Greg Allen, MBA
Negotiation Specialist
“To live wealth that matters means you negotiate not only for salary but for quality of life--to leave space, time and energy for the relationships that mean the most to you.”
Greg has been doing corporate negotiations for nearly twenty years with companies including Applied Materials, Intermec Technologies, Honeywell, and Vivint Smart Home. A unique series of events led him to negotiation for individuals and to the team at Vestia. Greg’s brother, an orthopedic surgeon, asked him to look over an employment contract as a second opinion. Greg read the contract and gave many recommendations to make the contract better for his brother, both financially and for his quality of life. He took it a step further to actually sketch out the negotiation process and how to prioritize the various “asks.” Greg’s brother was impressed with the process and results, as were others that reviewed the final outcome, and they began referring colleagues. Referrals from those colleagues followed, and Greg soon had a thriving negotiation consulting business. According to Greg, “There is leverage in every situation - sometimes you just have to get creative to find it. Often small and seemingly insignificant things can be huge lever points in a negotiation.”
Greg lives in Utah with his wife, Tieryn, and their eight children. When he isn’t on the phone coaching a client, he is likely coaching one of his kids’ sports teams or doing another activity with his family.
Greg Allen, MBA
Negotiation Specialist
Tell us about something special from your youth.
I grew up as one of eight children. My dad had a brain tumor and couldn’t work for a long period, so we didn’t have much money. I started delivering newspapers when I was four years old and from then on always had a job. Growing up this way taught me the value of hard work.
Share an interesting story about your family.
My family is a bit unique. I have eight children – five are adopted – so we are a multiracial family who drives around town in a giant 12 passenger van. Most people would look at our lives and say it would drive them crazy, but it’s all we know and we absolutely love being a big family!
What is the best thing that has ever happened while you were working?
In negotiation there are constant wins – the best thing about it is being able to creatively solve problems and generate large financial returns to companies and individuals.
When did you first realize you were interested in negotiation?
When I was born into a family of eight children! Everything is a negotiation in a large family!
What is the most important thing you’ve learned about helping other people?
I have learned that I have to work at different speeds for different people according to their comfort level. I live and breathe negotiation so it is very natural for me, but the people I help may not have any negotiation experience. I get the best results when I customize my approach to the needs and wants of each individual client.
What are you known for among your friends?
3 things:
- 1. Having infinite connections to people – I can always find a connection in my network to get someone help.
- 2. Being willing to help anyone – I drive a truck in part so all my friends who don’t have a truck can use it when they need to!
- 3. I have the ability to negotiate anything.
How do you spend your time outside of work?
I spend time doing what my kids like to do. Every night someone (or multiple someones) have sports practice. If I’m not coaching the team, I’m shuttling kids between practices, thinking about how to work on a specific skill with a kid, or actively working with a kid who wants to get better at something.
What is your favorite part of what you do at Vestia?
The people I work with are all genuinely interested in looking out for the best interest of their clients, period. Everyone’s mentality is to “do the right thing and everything else will work out,” and I love that.
What book do you always tell people they should read? Why?
Unbroken – it shows the power of the human spirit and the ability to see good in any situation.
One of Vestia’s values is to model “wealth that matters.” What does this mean to you?
To enjoy the journey to wealth accumulation rather than just making a beeline to the end destination. I don’t want to reach my financial goal just to realize I missed out on enjoying any of the benefits along the way. When our family takes vacations, we don’t skimp on where we stay or what we do – we just enjoy it and make the most because we know those times are limited.
- Economics, University of Texas
- MBA, University of Texas
- Negotiation Courses at Harvard Business School
- Vantage Partners Negotiation Certification
- Red Bear Negotiation Training
- Church Youth Leader
- Youth Sports Coach
- Boy Scouts of America volunteer and Eagle Scout
- Active leader and volunteer with Vivint Gives Back
- Economics, University of Texas
- MBA, University of Texas
- Negotiation Courses at Harvard Business School
- Vantage Partners Negotiation Certification
- Red Bear Negotiation Training
- Church Youth Leader
- Youth Sports Coach
- Boy Scouts of America volunteer and Eagle Scout
- Active leader and volunteer with Vivint Gives Back