Mastering the Art of Negotiation and Fundraising with Leigh Honeywell

Introduction

In the latest episode of “From a Woman to a Leader,” I interviewed Leigh Honeywell, co-founder and CEO of Tall Poppy.

Leigh is a cybersecurity expert with a wealth of experience from companies like Microsoft, Slack, and Salesforce.

This episode is a must-listen for anyone looking to enhance their negotiation and fundraising skills. Leigh shares her journey, insights, and practical advice that can empower you to ask for what you deserve and succeed in high-stakes conversations.

Understanding Gender Dynamics in Negotiation

Leigh opens the discussion by addressing a critical issue: the gender dynamics that often influence negotiations. She highlights the importance of preparation and market research.

“Women don’t ask, and when they do, they’re often penalized,” she notes, emphasizing the need to overcome societal biases and assertively ask for what we deserve.

Key Strategies for Successful Negotiation

Preparation is Key: Leigh stresses the importance of going into a negotiation well-prepared. This involves thorough market research to understand the value of the role or opportunity you’re negotiating for.

Role-Playing and Practice: Practicing negotiation scenarios can significantly boost your confidence. Leigh suggests role-playing with friends or mentors to simulate real-life negotiation settings.

Overcoming Prevention Questions: Leigh introduces the concept of promotion vs. prevention questions. Women often receive prevention questions that focus on potential risks rather than opportunities.

Leigh advises reframing these questions to highlight your potential and value.

Insights on Fundraising

Leigh also shares her experiences with fundraising, particularly the biases women face in the venture capital world.

“Only 2% of venture capital funds go to women founders,” she points out, underscoring the challenges and offering strategies to overcome them.

One key tip is to pivot prevention questions into promotion-focused answers, showcasing the big picture and potential of your business.

Building Confidence and Resilience

Throughout the episode, Leigh emphasizes the importance of confidence and resilience. She shares personal anecdotes that illustrate the power of asking and how small practices can build negotiation muscle.

“Turn challenging negotiations into opportunities for success,” she advises, encouraging listeners to view negotiation as a skill that can be developed with practice and persistence.

Conclusion

This episode with Leigh Honeywell is packed with actionable insights and strategies for anyone looking to improve their negotiation and fundraising skills.

Whether you’re negotiating a job offer, a salary increase, or seeking venture capital, Leigh’s expert advice can help you navigate these high-stakes conversations with confidence.

Don’t miss out on this empowering episode! Listen to the full conversation with Leigh Honeywell and gain the tools you need to negotiate like a pro. Listen now

By following these strategies and insights shared by Leigh Honeywell, you can approach your next negotiation or fundraising pitch with confidence and clarity. Remember, preparation and practice are key, and viewing every negotiation as an opportunity for success can transform your approach and outcomes.

About Leigh

Leigh is a highly experienced professional in cybersecurity with over a decade of expertise. She co-founded Tall Poppy after serving as a Technology Fellow at the ACLU’s Project on Speech, Privacy, and Technology. Leigh’s industry experience includes managing security incident response at Slack, safeguarding infrastructure running a million applications at Salesforce.com, releasing security patches monthly for billions of computers while working at Microsoft, and examining malware at Symantec. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Toronto, where she majored in Computer Science and Equity Studies. Leigh is also a well-known keynote speaker at security and software conferences worldwide.