Gentle Power

Gerta and Alex at YourNegotiations.com
  • 5.0 (2)
  • CAREERS
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Join Gerta Malaj & Alex Choi as they share negotiation playbooks, dissect real deals, and reveal life bootstrapping a husband-wife business in SF. As co-founders of YourNegotiations.com, they’ve added 5-6 figure raises to job offers and guided founders through investor, vendor, and customer negotiations - B2B contracts, fundraising, co-founder splits, and more. Gerta (MIT MEng, Wellesley Math) spent 10+ years at LinkedIn, Salary.com & VC firms. Alex, a USAF veteran, ran GTM for Meta’s #2 revenue team at Instagram and is a 3× founder with Wharton MBA & Harvard MPA.

  1. 45. A Japanese negotiation tactic we highly recommend

    5D AGO

    45. A Japanese negotiation tactic we highly recommend

    In this episode of Gentle Power, we sat down with Kenko Ueyama, cofounder of Tsubasa AI, an AI advisory agency that helps enterprise teams define their AI strategy and then actually build it. Kenko is also a senior advisor at Harvard Applied AI Institute, where he helps design AI coursework and leads executive workshops on navigating AI-driven change. We covered: How underpricing yourself lowers not just your margins, but how seriously your work is takenA deep dive into your “resentment number,” where if a price makes you resent the work later, it was too low from the startThe Japanese negotiation concept of “nemawashi”, where the real negotiation happens before the meeting ever begins To learn more about Kenko and his work, connect with him on LinkedIn here, or visit his website: tsubasa-ai.com. For more: Book free consultation call with Alex: ⁠Calendly⁠ Get our free negotiation worksheet: ⁠YourNegotiations.com⁠ Read our weekly newsletter: ⁠Newsletter⁠ Instagram: ⁠@yournegotiations⁠LinkedIn: ⁠Gerta⁠ | ⁠Alex

    54 min
  2. 44. When a “no deal” is the best deal

    JAN 30

    44. When a “no deal” is the best deal

    In this episode of Gentle Power, we talk about “no deal” scenarios. Not as failures, but as real and often necessary outcomes that people tend to misunderstand, resist, or personalize. Most negotiation advice focuses on how to get to a deal. But a big part of negotiating well is knowing when there isn’t one. We explore why no deal happens, how to think about it strategically, and how zooming out can turn a disappointing outcome into the right one. We cover: Why no deal usually comes down to misaligned prioritiesWhy a strong process doesn’t guarantee resultsWhen the real win isn’t what you asked for, but what you actually neededWhy folding can be the smartest moveFor more: Book free consultation call with Alex: Calendly Get our free negotiation worksheet: YourNegotiations.com Read our weekly newsletter: Newsletter Instagram: @yournegotiationsLinkedIn: Gerta | Alex

    11 min
  3. 43. When they treat you disrespectfully

    JAN 23

    43. When they treat you disrespectfully

    In this episode of Gentle Power, we unpack a situation that comes up often in our client work: navigating moments where you feel undervalued, dismissed, or treated aggressively by the other side. We talk about how to respond without escalating the situation, how to protect your leverage, and how to distinguish between a one-off bad interaction and a real red flag about the company. Our conversation covers: Why feeling disrespected during a job search is common, and why it hits harder than people expect The case for assuming best intent early on (even when the other side is rude or dismissive) How staying calm and professional can actually improve your negotiating position When disrespect might be a test, and how composure under pressure works in your favor Why recruiter behavior doesn’t always reflect what your experience at the company will be like Where to draw the line If you’ve ever wondered whether a negative interaction is a deal-breaker, or how to respond without hurting your outcome, this episode offers a grounded framework for keeping your side of the street clean while still advocating for yourself. For more: Book free consultation call with Alex: Calendly Get our free negotiation worksheet: YourNegotiations.com Read our weekly newsletter: Newsletter Instagram: @yournegotiations LinkedIn: Gerta | Alex

    13 min
  4. 42. Negotiation Lessons from a Minister of Finance (Part 2)

    JAN 16

    42. Negotiation Lessons from a Minister of Finance (Part 2)

    We’re back this week with Part 2 of our conversation with Arben Malaj, former Minister of Finance of Albania, and also Gerta’s father. Quick recap: In his early 30s, Arben was tasked with stabilizing Albania’s economy during its 1997 financial crisis and civil war. His work put him across the table from institutions like the IMF, World Bank, and EU Commission, in negotiations where the power imbalance seemed insurmountable and the consequences of getting it wrong were enormous. In Part 2, we zoom in on a few concrete moments that show how establishing respect for all stakeholders and creating transparent systems can help land a win-win. Our conversation covers: What to do when the other side seems to hold all the leverage Why, if needed, respect must be established before negotiations can move forward Why the simplest solutions can create costly downstream effects How to design transparency when trust is fragile Arben’s experience offers a grounded look at negotiations under immense pressure. For more: Book free consultation call with Alex: Calendly Get our free negotiation worksheet: YourNegotiations.com Read our weekly newsletter: Newsletter Instagram: @yournegotiations LinkedIn: Gerta | Alex

