Damali Peterman is a trailblazing conflict resolution expert, award-winning bestselling author, and CEO of BreakthroughADR, a global firm transforming how individuals and organizations navigate conflict and achieve workplace harmony. With over 20 years of experience as a lawyer, mediator, and educator, Damali is also a distinguished mediator, arbitrator, and ombudsman with JAMS, the largest private provider of alternative dispute resolution services in the world. Her expertise in negotiation and conflict resolution has made her a sought-after authority across industries.
Before founding her two award-winning companies, Damali practiced law at Weil, Gotshal & Manges, specializing in private equity and mergers and acquisitions, and later served as Assistant General Counsel at Deloitte. Her career has been driven by a passion for teaching people how to listen, negotiate, and resolve everyday conflicts.
Damali is the author of the award-winning and bestselling book Negotiating While Black: Be Who You Are to Get What You Want, published by Penguin Random House in North America and Bonnier Books internationally. Available in over 72 countries, the book has been celebrated for its insights on overcoming bias, embracing authenticity, and excelling in negotiations, cementing its place as a transformative resource for professionals and leaders worldwide.
A proud alumna of Spelman College and Howard University School of Law, where she has taught mediation for four years, Damali also holds a master’s degree in international studies. Her global perspective is shaped by studying abroad in Mexico, Denmark, Japan, and The Netherlands, and she continues to be a leading voice in bridging cultural and professional divides.
As a member of the President’s Leadership Council for Search for Common Ground, the world’s largest peacebuilding nonprofit, Damali helps foster dialogue and cooperation in divided communities across 30 countries.
She has traveled the globe delivering tailored workshops, online courses, and keynotes that empower individuals and organizations to turn conflict into collaboration. Her thought leadership has been featured in Forbes, Essence, Fast Company, Publishers Weekly, Rolling Stone, NBC, CBS, Fox, and more.
Damali is a multilingual speaker and a proud alumna of the Tory Burch Foundation Fellowship and Goldman Sachs 10KSB program. Whether facilitating high-stakes mediations, training leaders, or mentoring the next generation, Damali is committed to transforming conflict into collaboration and building a world where empathy and understanding thrive.