When Vivek first reached out to me, he wasn’t looking to simply “get a better job.”
He was looking for alignment.
Like many of my clients, Vivek was deeply experienced, highly capable, and well-compensated. But he also had a nagging question: Is this the best use of my time, energy, and talent? And even more urgently — What would it take to get to the next level, with clarity and intention, not just a better title or a shinier company?
At the time, Vivek wasn’t even in full job search mode. But opportunity found him — and together, we got to work.
🎯 Strategic Preparation, Not Spray-and-Pray
We didn’t blast out resumes or chase every opening. We focused on:
- Clarifying his story and strengths
- Sharpening his communication strategy
- Practicing how to frame his value for high-level conversations
And when an offer came in, we got surgical.
💰 The Outcome: More Compensation, More Leverage
Using a negotiation framework we’d practiced together, Vivek went from an initial offer of $185,000 base salary to a total compensation package that included:
- $190,000 base salary
- $28,000 annual bonus (up from $10,000 previously)
- $35,000 in RSUs (now liquid, unlike the illiquid stock at his prior company)
That’s a 17% year-over-year increase in total comp — not to mention a significant upgrade in equity liquidity due to his upgrade from private to publicly-traded company.
But here’s the best part: Vivek knew he could have pushed for more. Not because he left money on the table, but because he saw clearly — in hindsight — how better positioning, storytelling, and timing could make the next negotiation even stronger.
“I know I didn’t negotiate as strongly as I could have. I’ll do even better next time.”
🔭 This Isn’t the End of Vivek’s Story
The role he accepted — while smart and strategic — wasn’t the long-term destination he originally came to me to pursue.
He’s still actively exploring director- and product-level leadership roles, and now he’s doing it from a position of greater confidence, increased leverage, and financial momentum.
Sometimes the right next step isn’t the forever move. It’s a launchpad.
And Vivek’s just getting started.
Want to clarify your next strategic move — and get paid what you’re worth while you do it?
Let’s talk.
