Scott Walker – The World’s Go-To Kidnap Negotiator

In this episode of "Heroes Among Us: Sharing Personal Stories of Life and Work." We’re joined by a man who has quite literally talked people out of life-or-death situations. With over 300 high-stakes cases under his belt, from kidnap-for-ransom to cyber-attacks, hijackings, and extortion, Scott Walker is one of the world’s most experienced crisis and hostage negotiators. Scott’s journey began as a Scotland Yard detective, where he spent 16 years working in covert, counterterrorist, and kidnapping operations. Since leaving the police in 2015, he has worked with the United Nations, government agencies, and private clients to negotiate the release of hostages worldwide—putting his extraordinary ability to influence, persuade, and defuse conflict to the ultimate test. Beyond crisis negotiations, Scott is a highly sought-after speaker, trainer, and author. His Sunday Times bestselling book, Order Out of Chaos: A Kidnap Negotiator’s Guide to Influence and Persuasion, has changed the way businesses and individuals think about negotiation, communication, and decision-making under pressure. His expertise has been featured in Forbes, The New York Times, Harvard Business Review, BBC, CNN, and Sky News. He has trained teams at some of the biggest organisations in the world—including Amazon, Apple, Deloitte, and the United Nations—helping leaders navigate uncertainty, resolve conflict, and make critical decisions when the stakes are sky-high. And in May 2025, his next book, Eye of the Storm: How to Make Good Decisions in Bad Situations, will take us even deeper into the art of thinking clearly under pressure. So, how do you negotiate with a kidnapper? What does it take to stay calm when the pressure is unbearable? And how can we all apply these skills in our daily lives? Let’s find out. Welcome to Heroes Among Us, with Scott Walker. 🎧🔥