Leadership and Management

Thrown to the Wolves: The Art of Thinking Fast and Speaking Smart

Thrown to the Wolves is a fast-paced, practice-intensive course that trains you to think clearly and communicate powerfully when the stakes are high. Whether you're fielding hostile questions from the media, navigating a tense negotiation, or defending a decision in a high-visibility setting, this course gives you the skills and structure to stay composed, persuasive, and in command.

Led by renowned global security expert Luke Bencie, this program draws on real-world techniques used by intelligence officers, spokespersons, crisis leaders, and high-level negotiators. Through engaging instruction and real-time simulations, you’ll learn to manage stress, organize your message, and respond with clarity under fire.

 
What You’ll Learn

Across four live, interactive sessions, you’ll build a toolkit for:

Recognizing and preparing for “wolf moments”	Structuring rapid responses with frameworks like PREP and Bridge & Hook	Buying critical thinking time without losing credibility
Deflecting and reframing hostile questions with verbal judo	Managing tone, body language, and stress signals	Practicing live scenarios, with personalized coaching and feedback

Each session includes focused instruction, live drills, and scenario-based role plays. You’ll finish with a customized “Wolf Survival Kit” complete with go-to phrases, visual and verbal tactics, and a plan for continued improvement.

 
Who Should Enroll

This course is ideal for:

• Executives and senior leaders
• Spokespersons, politicians, and public officials
• Lawyers, expert witnesses, and negotiators
• International consultants and crisis response professionals
• Anyone who needs to speak with poise and precision in high-pressure environments
   

About the Instructor

Luke Bencie is a veteran of the intelligence and global security community, with experience consulting for the U.S. Department of State, Department of Defense, and Fortune 500 organizations around the world. He’s trained thousands of professionals in high-stakes communication, counterintelligence, and strategic leadership, and currently serves as Executive-in-Residence at USF’s Muma College of Business.