Part of the series “Supporting Today’s Workforce”
Mika Brzezinski and Daniela Pierre-Bravo
Today, we are given so many messages about how to get ahead in our careers and in the workforce, yet many of these messages are outdated, contradictory, and don’t take into account the working realities and pressing, unique challenges that millennial women face on a daily basis. For example, recent research has shown that young women in their first or second jobs tend to avoid the salary negotiation process compared with men. But what’s the reason? Some experts have suggested that it’s less about a confidence problem and more about what young women intuitively sense will be the outcome (not favorable). After all, as studies has revealed, there is an undeniable gender bias today against assertive women.
The data is showing that women continually losing ground in terms of salary and compensation from the very first job they accept, and falling behind in this way, it will take many years for pay equity to be reached.
What are the key, proven strategies that millennial women can use to land their first great job at a salary they deserve, and continue to “close their power gaps” (as I call it) to rise and thrive in the workforce, from their first job on?
To learn more about this, I caught up this week with Mika Brzezinski and Daniela Pierre-Bravo, co-authors of a new book Earn It!: Know Your Value and Grow Your Career, in Your 20s and Beyond. The book is written as a straight-talking guide for the newest members of the workforce, with road-tested advice for landing a job, navigating the new world of work, establishing a personal brand, and getting the recognition (and money) the deserve.
Mika Brzezinski is the co-host of MSNBC’s Morning Joe, founder of “Know Your Value” and author of four bestselling books. In 2015, Brzezinski launched “Know Your Value,” a nationwide movement in partnership with NBCUniversal to support an empowered and inclusive community that helps all women recognize, and be recognized for, their worth in business and in life. Prior to joining MSNBC in 2007, Brzezinski was an anchor of CBS Evening News Weekend Edition and a CBS News correspondent who frequently contributed to CBS Sunday Morning and 60 Minutes. In 2018, Brzezinski was awarded with the New York Women in Communications’ Matrix Award. Brzezinski, along with Morning Joe co-host Joe Scarborough, was inducted into the Cable News Hall of Fame in 2016. Brzezinski also served as a Visiting Fellow at the Institute of Politics at Harvard’s Kennedy School in the fall of 2017.
Daniela Pierre-Bravo is a New York City-based booking producer for MSNBC’s Morning Joe. She is a contributor and millennial ambassador for Brzezinski’s “Know Your Value” platform.
Here’s what Pierre-Bravo and Brzezinski share:
Kathy Caprino: So, why this book now?
Mika Brzezkinski: This book is especially important now because young women are getting so many conflicting messages as they enter the workforce. We are told to be scrappy and disciplined, serious, focused and to work all hours. But we are also told to know our value and that women are paid in large part less than their male counterparts and that it happens from the very start and we never catch up. This book helps you figure out how to do everything at once and at the right time, so you can game out your career and those first three jobs can really launch you. That first decade is so important.
Caprino: What are some misconceptions about millennials in the workplace?
Daniela Pierre-Bravo: Impatience is something millennials are often scolded for. While being too impatient can make you lose sight of big opportunities that take time, “not waiting your turn” can also fuel hard work and determination to advance. For context, I waited two years to pitch Mika on collaborating and worked my butt off before then, and still continue to do. But I waited until the time was right. It’s all about timing and we talk about that in the book.
Caprino: What impact do you think the influx of millennials into the workforce has had on office/newsroom culture?
Pierre-Bravo: Millennials are digital natives who have an acute understanding of the digital world we work in. It’s incredibly important now a days to be versed in content sharing across platforms, especially in newsrooms. The digital know-how of our generation helps bridge the gap between the viewer and the content creator. We’re also a generation that believes in finding purpose in our work and that combination really brings more drive to the work we do. Our desire for diversity also makes us good storytellers because it’s inclusive of different perspectives and backgrounds.
Caprino: How can young women effectively negotiate raises?
Brzezinski: They can ask questions. They can do their research. They can develop relationships in the workplace that involve conversations about their salary and their success. They can become comfortable with this issue. And they can learn proper timing. We often miss the moment.
Caprino: Why is personal finance complicated for female millennials?
Brzezinski: I think we are overall very uncomfortable talking about money and we need to change that dynamic for younger women. We need to feel good about our finances. We need to start saving even if it’s just a little. And most importantly, we need to start talking about money for ourselves with ease.
Caprino: Let’s talk about failure. Many people (including me) consider failure as vital to success but we have to understand, embrace and learn from it, not hide from it. Can you share an instance you've failed in the workplace and how it's made you a savvier businesswoman?
Brzezinski: Wow, where do I begin? Men fail all the time and they move right on. Women fail and they remember it forever. We wear it like tattoos to make sure everybody knows about it. I have been fired and I have melted down on live TV and I have lived to tell about it all. If my failures can be survived, then your career will be just fine.
I’m not going to detail my failures here because there are too many but I’m going to focus on helping younger women bypass some of the big failures I’ve experienced and also learn from their experiences to advance and grow. The one most critical thing I’ve learned from my biggest failures is that other people forget them a lot quicker than I do. When I failed in the past, I would think about it and lose sleep over it and assume that everyone was thinking about it. Women tend to carry their failures written on their foreheads, and then just move on. We need to get better at picking ourselves up and moving on and re-composing ourselves and believing in ourselves right away. We tend to let failures chip away at our morale.
Caprino: What are your top three strategies for millennials to take to rock their careers at the highest level and overcome the challenges they face in the workforce?
Pierre-Bravo: Here are our top strategies:
Overcome the imposter syndrome
I struggled with this, but the key is to celebrate even the smallest achievements. You’ll remember how hard you worked, how worthy you are of earning what you have, and that will give you the drive to own your space and realize you do have a seat at the table. You’ve earned it.
Over prepare
Being the most prepared and showing up with data and points to back up what you are saying, either at a meeting or at the negotiating will give you leverage and make you feel and sound confident.
Build relationships
Your network is important for advancing. The Harvard research we commissioned for our book shows that only 1 in 3 women are comfortable with networking. We need to get better at it. Get used to engaging with others in authentic ways. Get on the phone or walk over to their offices and meet face to face instead of just sending an email. Connecting and resonating with others in your industry and organizations are important for growth. It’s easy to lose sight of that when everything is exchanged through a screen.
Caprino: Finally, what recommendations do you have for older generations who really don't get millennials and why they need to?
Pierre-Bravo: We are a very purpose-driven generation. Social good and making a difference drives much of the way we view and do our work. I shared with Mika my backstory and desire to create a platform for young people who didn’t have access to the work experiences or professional mentors they could learn the ropes from. It started from my desire to share my story in hopes of inspiring others to create their own success stories despite where they came from or their own limitations. This inspired the reason why we wrote Earn it! the way we did.
It’s valuable to give millennials opportunities to leverage their work, their purpose, and their mission to pay it forward. It’s good for business.
For more information, visit Know Your Value.
To close your power gaps and take control of your career, join Kathy Caprino’s Close Your Power Gaps program and her Amazing Career Project course.
