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 LinkedIn

Nita Singh Kaushal’s Instagram

Nita Singh Kaushal’s Website

NSK Leadership

Miss CEO

Registration link for Nita Singh Kaushal’s Stanford Continuing Studies course Advocate for More: Strategic Negotiation to Advance Your Career.

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