On the Table: Conquering the Power of the Ask with Victoria Nelson

Summary:

In this captivating final episode of the series, On The Table, we welcome a guest whose life story reads like an extraordinary adventure of reinvention: Victoria Nelson. She opens up about the raw realities of being a young woman in a cutthroat, male-dominated industry and how she later found her personal balance after living in an ashram. She founded the Power of the Ask, a negotiation consulting firm dedicated to empowering women to navigate complex power dynamics. Tune in to hear Victoria’s remarkable story.

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction 

01:00 About Victoria 

09:00 Landing the cover of GQ

13:00 Overcoming imposter syndrome 

14:40 On becoming a photographer

19:00 Publishing a book about body positivity 

23:00 Living in an ashram

37:00 A new journey 

49:00 Women in leadership

53:00 Conflict preparedness 

55:30 About Power of the Ask

57:45 What makes a good negotiator 

01:02:00 Learning a new superpower

01:10:00 Advice and key takeaways 

01:16:00 Closing 

Concepts and frameworks featured:

Gender dynamics, power dynamics, interest-based bargaining, collaboration and framing, imposter syndrome

About the expert: 

Victoria Nelson is the founder of Power of the Ask, a private advisory focused on negotiation, leadership communication, and decision making under pressure. The practice supports founders, executives, and public leaders navigating consequential conversations about authority, compensation, performance, and boundaries. Learn more.