Scott Tillema

Scott Tillema is a retired SWAT hostage negotiator, trained by the FBI and at Harvard University and has over twenty years of law enforcement experience in the Chicago area. In 2023, Scott dedicated his career to serving others in a new way, as a professional speaker and corporate trainer. As a founding partner of The Negotiations Collective, Scott now speaks on how to use the same powerful lifesaving negotiation principles and techniques to create business success.   

Scott has spoken at events such as TEDx, SHRM annual conferences, PMI professional development conferences, human resources state conferences, law enforcement hostage negotiations conferences, and for corporate clients such as Microsoft & Bosch as well as at major universities. 

Specifically, within the leadership space, Scott has worked with CEOs in the YPO organization in North America, South America and Europe. He’s been a five-time guest speaker to the Advanced High Performance Leadership program through IMD Business School in Switzerland.

Today, as a global keynote speaker, Scott engages audiences and highlights how the same techniques of communication and connection he uses in life-or-death conversations will help you find the interpersonal influence you need to take your teams and organizations to the next level and create a culture of connection.

Personally, Scott lives in Illinois with his family, 2 cats, & 2 dogs. He is a drummer, pianist and enjoys listening to music. Scott is a proud Wisconsin native but enjoys traveling the world speaking to live audiences. Having used these techniques to positively impact lives, it is his mission to inspire people of all backgrounds to be powerful negotiators and influential leaders.