From Tension to Trust: Navigating Difficult Conversations

From Tension to Trust: Navigating Difficult Conversations

We all face moments when a conversation feels tense, uncomfortable, risky, or hard to navigate: a feedback discussion that goes sideways; a disagreement that lingers; a moment when you know you should speak up but hesitate. In such moments, it is common to either push too hard or pull back completely.

This interactive workshop will give you practical tools to navigate those situations with clarity, confidence, and composure. You’ll learn ways to speak up for what matters most while building connection and trust.

Drawing from her C4 approach, Communicating for Connection, Collaboration, and Change, Kam Unninayar will introduce simple and practical tools you can use immediately to stay grounded, listen with intention, and communicate in ways that move conversations forward. Through guided practice and real-life examples, participants will build skills to stay steady under pressure and speak with clarity.

Whether you are leading a team, working with peers, or navigating personal conversations, this session will help you turn difficult discussions into productive, collaborative conversations that build trust rather than erode it.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this session, participants will:

• Speak up for what matters without escalating tension
• Listen in ways that reduce defensiveness and open real dialogue
• Stay calm, clear, and grounded when emotions run high.
• Navigate disagreement while strengthening trust and collaboration

About the Facilitator

Kam Unninayar, PCC, GCEC, CPA, MS

Kam Unninayar partners with C-suite executives and senior leaders to excel in today's complex and rapidly evolving environment. A former public company CFO with more than 25 years of global leadership experience, Kam has held senior executive roles at Thermo Fisher Scientific, PerkinElmer, and Harvard Bioscience. She brings a deep understanding of leadership pressures, having served as a trusted advisor through board engagements, enterprise transformations, and critical leadership transitions.

Kam empowers leaders to lead with awareness, influence, and resilience. Known for her strategic insight and executive presence, she coaches leaders from Fortune 500 companies, high-growth startups, and mission-driven nonprofits to navigate uncertainty and complexity with clarity, purpose, and impact.

Kam is currently pursuing a Master of Liberal Arts in Industrial-Organizational Psychology at Harvard University, deepening her coaching practice with research-based insights in motivation, adult behavior, peak performance, and advanced negotiation. In addition to her work with corporate and nonprofit leaders, Kam provides pro bono coaching to underserved communities to expand access to leadership development. She also designs and leads experiential team workshops that build insight, strengthen collaboration, and drive meaningful change.

------------------------------------------------------------

Advance registration is preferred for all Ed Portal programs and events. Walk-in attendees may not be admitted.

Parking is limited around the Ed Portal so we recommend taking public transportation.

Public transportation options:

We are about a 15-20 minute walk from the Red Line Harvard Square station or Green Line -B Harvard Avenue station.

Several MBTA buses also stop near the intersection of North Harvard Street and Western Avenue: #66, #86, #70.

Parking information:

If you choose to drive to the Ed Portal please be prepared to utilize the two-hour on-street parking surrounding the Ed Portal or to park at Artesani Park and walk 10-12 minutes along Western Avenue to arrive at the Ed Portal. A limited number of parking spaces are available in the rear of the Ed Portal building on a first come, first serve basis. You may only use parking spaces in the rear of the Ed Portal building outlined in orange paint.

To help protect visitors and staff, members of the public are asked to stay home if they are unwell or have experienced signs of illness* in the past 24-hours.

If you require an accommodation for a disability, please call the Ed Portal ahead of time at 617-496-5022 or e-mail us at edportal@harvard.edu, and we will do our best to assist you.

* Signs of illness include: fever, chills or feeling feverish; a new cough (not related to chronic condition); new fatigue; muscle or body aches; sore throat; new nasal congestion or new runny nose (not related to seasonal allergies); nausea or vomiting; diarrhea.