A New Chapter Begins:

Historic Female Leadership at the Helm of Rational Games Foundation

By The Rational Games Team

Rational Games

October 1, 2025

In a groundbreaking development for Rational Games Inc., we are thrilled to announce the appointment of our new Chair and Vice-Chair of the Beirat (Advisory Board).

This landmark decision marks the first time in our organization's history that two well-established women will lead our advisory body simultaneously, signaling a profound shift in our leadership landscape.

The appointment comes at a pivotal time for Rational Games as we continue to expand our global footprint in negotiation training and conflict resolution.

At the helm as Chair is Denny Meadows, a strategist, advisor, and board-level facilitator with a remarkable gift for turning complexity into clarity and possibility into action. With her passion for creating triple-win outcomes and her experience guiding organizations toward stronger, more collaborative solutions, Denny embodies the spirit of Rational Games: transforming conflict into opportunity through vision, empathy, and play.

Joining her as Vice Chair is Joana Matos, a Harvard-trained negotiator and mediator whose international experience spans business, government, and academia. Joana brings a unique blend of strategic insight, teaching expertise, and passion for empowering others to unlock their full potential in negotiation. Her leadership, rooted in empathy and global perspective, will be essential as RGI continues to promote collaboration and develop win-win solutions.

Breaking New Ground

This historic appointment is more than just a change in leadership, it's a reflection of our deeply held values and commitment to diversity of thought and representation. As our founder Mark Young notes, "Having two brilliant women leaders at the helm of our Beirat represents exactly the kind of forward-thinking approach that Rational Games has always championed."

The significance of this appointment extends beyond our organization. In the broader landscape of negotiation and conflict resolution, fields traditionally dominated by male voices, this leadership shift sends a powerful message about the changing face of mediation and collaboration expertise.

Some context on gender & leadership in negotiation/conflict resolution:

• In 2022, women made up only about 16% of negotiators in active peace processes led or co-led by the UN, down from ~23% in 2020. Council on Foreign Relations

• Across global industries, about 31% of leadership roles are held by women, however representation is much lower in fields like energy, infrastructure, and manufacturing. World Economic Forum

• When women are meaningfully involved in peace negotiations, the probability that an agreement lasts at least 2 years increases by ~20%, and that it endures 15 years increases by ~35%. wps.unwomen.org

A New Chapter Begins: Vision for the Future

Our new leadership team brings fresh perspectives and innovative approaches to the table. Their vision for the Beirat centers around these core principles:

Chair Denny:

For the past 25 years, Rational Games has focused on bridging divides through negotiation training that empowers individuals and supports non-profits using play to foster connections across cultures. In today's world, bridging divides has become increasingly pronounced.

Vice-Chair Joana:

"With our new leadership team in place, we are excited to renew Rational Game's mission, with fresh energy and a deep sense of purpose", adds Joana Matos, Beirat vice chair and respected negotiation trainer with Rational Games.

The Power of Play in Serious Work

At the heart of Rational Games' philosophy lies the paradoxical power of play in addressing serious conflicts. Our new Beirat leadership deeply understands that games and simulations can create safe spaces for exploring complex dynamics and apply new approaches to challenging situations.

Building on a Strong Foundation

This leadership transition builds upon the solid foundation established by our previous Beirat leadership. We extend our profound gratitude to our outgoing leadership for their dedicated service and visionary guidance that have positioned Rational Games as a leader in our field.

Under their guidance, RGI’s partnerships expanded our training programs, and deepened our impact as a social enterprise committed to transforming conflict into opportunity. Their contributions have established a solid foundation for this exciting new chapter, enabling Rational Games to become truly an infinite game, which would not have been possible without them.

The rest of our Beirat members:

Remi Smolinski, Ahmet Akın, Antonia Simon, Ziad Holaihel and Henk van der Wath, with the guiding hand of Mark Young.

Join Us on This Journey

As we embark on this exciting new chapter, we invite our community of clients, partners, and friends to join us. The coming months will bring new energy to our programs, resources, and opportunities to engage with our expanded vision.

Stay connected with us through social media channels to be the first to learn about upcoming initiatives and opportunities to experience our work firsthand as a new chapter begins.

Here's to a future where cooperation triumphs over competition, empathy overcomes division, and the wisdom of play transforms our most serious challenges.

With optimism and dedication,

The Rational Games Team