I had never heard of Mika Brzezinski until I started watching Morning Joe. I love Morning Joe. It is a morning talk show on MSNBC during which politicians and our nations leaders have actual discussions about the important issues facing our nation. Mika Brzezinski, co-host with Joe Scarborough, is one of the reasons the show is like no other. She asks the tough questions, and raises the points that others are too afraid to say; she is a strong, powerful woman.
Yet, when Mika started on Morning Joe, her salary did not equal that of her co-hosts, Joe Scarborough or Willie Geist. In fact, it was less than both of their salaries, much less. Mika was making the salary that she did fifteen years before.
Mika Brzezinski’s book Knowing Your Value: Women, Money, and Getting What You’re Worth is a quick read, which I recommend to every woman on campus. In the book, Mika chronicles her salary negotiation mishaps, as well as the mishaps of other powerful women including: Senator Elizabeth Warren, Senior Advisor to President Obama, Valerie Jarrett, and editor of the Newsweek Daily Beast Company, Tina Brown, among many others.
For all the 3LS graduating, this book offers great advice and insights on how women should negotiate their salaries–check out Chapter 6, “At the Bargaining Table: Table Manners and Tactical Maneuvers.” This chapter offers real examples about how to negotiate your salary, as well as how to successfully ask for a raise, and how not too. For example, starting a negotiation by saying “I hate to do this,” I’m sorry,” or “I know you’re busy,” will most likely not get the results you are looking for.
Beyond salary negotiations, the book offers other very insightful information about how women are perceived in the workplace, women’s value, and what women can learn from men when negotiating.
Interested in learning more about women, work, and the gender gap? Check out these books:
The Good Girls Revolt: How the Women of Newsweek Sued Their Bosses and Changed the Workplace
The New Feminist Agenda: Defining The Next Revolution for Women, Work, and Family
🙂 Heidi
Julien & Virginia Cornell Library 