Meet Tammy Lenski

Yes, I work with conflict. On purpose.

While I was donating blood years ago, a Red Cross nurse placed her hand on my forehead as though to take my temperature and said, Wait. You deal with conflict for a living? Honey, that is just weird.

Her reaction says a lot about how we think of conflict: as a painful problem to avoid or suffer through.

There is a better way. We can reduce the harmful effects of conflict without sacrificing the benefits of disagreement and debate in our most vital relationships.

That’s why I center my work on helping people disagree better.

“Innovative & trailblazing”

— Association for Conflict Resolution

Academy of Advanced Practitioners

Inaugural member of the Association for Conflict Resolution’s most advanced practice designation

Mary Parker Follett
Award

For innovative work on contemporary conflict resolution problems, Association for Conflict Resolution

Pioneer
Award

For significant contributions to the conflict resolution field, New England Association for Conflict Resolution

Master Teacher
Award

For excellence in teaching, Association of Vermont Independent Colleges

Coffee mug imprinted with the word "begin"

Conflict resolution coaching, speaking & training

Reducing friction in vital relationships.
Confronting and addressing difficult behavior.
Positioning a team for healthy dynamics around disagreement and debate.
Leveling-up conflict and communication habits and skills.
Re-calibrating reaction to conflict.
For mediators: Identifying the optimal direction for your work.

“Remarkable ability to bring clarity”

Dr. Lenski has a remarkable ability to bring clarity to complex issues through her skilled probing and discerning observations. She is a true professional to whom I would entrust important undertakings unhesitatingly.

LEE MALLEN
UNIVERSITY DIRECTOR

“A powerful revelation”

After being a part of Tammy’s awesome presentation, I realized that I can be in total control my buttons. It was a powerful revelation and a sure path to self-awareness. Thanks, Tammy, for opening my eyes!

CYNTHIA TROTTIER
PUBLIC UTILITY EXECUTIVE

“Rave reviews”

The rave reviews from the audience were well deserved. Your session was engaging and illuminating, and we highly recommend you to other conference organizers.

SUE MCKINNON
ASSOCIATION OF TOWN CLERKS

“You made a huge difference”

I learned a lot in the last months. Thanks for the insights and for helping me structure not only my thoughts but also my attitude in becoming a better discussion partner. You made a huge difference.

BEN DEWILDE
CEO & MANAGING PARTNER

“You work from the heart”

Without exaggeration I’d like to say that this has been one of the best educational experiences I have ever had! You modeled many of the behaviors needed by a good mediator – it is clear that you work from the heart and in the moment.

LIZ GAMACHE
FOUNDATION CEO

“Such good instinct”

You possess such good instinct and thorough knowledge. Our group deeply appreciated your work with us, and I’m very grateful for both your gentleness and persistence.

JOHN KNIERING
UNIVERSITY DIRECTOR

Brief bio

Tammy has mediated thousands of organizational, court-affiliated, family, and online disputes, and addressed hundreds of audiences over her 25+ years in private practice. She hung up her mediator spurs at the end of 2025, and now focuses exclusively on coaching, speaking, and writing about how to disagree better at work and home.

Following a career in higher education leadership, where she served as dean and vice president, Tammy went on to co-found, direct, and teach in the world’s first master’s degree in mediation at Woodbury College (now Woodbury Institute of Champlain College). She has also taught conflict resolution and negotiation in graduate programs at Marlboro College, University of Massachusetts Boston, and Lipscomb University’s Institute for Conflict Management.

Her books, The Conflict Pivot and Making Mediation Your Day Job, have sold 50,000+ copies worldwide. Tammy’s long-running conflict resolution newsletter, Disagree Better, was recognized as a bestseller on Substack in 2025. Her work has been taught in undergraduate, graduate, and law school programs worldwide.

Tammy earned her bachelor’s degree in world literature from Middlebury College, her master’s and doctorate in higher education leadership from The University of Vermont, and a post-doc certificate in conflict management from Woodbury College.

Tammy lives in New Hampshire, USA, with her husband and two dogs. When she’s not working, she’s usually on a hiking trail, in the dog agility ring, or in the garden.

Contact Tammy