PayRise With Clare Ferguson and Simon Rutten

Verve Partners Production
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What if the real question is not “Should I ask for a pay rise?” but “Am I being valued in the way that actually matters?” Payrise is the career and workplace podcast for Australian professionals navigating growth, leadership, salary, and self worth. Hosted by Clare Ferguson and Simon Rutten of Verve Partners, we unpack the quiet questions people ask behind closed doors about loyalty, negotiation, promotions, and when it might be time to move on. This is Payrise.

Episodes

  1. MAR 17

    How To Ask For A Pay Rise ( Without Threatening To Quit) | Post Holiday Blues, Confidence and Knowing When to Leave

    Most people do not leave their job suddenly. The decision builds quietly over time. A missed conversation. A moment of doubt. A growing sense that something is no longer quite right. In this episode of Payrise, Clare Ferguson and Simon Rutten explore the career questions many professionals think about but rarely say out loud. When should you ask for a pay rise?When should you speak up?And when is it actually time to move on? Drawing on real conversations with candidates, leaders and hiring managers, Clare and Simon unpack the patterns they see across thousands of careers and why the conversations people avoid are often the ones that matter most. Including the story of a candidate who received a $35K pay rise and still questioned whether she deserved it. • Why many professionals avoid honest career conversations with their manager• The three real reasons people leave their jobs• How to ask for a pay rise without damaging your relationship with your employer• Why returning from a holiday often triggers career reflection• How confidence and salary are more connected than people realise• The story of a candidate who received a $35K pay rise and still doubted her value• Why clarity about growth and leadership matters as much as salary 00:00 Introduction01:10 The career conversation many employees avoid04:30 Why holidays often trigger career reflection08:15 When to ask for a pay rise14:20 The three real reasons people leave jobs20:40 Why confidence and salary are connected28:10 The $35K pay rise story34:30 Recognising your professional value38:00 Final reflections on career clarity Payrise is the career conversation people usually have after hours. Hosted by Clare Ferguson and Simon Rutten from Verve Partners, the podcast explores careers, leadership, salary, confidence and the workplace questions professionals rarely ask out loud. Each episode draws on real hiring conversations happening across Australian businesses and helps professionals think more clearly about their next career move. Follow Clare Fergusonhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/clareferguson/ Follow Simon Ruttenhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/simon-rutten-newcastle/ Follow Verve Partnershttps://www.linkedin.com/company/verve-partners/ We share clips, insights and real workplace conversations every week. Join the Verve Partners Careers Newsletter https://www.linkedin.com/build-relation/newsletter-follow?entityUrn=7222037751175557121 You will receive: • Market updates• Salary trends• Leadership insights• Career advice #Payrise #CareerAdvice #Negotiation #Work

    32 min

  2. MAR 5

    The Pay Gap in 2026: Are Women Part of the Problem?

    Why does the gender pay gap still exist in 2026? In this International Women's Day special, Clare Ferguson and Simon explore one of the most uncomfortable questions in modern workplaces. Is the pay gap only caused by bias and discrimination, or are historical conditioning, negotiation behaviour and career decisions also contributing to it? From generational conditioning to salary negotiation habits, this episode explores the real factors influencing women's earnings today. This is not about blaming women or attacking men. It is about context, awareness and learning how to advocate for your value in the modern workplace. If you have ever felt uncomfortable talking about money, negotiating salary or asking for more, this conversation is for you. Hosted by Clare Ferguson and SimonPayrise is the career and workplace podcast where we have the conversations Australians usually have after hours.

    16 min

  3. MAR 2 ·  BONUS

    The Worst Leadership Mistake Companies Keep Making

    Promoting your top performer into leadership feels like a reward. But what if it is the fastest way to lose them? In this episode of Payrise, Clare and Simon unpack one of the most common and costly mistakes businesses make: equating performance with leadership. We talk about: • Why leadership and management are completely different skills• The silent pressure high performers feel to “step up”• What happens when someone is promoted away from their strengths• How to create expert pathways without forcing people into people management If you lead a team, this episode may save you from your most expensive hiring mistake this year. If you are a high performer being nudged toward leadership, this conversation is for you. Because leadership is not a promotion. It is a different career path. 🎧 Listen & Follow Payrise ◼️ Tiktok – https://www.tiktok.com/@payrisepodcast ◼️ Yotube - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lMfrYNJk7wg ◼️ Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/64enCgyXqxfjc08ysIlxo1?si=UaGmAZAcTHqwjn9igfMf3g ◼️  Apple Podcast: https://apple.co/4s8pNqf  ◼️ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/vervepartners/  ◼️ Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/company/verve-partners/  Linktr.ee: https://linktr.ee/VervePartners  💬 Join The Conversation ◼️ Follow Clare Ferguson on LinkedIn   ◼️ Follow Simon Rutten on LinkedIn We post clips, insights, and real career conversations weekly. 📩 Get Career Insights Direct To You Join the Verve Partners Careers Newsletter on Linkedin • Market updates • Salary trends • Leadership insights • Career advice 🤝 Work With Verve Partners If you’re: • Hiring and want to build a stronger team • Considering your next career move • Curious about your market value Connect with Verve Partners here – https://vervepartners.com.au/

    15 min
  4. You’re Not Burnt Out. You’re Undervalued.

    FEB 25

    You’re Not Burnt Out. You’re Undervalued.

    You’re not burnt out. You’re asking, what is my worth? In the first episode of Payrise, Clare Ferguson and Simon unpack the career questions professionals usually have after hours. What is my worth, not just in money but in time, energy and growth?Why do strong performers get promoted into the worst case scenario?And how does toxic behaviour grow when leaders avoid uncomfortable conversations? This conversation explores: • Why promotions do not always lean on someone’s strengths• How transactional thinking damages trust in recruitment• Why applying for roles can feel soul destroying• How toxic behaviour can quietly grow inside a business• The leadership lesson in being comfortable about the uncomfortable conversations If you’ve ever questioned staying, leaving, stepping up, or asking for more, this episode is for you. Payrise is the honest career and leadership podcast for Australian professionals navigating growth, salary, culture and self worth in a changing job market. Follow the show for weekly conversations about work, leadership and the real decisions shaping modern careers. And if this episode resonated, share it with someone who’s quietly questioning their next move.

    34 min
  • 4 Episodes

About

What if the real question is not “Should I ask for a pay rise?” but “Am I being valued in the way that actually matters?” Payrise is the career and workplace podcast for Australian professionals navigating growth, leadership, salary, and self worth. Hosted by Clare Ferguson and Simon Rutten of Verve Partners, we unpack the quiet questions people ask behind closed doors about loyalty, negotiation, promotions, and when it might be time to move on. This is Payrise.

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