During Paris Arbitration Week 2026, we were pleased to organise “Winning the Room: The Neuroscience of Effective Advocacy and Leadership” — a session that invited participants to explore advocacy and leadership through the lens of the nervous system. Thanks to the openness and engagement of those in the room, the session became a shared and deeply reflective experience, thoughtfully captured in the Kluwer Arbtiration Blog, available here: 2026 PAW: Winning the Room – How Do We Influence the Room Before We Even Speak? | Kluwer Arbitratio…
Our expert, Yulia Polyakina, Counsel at Laborde Law and a licensed Compassionate Inquiry Practitioner (trained by Gabor Maté), a somatic therapist, and a conscious connected breathwork coach presented on the topic and guided the lively discussion during the event.
For those who were unable to attend, or who wish to revisit the themes discussed, a one‑page cheat sheet summarising the three nervous system states and nine regulation tools is available. Participants also requested further reading; while no single book yet brings together neuroscience and advocacy in this way, the session drew on the following influential works:
- Deb Dana, Anchored — A practical, accessible guide to understanding and working with the nervous system through polyvagal theory.
- Stephen Porges, The Polyvagal Theory — A foundational and more technical exploration of the science of safety and social engagement.
- Peter Levine, Waking the Tiger — On how the body holds stress and how it can be released, including the animal recovery examples referenced in the session.
- Daniel Siegel, Parenting from the Inside Out — An exploration of how early relationships shape nervous system responses in adulthood.
- Gabor Maté, The Myth of Normal — A key influence on the session, examining how chronic stress and disconnection are normalised and how these patterns can be unlearned.
We look forward to continuing these conversations and to welcoming you at future VIAC and ADR Wellbeing Toolbox events.
