How I Increased My Salary by 75% in 2.5 Years (Here's What Worked)

Between 2021 and 2024, I increased my salary by 75%. Not through job hopping, but by positioning myself for these increases within the same company.

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I'm sharing this because too many women accept whatever pay rise they're offered and assume hard work alone will get them fairly compensated. It won't.

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After a decade in banking, never negotiating, I realised I was significantly underpaid. When I joined an e-commerce brand as COO, I changed my approach. Over 2.5 years, I secured three separate pay rises, including a mid-year increase when my responsibilities expanded.

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And as someone who managed budgets and approved salary changes for the entire team, I can confirm this approach works – the employees who tracked their work, shared updates regularly, and asked for what they wanted at the right times confidently got what they wanted.

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This week on the blog, I'm sharing:

• The mistakes that kept me underpaid for years (and how to avoid them)
• How to track your value in a way that makes negotiation easy
• The exact timing and approach I used to request each increase
• Step-by-step tactics you can use for your next salary conversation

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If you've ever felt uncomfortable asking for a pay rise, or worried you're being underpaid but don't know how to address it, this is for you.

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From networking mornings to weekend walks, Peer Suite events make it easy to connect, share ideas, and meet inspiring women.

⚖️ WORK-LIFE Four-day workweeks are moving from dream to reality. 92% of UK companies who tested a four-day work week chose to continue it, with 39% of participants reporting less stress and sick days dropping by nearly two-thirds. Whilst most companies aren't there yet, it's gaining serious traction.

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💆‍♀️ WELLNESS Heard of FaceGym? It came up at a women's business lunch last week, and now I'm intrigued. Think sculpting facial massage meets high-tech treatments - a 30-minute session that promises to tighten, tone, and de-stress.

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🧬 BIOHACKING Smart earrings that track your cycle, sleep, and recovery are launching soon. Incora's 18-karat gold biometric earrings analyse your hormonal shifts to optimise everything from fertility to when you should schedule that big presentation. The waitlist already includes Olympic athletes and fashion designers.

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🤝 NETWORKING Who you know really does matter. 39% of UK workers found their job through their network, and 70% landed their role because they had a personal connection within the company. If you've been putting off that coffee catch-up, this is your sign to send that message. And if you want to make new connections, join an upcoming Peer Suite event.

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💼 CAREERS One in three UK workers over 30 believes it's too late for a career change. Yet 61% of women are planning a major career shift, proving that the "right time" is when you decide it is. If you've been putting off exploring new opportunities, your experience is an asset, not a barrier.

Support female-founded brands with our selection of brilliant women-led businesses.

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I'd love to see you at our upcoming Walk & Talk on November 22nd or our Fireside Chat with Lin Loke on December 2nd – both are perfect opportunities to connect with other brilliant women in a relaxed setting.

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And if you're wondering what's next? We're working on something special – an intimate Supper Club series for Peer Suite members. If you'd like first access to events like these (plus deeper networking connections), I'd love to have you join us as a founding Peer Suite member.​

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Until next week,

Dive into your next career chapter in a 1:1 Career Strategy Intensive with me

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