Why do top performers still leave millions on the table? In this eye-opening episode, host Melinda Lee sits down with Jacob Warwick, the “Billion-Dollar Man” and the secret weapon behind some of the country’s highest-earning executives. Jacob pulls back the curtain on why high-performers consistently get paid less than they’re worth, and why the old rules of compensation are failing both CEOs and their teams.
________________________________________________
In This Episode, You Will Learn:
Why You Don’t Get Paid What You’re Worth
Why the quiet taboo around salary discussions keeps even brilliant leaders trapped below their earning ceiling, and how to break the silence without burning bridges.
The "False Authority" of Compensation Bands
“The band can be broken, you just have to ask the right questions.“
How senior leaders unknowingly cap their own potential by benchmarking against visible data instead of invisible reality.
Expanding the Pie, Not Just Slicing It
“I think about this more as a collaboration versus a confrontation. How can we work together to solve the greater good for everyone involved?”
Why negotiation isn't a zero-sum game. Jacob reveals how to uncover the hidden motivations of CEOs and board members, from burnout to family stress, and turn them into leverage for win-win deals.
The Manipulation vs. Influence Distinction
“Manipulation is extractive. Influence is additive.”
A masterclass in ethical persuasion. How to advocate for yourself or your team in a way that leaves everyone better off.
___________________________________
"You don't get paid what you're worth; you get paid what you negotiate." This is a truth not everyone gets to understand, but for those who do, it's a game-changer.
Learn how to earn what you're worth in our latest blog post, "Earning What You Deserve."
________________________________________________
About the Guest:
Jacob Warwick is the only agent representing top executives at the negotiating table. Over fifteen years and thousands of engagements, he has secured more than $1 billion in compensation for C-suite leaders, founders, and Hollywood talent, earning him the nickname in elite circles as "The Billion Dollar Man."
He is the founder and CEO of ThinkWarwick Global, former CEO of Discover Podium, and the author of Predetermined.
Fortune 500 boards, compensation committees, and leading executive search firms retain him to design strategies that attract and protect top talent.
Social Handles:
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@ExecsandtheCity
Substack: Https://www.execsandthecity.com/subscribe
Website: www.thinkwarwick.com
Fun Facts:
🥏 Jacob is an avid disc golfer and can often be found on the courses of Montana when he's not at the negotiating table.
🧩 He can solve a Rubik's Cube, a skill that perfectly matches his ability to untangle complex compensation puzzles.
🎞️ He also develops analog film.
________________________________________________
About Melinda:
Melinda Lee is a Presentation Skills Expert, Speaking Coach, and nationally renowned Motivational Speaker. She holds an M.A. in Organizational Psychology, is an Insights Practitioner, and is a Certified Professional in Talent Development as well as Certified in Conflict Resolution. For over a decade, Melinda has researched and studied the state of “flow” and used it as a proven technique to help corporate leaders and business owners amplify their voices, access flow, and present their mission in a more powerful way to achieve results.
She has been the TEDx Berkeley Speaker Coach and has worked with hundreds of executives and teams from Facebook, Google, Microsoft, Caltrans, Bay Area Rapid Transit System, and more. Currently, she lives in San Francisco, California, and is breaking the ancestral lineage of silence.
Website: https://speakinflow.com/
The Legacy Growth System™: https://www.speakinflow.com/legacy-growth-system
Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/speakinflow
Instagram: https://instagram.com/speakinflow
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mpowerall
Thanks for listening!
Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page.
Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below!
Subscribe to the podcast
If you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or Stitcher. You can also subscribe in your favorite podcast app.
Leave us an Apple Podcast review.
Ratings and reviews from our listeners are extremely valuable to us and greatly appreciated. They help our podcast rank higher on Apple Podcasts, which exposes our show to more awesome listeners like you. If you have a minute, please leave an honest review on Apple Podcasts.
