Barry Nalebuff
Barry Nalebuff is the Milton Steinbach Professor at the Yale School of Management, where he has taught negotiation, innovation, and game theory for more than 35 years. A globally recognized expert in game theory and strategic thinking, Nalebuff is widely known for translating complex economic concepts into practical tools for managers, entrepreneurs, and business leaders. His popular negotiation course on Coursera has attracted over 400,000 active learners and is ranked as the second-highest rated course on the platform. He has also written extensively on the application of game theory in management and has advised companies on competitive strategy, pricing, and negotiation. Before joining Yale, Nalebuff was a member of the Junior Society of Fellows at Harvard University and served as an Assistant Professor at Princeton University. He is the author and co-author of multiple award-winning books covering topics such as game theory, business strategy, negotiation, and entrepreneurship, including several widely adopted in business schools worldwide. Beyond academia, Nalebuff brings deep real-world consulting experience, having worked with leading multinational organizations such as Allied Signal, American Express, Bell Atlantic, Citibank, McKinsey & Company, Procter & Gamble, and Warner Lambert. He is also a successful entrepreneur and co-founder of Honest Tea, Kombrewcha, Real Made Foods, and Just Ice Tea.
Barry Nalebuff Professional Experience / Academic History
Professional Experience
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Milton Steinbach Professor of Management
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Assistant Professor of Economics
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Junior Fellow, Society of Fellows
Academic History
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D.Phil., Economics
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M.Phil., Economics
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S.B., Economics and Mathematics
THOUGHT LEADERSHIP
Barry Nalebuff is a pioneering thinker in game theory, negotiation, and business strategy, best known for introducing the concept of “co-opetition”, which emphasizes cooperating with competitors to create and capture greater value.
He also developed the influential “split the pie” negotiation framework, which focuses on expanding total value through collaboration and then dividing it fairly among stakeholders.
Beyond theory, Nalebuff has successfully applied his strategic frameworks as an entrepreneur and advisor.
He is the co-founder of Honest Tea, a ready-to-drink iced tea company celebrated for its clean ingredients and authentic taste. Honest Tea was recognized by Inc. Magazine as one of the fastest-growing companies in the United States and was acquired by The Coca-Cola Company in 2011.
His second beverage venture, Kombrewcha, a lightly alcoholic kombucha brand, was acquired by AB InBev in 2016.
He advised the NBA during collective bargaining negotiations with the National Basketball Players Association and previously served on the board of Nationwide Insurance.
His board experience includes service with Q Drinks, Trader Classified Media, and AGP Glass, and he currently serves on the boards of The Hershey Company, Calicraft, and Eat the Change.
PUBLICATIONS
Barry Nalebuff is the author and co-author of several internationally acclaimed and bestselling business books that have shaped modern thinking in strategy and negotiation.
Thinking Strategically introduces game theory to a broad audience, showing how strategic thinking can improve decision-making in business, politics, and everyday life.
Co-opetition redefines competitive strategy by demonstrating how companies can simultaneously compete and collaborate to create and capture greater value.
Why Not? provides a practical framework for creative problem-solving by encouraging individuals and organizations to challenge assumptions and rethink constraints.
Lifecycle Investing presents a data-driven approach to long-term investing that aligns portfolio risk with human capital across different life stages.
Mission in a Bottle tells the entrepreneurial story behind Honest Tea, illustrating how mission-driven innovation can disrupt established industries and achieve scale.
In addition to his books, Nalebuff is a regular contributor to Forbes, where he writes on strategy, negotiation, innovation, and entrepreneurship.