1- upper management = higher-ups; bosses
2- firm ( noun) = corporation
3- issue = a point to consider
4- seminar = class to study
5- blunt = to make something less shocking or unkind
6- to buffer = pushy; ready to attack
7- to jibe = to match, agree with
8- assertive = very confident about one's own opinion
9- aggressive = not trying to be polite or nice