• Home
  • Latest
  • Fortune 500
  • Finance
  • Tech
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia

Trendingnow

1

The millennial generation is split in 2: an older crowd with boomer-style comfort, a younger set going 'back to the early 1900s'

2

Trump pulls back after Iran crosses his red line as U.S. military breaks two-week streak of airstrikes amid talks for potential Hormuz deal

3

'The demographic dividend of the last 40 years is ending': J.P. Morgan says the world is running out of the two things that kept interest rates down

1

The millennial generation is split in 2: an older crowd with boomer-style comfort, a younger set going 'back to the early 1900s'

2

Trump pulls back after Iran crosses his red line as U.S. military breaks two-week streak of airstrikes amid talks for potential Hormuz deal

3

'The demographic dividend of the last 40 years is ending': J.P. Morgan says the world is running out of the two things that kept interest rates down
NewslettersBroadsheet

Indra Nooyi says asking for a raise is ‘cringeworthy.’ Women are doing it anyways

By
Claire Zillman
Claire Zillman
and
Emma Hinchliffe
Emma Hinchliffe
Down Arrow Button Icon
By
Claire Zillman
Claire Zillman
and
Emma Hinchliffe
Emma Hinchliffe
Down Arrow Button Icon
October 7, 2021, 9:14 AM ET
MPW-logo-broadsheet
Add Fortune on Google for similar content.

Good morning, Broadsheet readers! A judge blocks the enforcement of Texas’s abortion law, GM has a new plan to take on Tesla, and Indra Nooyi says she’s never asked for a raise. Have a good Thursday.

– Nothing to cringe at. There’s no doubt Indra Nooyi, the former CEO of PepsiCo, is an inspiring business leader—for women, for women of color, for working mothers, for immigrants, for champions of sustainability and those nudging consumers toward healthier lifestyles. It’s no wonder that when I Google ‘Indra Nooyi,’ a top-suggested term is her ‘leadership quotes.’ People want to hear from the business executive (and new author) who ran one of the world’s largest companies for an impressive 12-year streak.

But they might’ve been a bit surprised—as I was—to hear Nooyi’s recent comments on pay. In an interview with The New York Times magazine, Nooyi said she’d “never, ever, ever asked for a raise.” Why? “I find it cringeworthy,” she said. “I cannot imagine working for somebody and saying my pay is not enough.”

It’s clear from the interview that Nooyi is very cognizant of the financial privilege she amassed late in her career. In her last full year at as PepsiCo CEO, she earned $31 million. More executives could use that kind of self-awareness. And maybe Nooyi always felt that she was paid fairly for the work she did, and well, it’s hard to argue with that.

Still, the comment was stunning in that it came from such titan of the corporate world. At the same time, it was relatable. Women are socialized to not talk about money, let alone ask for more of it. We know that demanding higher pay reflects poorly on us. McKinsey and LeanIn.org research in 2016 found that women who negotiate for raises and promotions are 30% more likely than men who negotiate to be called “bossy,” “intimidating,” or “too aggressive,” and they are 67% more likely than women who don’t negotiate to get that feedback.

What’s reassuring is that many women likely have those feelings, but ask for the money anyways. Researchers found that—contrary to conventional wisdom—women ask for raises just as often as men.

The gender pay gap makes it clear that those demands are not always met. In fact, though women and men ask for raises at the same rate, men are more likely to get them, a phenomenon academics blame on discrimination. One way to combat that bias is to normalize women asking for raises, a trend that seems to be underway. Plenty of women are asking to be paid what they’re worth in private, and more and more, it seems, women are doing it in public; athletes are demanding equal pay, comics are declining to work for free, and actors are speaking up when they feel shortchanged. None of them have cringed; in fact, they’ve barely blinked.

Claire Zillman
claire.zillman@fortune.com
@clairezillman

The Broadsheet, Fortune’s newsletter for and about the world’s most powerful women, is coauthored by Kristen Bellstrom, Emma Hinchliffe, and Claire Zillman. Today’s edition was curated by Emma Hinchliffe. 

ALSO IN THE HEADLINES

- Rights resume. U.S. District Judge Robert Pitman yesterday temporarily blocked the enforcement of SB8, Texas's six-week abortion ban. The federal judge wrote that the court "will not sanction one more day of this offensive deprivation of such an important right." The Justice Department sued to block the law. Reuters

- Now hiring. The Mom Project helps job candidates find positions that prioritize work-life balance. Now the platform has raised $80 million in new funding. The company says that August was a turning point for hiring, with the number of people searching for work up 69% over pre-pandemic levels. WSJ

- Taking on Tesla. GM, led by CEO Mary Barra, said yesterday the company is aiming to double its revenue to $280 billion by the end of this decade. The plan is part of a strategy to be less like a traditional automaker, and more like Tesla—and get the valuation of a tech company as a result. CNBC

MOVERS AND SHAKERS: Kelly Campbell, who left her role as president of Hulu this month, will become president of the NBCUniversal streaming service Peacock. Standard A.I. hired former Waymo exec Jennifer Haroon as CFO and former Lyft exec Angie Westbrock as COO. Khosla Ventures hired Shernaz Daver, a longtime adviser to GV, as senior operating partner and CMO. Health care platform H1 hired former OODA Health chief people officer Traunza Adams in the same role. Former Workday exec Leighanne Levensaler joins the board of Legion.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT

- Clothing value. WeWork made adjusted EBITDA famous with its "community-adjusted" measurement that left out building rental costs during its failed IPO. Now, this piece argues, Rent the Runway is following in WeWork's footsteps. The clothing rental service's S-1 offers an EBITDA stat that excludes depreciation—an iffy prospect when the core asset is clothing. Financial Times

- Reading list. Melinda French Gates' latest move? Her own imprint. The philanthropist is launching Moment of Lift Books with publisher Flatiron Books, dedicated to publishing nonfiction about women and girls. Elle

- City speech. Hong Kong chief executive Carrie Lam gave a two-hour speech this week—her last policy address before elections in six months. During the speech, she supported Hong Kong's controversial national security law and shared plans for development to address the city's housing shortage. South China Morning Post

ON MY RADAR

Cathie Wood to move investment manager ARK to Florida WSJ

The gender researcher's guide to an equal marriage The Atlantic

Mic reboots itself, with more pop culture coverage and less politics New York Times

PARTING WORDS

"If you're prepared, you're more powerful."

