sometimes the strongest negotiations begin quietly, within ourselves.
Connect with Andrew on LinkedIn: https://au.linkedin.com/in/andrewpbacon
Learn more about 13YARN: https://www.13yarn.org.au/
New episodes drop every Thursday.
Thanks for listening, and we’ll see you next time on Rolling Through Negotiations! OSS!
Disclaimer: The content of this podcast is intended for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.
If you are triggered by any content discussed in this episode and need support, please reach out to the following resources:
Lifeline Australia: 13 11 14
Beyond Blue: 1300 22 4636
13YARN: 13 92 76
We acknowledge the Custodians of Country throughout Australia and recognise their continuing connection to lands, waters, and communities. We pay respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultures, and to Elders past, present and future.