Jen - Badass WOC Negotiators Jan ‘20 Cohort

Why did you choose to work with Nadia and the BWN group program?

I'd been following her on social media and when a friend wanted help with negotiations, I sent her to one of Nadia's workshops that I couldn't make and she raved about it. I was finally able to attend a negotiation workshop at General Assembly and was blown away. Nadia is an amazing speaker and she really gets you to open up quickly to the core reason for why you're not negotiating. I ended up deciding on the BWN group program because I wanted the support of other women in similar situations. Hearing Nadia coach others towards their specific goals helped me understand other perspectives and it made me think through my own biases holistically and apply her advice to my situation.

What goals did you want to achieve during the group coaching program?

I was already up for a promotion so I wanted a 25% pay increase to be in the mid-range of this new level's pay band.

What results have you achieved since you started working together? (If from your work you received a promotion or increase in pay, please list before and after roles, $ amounts and/or % amounts)

I got the maximum increase in pay for a promotion and my title was changed from a junior level role!

What do you like best about working with Nadia and the group?

I now have a solid group of WOC who have seen me in the hot seat with Nadia and watched me struggle through some difficult situations who wouldn't and didn't judge me. This really built up my network and my confidence at the same time!

What was the impact of working with a coach that specialized in working with self-identified WOCs?

Nadia just gets it. We both grew up just trying to survive and not asking for what we want. It's hard to overcome that and it was helpful to have a coach who understood that this is undoing 30 years of bad habits.

How else have you benefited from working together?

I'm more confident in my day to day as well! I'm consciously try to activate my voice in situations that I normally would just accept whatever's thrown at me and move on.

Would you recommend Nadia and her services? If so, why and to whom?

Yes! To WOC who are looking to get more out of their current professional life, whether it's bigger projects or a promotion, Nadia will get you there.

How was the experience different than when you were doing/trying to achieve your goals on your own?

I don't think I could've achieved this goal on my own. I approached the situation in a more collaborative way rather than from a place of resentment. While preparing to negotiate my salary, I was able to let go of this unhelpful negative feeling towards the company because that specific incident no longer applies and occurred a long time ago. My current manager had nothing to do with anything that happened in the past so I shouldn't be directing any anger towards him. This allowed me to remain professional and firm during our conversation, which I feel led to a better outcome!

What was a pleasant surprise during our coaching, or as a result of our coaching?

Letting go of resentment! I thought we would end up working around it, but I have really just accepted it, and moved on from it. I was also surprised how much I looked forward to updating the group each week and how much I wanted to hear how their situations were progressing. It was a treat to be celebrated and celebrate others!

What's the most important thing people should know about working with Nadia?

It's not easy! But Nadia is supportive and empathetic and the payoff is WORTH IT!