Dr. Arvid Bell is a negotiation strategist, crisis expert, and leadership educator specializing in high-stakes decision-making in complex environments. As CEO of the Negotiation Task Force (NTF), he advises governments, military leaders, and global organizations on navigating chaos, crisis, and complexity — from diplomatic standoffs to corporate conflicts.

A Harvard-trained scholar-entrepreneur, Dr. Bell designs and leads immersive crisis simulations, negotiation exercises, and strategic advisory sessions for clients across government, military, business, and philanthropy. His Systemic Multi-Constituency Exercise (SMCE) method prepares leaders to manage competing interests, shifting alliances, and real-time crises, blending cutting-edge research with field-tested strategies.

His work spans track II diplomacy, M&A negotiation, and security crisis management, advising corporate executives, political leaders, civil society activists, and special forces operators across the United States, Europe, and geopolitical hotspots such as Afghanistan, Central Asia, and the Middle East. Combining analytical precision with human connection, he helps leaders turn uncertainty into opportunity through strategic foresight, coalition-building, and resilience.

At Esalen, Dr. Bell brings his signature immersive training, equipping participants to master negotiation, manage high-pressure conflicts, and lead with clarity in an unpredictable world.