How to ask for what you want (the salary convo)

Asking for what you want at work—can feel daunting. In this episode of Work in Progress, Matt McFarlane joins Lisa and LJ to help you navigate these tough conversations with confidence and ease. You’ll discover how to read the room, frame your request to get a positive response, and learn how to turn a “no” into an open door for future success. If you’re tired of hesitating or overthinking every request at work, Matt’s tips will leave you speaking up clearly and confidently.Listen in to find out why timing matters, how to ask without feeling pushy, and what to do next—even if you get a "no".

About our guest - Matt McFarlane is a startup compensation strategist and the founder of FNDN, dedicated to helping high-growth companies get pay right. With years of experience in People Operations, Matt has built compensation frameworks that scale, creating clarity and fairness in the way startups approach salaries, job levels, and pay transparency. He’s led comp strategies at companies growing from startup to scale up. At FNDN, Matt’s mission is simple: to take the guesswork out of compensation so startups can attract, retain, and reward top talent—without the growing pains.