Michael Nir - President of Sapir Consulting, is a management consultant, Agile coach, speaker and author. He has been helping organizations overcome business challenges and deliver value, for over 16 years. Michael is passionate about Gestalt theory and practice, which complements his civil and industrial engineering background and contributes to his understanding of individual and team dynamics in business. Michael has authored best-sellers on Influencing, Agile, Teams, and Leadership. His experience includes significant know-how in the telecoms, hi-tech, banking, R&D environments and petrochemical & infrastructure industries. He develops creative and innovative solutions in Agile project and product management, process improvement, leadership, and team building.Michael's professional background is analytical and technical; however, he has a keen interest in human interactions and behaviors. He holds two engineering degrees from the prestigious Technion Institute of Technology: a Bachelor of civil engineering and Masters of Industrial engineering. He has balanced his technical side with the extensive study and practice of Gestalt Therapy and "Instrumental Enrichment," a philosophy of mediated learning. In his consulting and training engagements, Michael integrates the engineering technical world with interpersonal dynamics, delivering unique and meaningful solutions.Michael travels extensively to Europe and East Asia, conducting training and consulting. He understands people, organizations and cultures and has a high degree of comfort leading cross-functional and cross-cultural training. Whether he focuses on the "soft side" or on project business skills, or a combination of both, he is effective facilitating learning on myriad topics, including negotiations, conflict management, influence without authority, leadership, body language, and presentation.