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50% Raise, Self-Advocacy & Informational Interviews: Sarah-Neel Smith, PhD with Coach Jamie Lee

Risky Conversations with Jamie Lee

Risky Conversations with Jamie Lee
50% Raise, Self-Advocacy & Informational Interviews: Sarah-Neel Smith, PhD with Coach Jamie Lee
May 05, 2026 Episode 124
Jamie Lee

Informational interviews, job interviews, and offer negotiations: these are the "risky" conversations that stand between you and a career you actually love. But what if you could de-risk these moments and catapult yourself into a new dimension of success?

That is exactly what my client, Sarah-Neel Smith, PhD, did. In this episode, Sarah-Neel pulls back the curtain on her journey from feeling "stuck" in academia to pivoting into a high-impact career in philanthropy. 

By combining well-structured informational interviews with coaching to advocate for her potential, she transformed her professional life—negotiating a 7% increase on her first offer and a staggering 50% pay bump on her second.

We discuss how to build self-trust, create meaningful connections, and find the "creative sharpness" that only comes when you stop grinding and start advocating for your value.

Take the next step in your own career transition:

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