-Pinterest whistleblower Ifeoma Ozoma, who's launching the Tech Worker Handbook, a website that aims to help tech employees come forward as whistleblowers.

This is the web version of The Broadsheet, a daily newsletter for and about the world’s most powerful women. Sign up to get it delivered free to your inbox.

About the Authors
Claire Zillman
By Claire ZillmanEditor, Leadership
LinkedIn iconTwitter icon

Claire Zillman is a senior editor at Fortune, overseeing leadership stories. 

See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon
Emma Hinchliffe
By Emma HinchliffeMost Powerful Women Editor
LinkedIn iconTwitter icon

Emma Hinchliffe is Fortune’s Most Powerful Women editor, overseeing editorial for the longstanding franchise. As a senior writer at Fortune, Emma has covered women in business and gender-lens news across business, politics, and culture. She is the lead author of the Most Powerful Women Daily newsletter (formerly the Broadsheet), Fortune’s daily missive for and about the women leading the business world.

See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon
Add Fortune on Google for similar content.

Latest in Newsletters

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025

Most Popular

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Fortune Secondary Logo
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • World's Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
  • Lists Calendar
Sections
  • Finance
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Features
  • Leadership
  • Health
  • Commentary
  • Success
  • Retail
  • Mpw
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
  • CEO Initiative
  • Asia
  • Politics
  • Conferences
  • Europe
  • Newsletters
  • Personal Finance
  • Environment
  • Magazine
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
  • Group Subscriptions
About Us
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • Facebook icon
  • Twitter icon
  • LinkedIn icon
  • Instagram icon
  • TikTok icon
  • YouTube icon

Latest in Newsletters

Kim Ng broke barriers in baseball. Now she’s giving pro softball its biggest stage yet
NewslettersMPW Daily
Kim Ng broke barriers in baseball. Now she’s giving pro softball its biggest stage yet
By Emma HinchliffeJuly 24, 2026
1 day ago
Inside Larry Culp’s playbook for fixing GE
NewslettersCFO Daily
Inside Larry Culp’s playbook for fixing GE
By Sheryl EstradaJuly 24, 2026
2 days ago
Three people sitting on stairs
Startups & VentureTerm Sheet
Neo raises $100 million to hunt the zombie AI agents haunting your company
By Amanda GerutJuly 24, 2026
2 days ago
U.S. Rep. Ted Lieu (D-CA) during the Democratic National Convention on August 22, 2024 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
NewslettersFortune Tech
An ‘AI Kill Switch Act,’ engaged
By Andrew NuscaJuly 24, 2026
2 days ago
Photo: President Trump.
NewslettersMarkets
Trump weighs ‘massive attack’ on Iran as Tehran’s chokehold on oil gets tighter
By Jim EdwardsJuly 24, 2026
2 days ago
From near-collapse to $689 billion: Inside Larry Culp’s turnaround of GE
NewslettersCEO Daily
From near-collapse to $689 billion: Inside Larry Culp’s turnaround of GE
By Shawn TullyJuly 24, 2026
2 days ago

Most Popular

The millennial generation is split in 2: an older crowd with boomer-style comfort, a younger set going 'back to the early 1900s'
Real Estate
The millennial generation is split in 2: an older crowd with boomer-style comfort, a younger set going 'back to the early 1900s'
By Nick LichtenbergJuly 25, 2026
15 hours ago
Trump pulls back after Iran crosses his red line as U.S. military breaks two-week streak of airstrikes amid talks for potential Hormuz deal
Middle East
Trump pulls back after Iran crosses his red line as U.S. military breaks two-week streak of airstrikes amid talks for potential Hormuz deal
By Jason MaJuly 25, 2026
7 hours ago
'The demographic dividend of the last 40 years is ending': J.P. Morgan says the world is running out of the two things that kept interest rates down
Economy
'The demographic dividend of the last 40 years is ending': J.P. Morgan says the world is running out of the two things that kept interest rates down
By Eleanor PringleJuly 24, 2026
2 days ago
Jensen Huang made his $172 billion fortune on AI chips. His family's $75 million gift to Vanderbilt argues art decides what technology is for
Big Tech
Jensen Huang made his $172 billion fortune on AI chips. His family's $75 million gift to Vanderbilt argues art decides what technology is for
By Sydney LakeJuly 23, 2026
3 days ago
An 11-year-old is cleaning his neighbors' trash cans for $10 each—he now has 100K followers as teens face the worst summer job market since 1948
Success
An 11-year-old is cleaning his neighbors' trash cans for $10 each—he now has 100K followers as teens face the worst summer job market since 1948
By Orianna Rosa RoyleJuly 25, 2026
17 hours ago
A Hims cofounder fired his entire marketing team for AI. Now his 24/7 online vet service is growing 20% a month
Success
A Hims cofounder fired his entire marketing team for AI. Now his 24/7 online vet service is growing 20% a month
By Sydney LakeJuly 25, 2026
13 hours ago

© 2026 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.