Most people are told to negotiate โ eventually. When they have more experience. When they feel ready. When it seems less awkward. But here is what that advice ignores: timing is not just important, it is everything. The salary gap is not just a fairness issue. It is a compounding financial loss that grows silently…
In my first job at a small startup, I successfully secured a grant of 0.93 million EUR for the company. I was on top of the world! But right after, I headed into my very first salary negotiationโand something happened that many women will recognize. I was incredibly nervous. Even though my colleagues backed me…