    24 min
  5. 41. Negotiation lessons from a Minister of Finance (Part 1)

    JAN 9

    41. Negotiation lessons from a Minister of Finance (Part 1)

    In this week’s episode, Gerta sits down with her father, Arben Malaj, for a candid conversation about leadership under pressure, values-based negotiation, and what it looks like to take responsibility when everything is on the line. Arben is a prominent public figure in Albania and served as Minister of Finance during the country’s 1997 economic collapse, when pyramid schemes wiped out roughly half of Albania’s GDP and pushed the country into chaos. This is part one of the interview, focusing on Arben’s background, the crisis years, and the negotiation principles that guided him through some of the most turbulent moments in Albania’s modern history. Our conversation covers: From limited education under communism to winning high-stakes negotiations What happens when governments fail to act and how trust, power, and responsibility collide Being asked to lead during a national crisis Why integrity, sincerity, and goodwill matter more than leverage in high-stakes negotiations Lessons on leadership that translate far beyond politics and into everyday decision-making We’ll continue this conversation in part two, where we go deeper into negotiations, international diplomacy, and the long-term lessons from rebuilding after collapse. For more: Book free consultation call with Alex: Calendly Get our free negotiation worksheet: YourNegotiations.com Read our weekly newsletter: Newsletter Instagram: @yournegotiations LinkedIn: Gerta | Alex

    18 min
  6. 40. What does being creative in negotiations look like?

    JAN 2

    40. What does being creative in negotiations look like?

    This week, we talk about a type of negotiation most people deal with far more often than job offers: negotiating with hotels, airlines, and everyday services. The conversation was sparked by a real hotel booking situation that arose from Gerta’s upcoming MIT masterclass. Our conversation covers: Why everyday negotiations still benefit from a clear askHow light preparation works better than rigid scriptsHow human connection plays a role in low-stakes negotiationsWhat creativity looks like when you are not extracting valueWhy small acts of generosity can go a long way This week’s conversation reminds us that clarity, kindness, and genuine engagement often outperform clever tactics in every situation, not just high-stakes conversations. For more: Book free consultation call with Alex: Calendly Get our free negotiation worksheet: YourNegotiations.com Read our weekly newsletter: Newsletter Instagram: @yournegotiations LinkedIn: Gerta | Alex

    20 min
  7. 39. What can negotiators learn from decision science and poker?

    12/26/2025

    39. What can negotiators learn from decision science and poker?

    This week, we’re sharing Gerta’s interview with Meredith Baker of the Powerful Stuff Podcast, a podcast for cheeky self-development. Their conversation is a refreshing reminder that negotiation doesn’t have to feel like a cage match. Gerta breaks down the mindset that makes negotiation work better (collaboration, goodwill, and even playfulness), plus a handful of tactics you can use immediately, whether you’re navigating comp, co-founder equity, rent, or just everyday life. Our conversation covers: What can negotiators learn from decision science and poker? How to decide whether to negotiate? Expected value and resulting. Why negotiation works best when it’s collaborative, not when you play “hard to get” The first step most people skip: clarifying priorities and non-negotiables Why you shouldn’t give the first number in job offer conversations The power of silence, time, and not pushing for answers on the spot Everyday negotiations you’re need to try: rent, flights, seats, even concert tickets For more: Book free consultation call with Alex: Calendly Get our free negotiation worksheet: YourNegotiations.com Read our weekly newsletter: Newsletter Instagram: @yournegotiations LinkedIn: Gerta | Alex

    1h 18m
  8. 38. Negotiating in love and dating

    12/16/2025

    38. Negotiating in love and dating

    Most weeks on Gentle Power, we talk about power dynamics in professional settings like job offers and negotiations. In this episode, we focus on negotiations in none other than… love and dating! We explore how vulnerability, power dynamics, and behavioral psychology shape connection and influence, often in ways people misunderstand. Our conversation covers: Vulnerability feels like weakness but it’s actually a strong marker of power  People will like you more if you ask them for a favor - the Ben Franklin effect How to tell if someone likes you by looking at their body language How to regain power when the other party is being aggressive  For more: Book free consultation call with Alex: Calendly Get our free negotiation worksheet: YourNegotiations.com Read our weekly newsletter: Newsletter Instagram: @yournegotiations LinkedIn: Gerta | Alex

    36 min
See All (46)

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

Join Gerta Malaj & Alex Choi as they share negotiation playbooks, dissect real deals, and reveal life bootstrapping a husband-wife business in SF. As co-founders of YourNegotiations.com, they’ve added 5-6 figure raises to job offers and guided founders through investor, vendor, and customer negotiations - B2B contracts, fundraising, co-founder splits, and more. Gerta (MIT MEng, Wellesley Math) spent 10+ years at LinkedIn, Salary.com & VC firms. Alex, a USAF veteran, ran GTM for Meta’s #2 revenue team at Instagram and is a 3× founder with Wharton MBA & Harvard MPA.

Information

  • Creator
    Gerta and Alex at YourNegotiations.com
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    46
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Gerta and Alex at YourNegotiations.com
  • Show Website
    Gentle Power