How Top Women Leaders Negotiate—According to Stanford Business Expert Nita Singh Kaushal
In this episode of the SHE MD Podcast, Nita Singh Kaushal joins Dr. Thaïs Aliabadi and Mary Alice Haney for an honest conversation about leadership, advocacy, and negotiating with confidence. As the founder of Miss CEO and NSK Leadership, Nita brings real-world insight from coaching executives, teaching at Stanford University, and supporting more than 200,000 students around the world.
They dive into what it really takes for women to advocate for themselves, build confidence, and navigate high-pressure professional environments. Nita shares practical tips on visibility, mentorship, and sponsorship, helping listeners better understand their worth, negotiate strategically, and lead in a way that feels authentic—without falling into the common traps that can hold women back.
The episode is packed with approachable, actionable takeaways for gaining clarity, confidence, and purpose in both work and life. Nita also reminds listeners that leadership isn’t just about personal success, but about opening doors for others and creating opportunities for the next generation of changemakers, especially women and underrepresented leaders.
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What You’ll Learn
Recognize your value and advocate for it confidently
Reframe negotiation as a strategic leadership skill
Build visibility, mentorship, and sponsor networks
Cultivate clarity, confidence, and purpose in leadership
Key Timestamps
00:00 Introduction
02:32 Nita’s journey and teaching at Stanford for 15+ years
06:15 How Nita learned leadership the hard way
11:00 Why women have mental roadblocks when it comes to advocating for ourselves
13:40 Helping students overcome noise and distractions
19:16 Collecting data to empower and advocate for yourself
23:00 Tips for how to negotiate to a boss or leadership
29:45 How to deal with rejection
33:30 Difference between a sponsor and a mentor
35:30 Learning from advice of admired leaders
42:42 Advocating for yourself and others in professional settings
46:09 Using strategic silence in negotiation
47:27 Is pushing helpful or hurtful in negotiation
52:00 Closing reflections and advice for young women
Key Takeaways
Leadership is about creating space for yourself and others
Negotiation is a strategy, not a confrontation
Advocating for yourself is essential, not bragging
Visibility and sponsors amplify career impact
Confidence comes from preparation, action, and support
Guest Bio
Nita Singh Kaushal is a leadership expert and advocate empowering women and the next generation of changemakers. She is Founder and Principal of NSK Leadership and the founder of Miss CEO, which has trained over 200,000 students globally. Nita teaches leadership and negotiation at Stanford University and has held senior roles at Yahoo! and Intel. She helps women and executives recognize their value, advocate effectively, and cultivate authentic leadership.
Links
Nita Singh Kaushal’s Substack – Practical tips on negotiation and leadership
Nita Singh Kaushal’s Instagram
Registration link for Nita Singh Kaushal’s Stanford Continuing Studies course Advocate for More: Strategic Negotiation to Advance Your Career.
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