Gentle Power 21. We interview an HR leader & employment attorney
This week, we spoke with Kevin Houng, an HR/people business partner, former employment attorney, and one of Alex’s longest friends, who’s helped launch dozens of venture-backed teams and guided executives through complex compensation decisions.
In our conversation, we covered:
- How companies actually decide budgets for open roles, from scrappy startups to Fortune 500 giants
- Why larger organizations lean on rigid salary bands (and algorithms) while smaller teams often make exceptions for the right candidate
- The truth about “we don’t negotiate” policies, and why there’s almost always more room than recruiters admit
Tactics for spotting your leverage, asking the right discovery questions, and pushing past the fear of rescinded offers
We also share:
- Kevin’s journey from Columbia Law School attorney to HR leader, guiding both employers and employees through high-stakes conversations
- Surprising factors that tip the scales in negotiations, like how long a role has been open, or whether a company is in growth vs. downturn mode
- Why being polite and persistent beats being “hard to get”, and the overlooked power of thoughtful follow-up notes
Tune in for an insider’s view from both sides of the hiring table, plus practical scripts and mindsets to help you negotiate with confidence, secure fair pay, and avoid leaving money on the table.
For more:
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