William Ury is a renowned negotiation expert, co-founder of Harvard's Program on Negotiation, and director of the Global Negotiation Initiative. He is best known for co-authoring the international bestseller "Getting to Yes: Negotiating Agreement Without Giving In," which has sold over 5 million copies worldwide. Ury's expertise spans three decades, during which he has served as a negotiation adviser and mediator in conflicts ranging from corporate mergers to international disputes. His work has taken him from boardrooms to war zones, including efforts to end civil wars in Indonesia and Venezuela.

Ury's book "The Power of a Positive No" draws from his celebrated Harvard University course for managers and professionals. It offers practical advice on assertively saying no while preserving relationships and achieving mutually beneficial outcomes. His approach emphasizes the importance of understanding one's own needs and values before engaging in negotiations.

Beyond his writing and teaching, Ury has been involved in various global initiatives. He co-founded the International Negotiation Network with former President Jimmy Carter and helped create nuclear crisis centres to prevent accidental nuclear war. Ury's most recent project, the Abraham Path Initiative, aims to address the growing divide between the Islamic world and the West through tourism and pilgrimage.

William Ury resides in the United States and continues to teach, write, and consult on negotiation and conflict resolution worldwide.