Gentle Power

Most weeks on Gentle Power, we talk about power dynamics in professional settings like job offers and negotiations. In this episode, we focus on negotiations in none other than… love and dating! We explore how vulnerability, power dynamics, and behavioral psychology shape connection and influence, often in ways people misunderstand.Our conversation covers:Vulnerability feels like weakness but it’s actually a strong marker of power People will like you more if you ask them for a favor - the Ben Franklin effectHow to tell if someone likes you by looking at their body languageHow to regain power when the other party is being aggressive For more:Book free consultation call with Alex: CalendlyGet our free negotiation worksheet: YourNegotiations.comRead our weekly newsletter: NewsletterInstagram: @yournegotiationsLinkedIn: Gerta | Alex

This week we sat down with our friend Victor Hsu, a New York - based real estate broker who works with global families, primarily Chinese, navigating the U.S. housing market. Victor’s perspective blends cultural nuance, decades of on-the-ground experience, and a front-row view into how real people behave when the stakes feel high. The overlap between real estate and hiring negotiations turned out to be even greater than we expected.Our conversation covers:How Victor’s client negotiated over $3M off the asking price of a Manhattan townhouseWhy showing enthusiasm from Day 1 can make sellers more flexible, not lessWhat great real estate agents actually do behind the scenesPractical tips for buyers in today’s market and renters in competitive citiesFind out what he meant by ““Making offers is how you get intel”.For more:Book free consultation call with Alex: CalendlyGet our free negotiation worksheet: YourNegotiations.comRead our weekly newsletter: NewsletterInstagram: @yournegotiationsLinkedIn: Gerta | Alex

Discover surprising insights as mid-career professionals often secure better negotiation gains than senior executives. Overconfidence can hurt those at the top, leading to hasty decisions. Executives frequently reveal too much too soon, losing critical leverage. Tactics like calibrated naivete can enhance rapport, while the scarcity of high-level roles pressures leaders to accept suboptimal terms. The balance between transparency and tactical silence is crucial in negotiations. Learn how to negotiate effectively and avoid common pitfalls that might cost you.

This week we spoke with our friend Matt LeBaron, cofounder and CEO of Pocketbook. Matt helps large companies evaluate their software vendors, renegotiate contracts, and make smarter decisions about their tech stack. He also works as a part-time consultant with Adobe’s software procurement team.Our conversation covers:How Matt creatively turned a full-time job posting from Adobe into part-time client work for his businessWhy negotiations are more flexible than they appear, and how stated policies or pricing often function more as starting points than strict rulesHow timing, context, and business needs contribute to negotiation leverageWhy relationships matter more than negotiations tactics taught in the classroom or in booksWhether you’re a freelancer, you have your own business, or are a job seeker who’s having trouble finding that perfect role to apply to, you’ll find a ton of gold in this conversation with Matt.Learn more about Matt and Pocketbook here: Website | Matt’s LinkedIn | email: matt@pocketbk.com For more:Book free consultation call with Alex: CalendlyGet our free negotiation worksheet: YourNegotiations.comRead our weekly newsletter: NewsletterInstagram: @yournegotiationsLinkedIn: Gerta | Alex

This week on Gentle Power, we’re joined by Shawna Samuel, an executive consultant who focuses on supporting executive-working mothers in demanding roles. Shawna began her career in global finance, where she spent two decades shaping partnerships across the US and Europe. When she became a mother, the structure that had supported her career started to feel less stable. Her responsibilities grew while the available support didn’t grow with them, and she began questioning the default assumption that people should simply adapt without help. That turning point led Shawna to create The Mental Offload, where she helps clients reclaim time, influence, and steadiness in both their professional and personal lives without sacrificing career trajectory.This conversation will be valuable to anyone who is career-focused but also has big responsibilities outside of the office.Our conversation covers:How to frame your asks around the business value you create rather than treating adjustments as favorsWhy silence can be a powerful tool and how to use it to guide a negotiationPracticing saying no in small, everyday ways so that boundaries shift from feeling uncomfortable to normalWhy people do better work when the responsibilities they carry outside of the office are acknowledged and supportedLearn more about Shawna and The Mental Offload here: Website | Spotify | Apple | LinkedInFor more:Book free consultation call with Alex: CalendlyGet our free negotiation worksheet: YourNegotiations.comRead our weekly newsletter: NewsletterInstagram: @yournegotiationsLinkedIn: Gerta | Alex

