Ep. 87: Negotiating like a pro—with compensation strategist Jillian Climie

Jillian Climie, co-founder of The Thoughtful Co., joins me to talk all things compensation—from how to actually start the money conversation to understanding pay bands, parental leave gaps, and why you should never negotiate based on personal reasons (no matter how tempting it is).

Jillian spent over a decade in executive compensation and corporate governance, including time leading global comp strategy at Lululemon, so she knows the behind-the-scenes of how offers are built—and how to advocate for yourself in a way that’s strategic, respectful, and clear.

You’ll learn how to:

• Approach negotiation with confidence (even if you’re not a “negotiator”)
• Know when to bring up compensation—and how early is too early
• Handle inflated salary ranges like $80K–$160K
• Understand what compensation levers you can (and should) negotiate
• Talk about money without over-explaining or apologizing

FULL SHOW NOTES & TAKEAWAYS

Shop TheThoughtfulCo.Net for negotiation resources.

Related episodes:

• Ep. 16: Ana Colak-Fustin, former Global 500 recruiter, on figuring out internal job changes and career growth internationally – Spotify or Apple
• Ep. 14: Steph Gillies on figuring out resumes, cover letters and LinkedIn – Spotify or Apple
• Ep. 66: What jobs should I be applying for?! [Land Your Dream Job Series 1/5 – Spotify or Apple

About the guest:

Jillian Climie is the co-founder of The Thoughtful Co., where she helps women confidently negotiate their compensation and close the gender pay gap. With over a decade of experience in executive compensation and corporate governance, Jillian has worked with companies across North America and the UK to design pay structures that support equity and transparency.

Connect with Jillian via her website here, Instagram here and LinkedIn here.

About Andrea Barr, host of All Figured Out:

Andrea Barr is a certified career and life coach who helps ambitious parents take charge of their careers and lives with strategy, intention, and freedom. She rejects the idea that success requires sacrifice—showing parents how to create more time, flexibility, and fulfillment without burnout. Through her coaching, workshops, and podcast, All Figured Out, Andrea shares the strategies and mindset shifts parents need to design careers that fit their lives—so they can thrive at work and at home.

Connect with Andrea via Instagram ⁠here⁠ or her website ⁠here⁠.