#29 Part 1: The Negotiation That Changed a Company: How Naeha Secured Paid Leave and Paved the Way for Others

Aspire for More: How to be an Everyday Negotiator

What would you do if your workplace didn’t have a maternity leave policy—and you were about to need one?
Would you risk asking for something that’s never been done before? Or walk away from a job you’ve helped build?
In this episode, our caller, Naeha, a manager at a small nonprofit, returns with a powerful update. When we first met her, she had just lost a valued team member who quit over the organization’s lack of maternity leave.
Now, a year and a half later, Naeha shares how she turned that frustration into action—and successfully negotiated her own paid leave package.
In our conversation, Naeha reflects on the emotional turning point that pushed her to speak up, the subtle signaling that kept her ask collaborative rather than confrontational, and how she built internal allies to transform a simple “what if” into an actual company policy.
If you’ve ever wondered when to advocate for yourself—or how to balance what’s fair for you versus what’s good for the organization—this story is a must-listen. You’ll walk away with practical insights on timing, anchoring, and the power of allies—lessons that could help you or someone you love the next time a workplace negotiation feels out of reach.
MENTIONED IN THE EPISODE:
⚉ [Podcast] #15 Why negotiating with family is difficult? - https://www.buzzsprout.com/2323468/episodes/16181030
⚉ [Podcast] #6 Negotiating Paid Maternity Leave | What if they ask for salary expectations in the job application? - https://www.buzzsprout.com/2323468/episodes/15140435
⚉ [Blog Post] Why Negotiating with Family is Difficult - https://www.moonnegotiation.com/blog/why-negotiating-with-family-is-difficult
—
This podcast is a call-in show, so if you or a woman you know needs help in this area, feel free to contact me at [email protected] to submit your questions or join me in our next episode.
JOIN THE PRIORITY LIST FOR JOAN’S NEXT COHORT OF THE ADVANCED NEGOTIATION INTENSIVE
https://course.moonnegotiation.com/Join-the-Priority-List
CONNECT WITH JOAN:
⚉ Website: https://www.moonnegotiation.com/
⚉ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joanmoon413/
⚉ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/moonnegotiation
⚉ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@moonnegotiation
JOIN THE MAILING LIST FOR NEWS AND NEGOTIATION TIPS:
https://www.moonnegotiation.com/newsletter
Send us a text