This week on Gentle Power, we explore how Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy has changed the way we think about negotiations. The IFS school of thought is based on the idea that we all have different “parts” within us that try to protect us in different ways, and this framework offers surprising lessons for how we show up in high-stakes conversations.Our conversation covers:Why curiosity works better than confrontation when someone gets pushy or defensiveHow to stay grounded when you feel triggered or under pressureWhy advocating for your younger self (or for someone you care about) makes it easier to ask for moreThe link between self-awareness and business confidence, and why not negotiating can send the wrong signalHow responding with kindness helps you maintain your power while also getting a better outcome Negotiating from this mindset will feel less like a flight and more like a creative dialogue. When we understand our own reactions and stay curious about what’s happening on the other side, even tough moments can turn into opportunities for connection and confidence, and of course, better outcomes.For more:Book free consultation call with Alex: CalendlyGet our free negotiation worksheet: YourNegotiations.comRead our weekly newsletter: NewsletterInstagram: @yournegotiationsLinkedIn: Gerta | Alex

Negotiation can be tricky, and often we give away our power without realizing it. Sharing salary history? That's a quick way to anchor yourself low. Companies might coax you into revealing info they shouldn't ask for. Market data is not as reliable as it seems; knowing the true budget is crucial. Even small financial missteps can compound over time, impacting future earnings. And be cautious with personal disclosures—like talking about other offers or personal plans—as these can undermine your leverage.

In this episode, we discuss a common dilemma: how to negotiate when the job opportunity came through a referral. Many people hesitate to negotiate in these situations out of fear of seeming ungrateful or straining the relationship that helped them get in the door. We share how to approach these conversations without creating awkwardness or risking the relationship.Our conversation covers:Why a warm intro doesn't mean you can’t advocate for yourselfWhy keeping a pulse on your market value now will help you negotiate roles later that came through warm introsThe mindset of treating referrals as opportunities for both sides, not an obligation that you must fulfillHow to communicate tactfully with gratitude, professionalism, and calmViewing referrals like dating intros (mutual fit still matters)We also share:Alex’s biggest DJ set yet: opening at one of NYC’s biggest Halloween festivalsRecording our podcast and serendipitously hosting a mini-reunion during our 12-hour layover to KoreaAlex's real-life story where the “backup company” became the dream offerFor more:Book free consultation call with Alex: CalendlyGet our free negotiation worksheet: YourNegotiations.comRead our weekly newsletter: NewsletterInstagram: @yournegotiationsLinkedIn: Gerta | Alex

This week we’re joined by Alex Daniels, founder of Decrypted Law and a JD-MBA who is ex-Google, has advised startups and investors during his time at Cooley, and now through his own practice. Alex helps founders and employees navigate legal complexity and drive equitable outcomes through intentional legal design. We explore the structures that keep negotiations ethical, equitable, and grounded in real leverage.Our conversation covers:What founders and employees should know about clawback clauses, non-competes, non-solicits, and NDAs, and why the language matters more than the labelHow to approach severance negotiations, what “reasonable” looks like, and when to consider outside counselHow personal disclosures can shift power in negotiations, and why the wrong timing or location-based pay changes can expose companies to discrimination claimsThe difference between RSAs, RSUs, and ISOs, and how early exercise or cash compensation can preserve real value over timeWe also share:Alex’s journey from Google to Cooley to building his own flat-fee law firm for startupsA true case of a relocation gone wrong and what founders can learn about jurisdiction and fairnessWhy reading and understanding every clause in your offer or CIIAA is the strongest move you can makeThe more awareness you bring to the table, the better equipped you are to ensure your best outcome, and our conversation with Alex provides the tools to navigate your next contract confidently.For more:Book free consultation call with Alex: CalendlyGet our free negotiation worksheet: YourNegotiations.comRead our weekly newsletter: NewsletterInstagram: @yournegotiationsLinkedIn: Gerta | Alex

In this episode, we’re joined by corporate attorney and SaaS dealmaker, Omeed Tabiei, whose career spans Hyperloop’s moonshot years, two startups of his own, and now a boutique legal firm that helps software founders from incorporation to exit. We dig into how negotiation really works across the startup lifecycle: pricing your services, converting cold outreach into warm relationships, and protecting leverage when buyers come knocking.We cover:Why everything is a negotiation, from scoping legal work to structuring M&AsHow Omeed turns cold leads warm: identify motivations, give value up front, and keep a seat at the tableHow founders lose leverage in exits and how to run a competitive processDecoding offers beyond the headline price: stock, holdbacks, working-capital adjustments, taxesGuardrails for buyer diligence: phased NDAs, term sheets first, and when to use breakup feesWe also share:Bazaar-born instincts: a dad who made every purchase a negotiation (and how that translates stateside)The inside story of Hyperloop’s rise and lessons from raising nine-figure capital on a moonshotOmeed's journey: starting two companies, navigating a co-founder dispute, and returning to law to help founders succeed“Gentle power” here means pairing clear asks with real empathy: protect your leverage, lead with value, and move every conversation toward fair, durable agreements, for both sides.For more:Book free consultation call with Alex: CalendlyGet our free negotiation worksheet: YourNegotiations.comRead our weekly newsletter: NewsletterInstagram: @yournegotiationsLinkedIn: Gerta | Alex