When people hear the word “negotiation,” they often imagine boardrooms, contracts, or hard bargains. But in my experience, negotiation is far more than that in our daily life, it is the sacred art of advocating for fairness, mutual respect, and human dignity. For Catholic professionals, this is not merely a business skill, it is a reflection of Gospel values.
As a Latina, first-generation college graduate, and workplace conflict-resolution expert, I’ve seen firsthand how women—especially women of color—leave opportunities, resources, and yes, money, on the table because they haven’t been taught the language of negotiation. My new book, Conflict-IQ®: In the High Heels of a Smart Negotiator, is a call to action to change that.
Negotiation as a Catholic Calling
Catholic social teaching places a high value on human dignity, the rights of workers, and the call to participate fully in society. Religious text of documents such as Rerum Novarum, Laborem Exercens, and other Church documents make clear that the workplace is not only about productivity but about just relationships rooted in mutual respect. Negotiation, at its heart, is a tool to achieve those just relationships.
When a woman negotiates for fair pay, flexible work, or better resources, she is not being selfish; she is affirming her God-given dignity. She is also safeguarding her ability to serve her family, parish, and community with the gifts entrusted to her. As Proverbs 31 reminds us, the virtuous woman “dresses herself with strength” and “looks well to the ways of her household.” Strength, in our times, includes the courage to speak up for what is fair.
Why Women Struggle to Negotiate
Women across the U.S. earn an average of 84 cents for every dollar earned by men. For women of color, the gap is even wider: Latina women earn about 54 cents, and Black women about 63 cents, compared to white, non-Latino men.
These numbers are not just statistics, they are reminders that every dollar left unearned is a dollar less for caring for our families, sustaining our parishes, and supporting charitable works. As Catholic women, we are called to solidarity with one another in closing these gaps. Learning to negotiate is one powerful way we can live that solidarity—helping ourselves and helping each other secure the resources we need to care for our Church, our community, and our loved ones.
The Consequences of Silence
In my own career, before I studied negotiation professionally, I estimate I left over $1.5 million unasked for—and unrealized. This gap meant less ability to save, to give, and to invest in the work God calls me to do.
This is why teaching women to negotiate is not just a career strategy—it’s an act of justice. When Catholic professionals empower women to advocate for themselves, we help close wage gaps, strengthen families, and reflect the Church’s teaching on the dignity of work.
A Call to Catholic Professionals
My book offers practical tools to overcome cultural barriers, prepare for difficult conversations, and create “win-win” outcomes rooted in empathy and fairness. These are skills that benefit not just the individual woman, but her employer, her parish, and her wider community.
I invite Catholic business leaders, educators, and community advocates to view women’s negotiation skills as part of their mission of justice. Sponsor workshops, mentor young women, and normalize negotiation as a healthy, moral practice.
When Catholic women negotiate with confidence and grace, they are not abandoning humility—they are embodying it. Because true humility is rooted in truth, and truth demands that we recognize and honor the value of every person’s work.
In the words of St. Catherine of Siena, “Be who God meant you to be, and you will set the world on fire.” Sometimes, being who God meant you to be begins with having the courage to ask.
About the Author
Yvette Durazo, MA, PCC, is a Tepeyac Leader, and an international expert in negotiation, conflict resolution, and leadership development. Founder of Unitive Consulting, she helps organizations create thriving, inclusive workplaces and equips women to claim their worth in both professional and personal arenas.
Author of Conflict-IQ®: The Missing Piece to Turbocharge Leaders’ and Organizations’ Emotional Intelligence and In the High Heels of a Smart Negotiator: Don’t Leave Your Money on the Table, Yvette draws on her experience as a first-generation Latina professional to address systemic and cultural barriers that hold women back. She teaches for the University of California, Santa Cruz Silicon Valley Extension, UC Davis Continuing Education, and Portland State University.
With a master’s degree in Conflict Resolution, Negotiation, and Peacebuilding, and a PCC coaching credential from the International Coach Federation, Yvette has worked with corporate, government, and nonprofit leaders worldwide. She is passionate about empowering women to close pay gaps, advance their careers, and never leave their value—or their voice—on the table. Learn more at www.unitiveconsulting.com or www.yvettedurazo.com.
