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Women in Automation Session Recap

  • June 23, 2026
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Mary.Morales
Automation Anywhere Team
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“How to Be Your Own Advocate in the Workplace”

What an incredible session. The energy, honesty, and vulnerability in the room reminded us exactly why this community exists. Here's a recap of the key moments and takeaways of the session.

Why this topic?
During our Pathfinder Summit survey, we asked: Have you ever asked for a raise? 84% of respondents said no. That number sparked this conversation and as we dug deeper in our prep sessions, we realized it's about so much more than salary. It's about knowing your worth, advocating for yourself, and asking for what truly motivates you.

Danielle Deriso: “Don't Accept No as the Final Answer”
Danielle, Senior Manager of Finance Digital Governance and MVP, shared how she turned an organizational change into an opportunity to champion AI at her company even after being told the role was "two years out."

Her key takeaways:

  • See something, say something. See a gap, fill a gap. Don't wait for permission to move in the direction of your goals.
  • A "no" is often a "not right now." Use it as direction, not a dead end.
  • Momentum is created by doing, not asking. Start behaving at the level you're aiming for before the title arrives.
  • Even if peers think you're aiming too high, go for it anyway.

"Don't stop. Even though they say the role doesn't exist, demonstrate why it should."

Tazeen Mulla: The DDEEP Blueprint

Tazeen, Director of People Experience at Automation Anywhere, brought the data, the framework, and the heart. 

The cost of silence: A $15K salary gap at age 30, left unaddressed, can compound to over $1M in lost earnings, retirement contributions, and equity over a 25-year career. And yet, only 37% of women negotiate every offer.

The DEEP Blueprint — Tazeen's framework for negotiation:

  • D — Detach from the outcome. Your value isn't determined by whether the negotiation succeeds.
  • D — Data & Impact Lead with evidence. Market research and documented results shift the conversation from "she wants more" to "the numbers support this."
  • E — Emotions Don't lead with feelings. Translate your worth into a business case. Stop asking "do I deserve this?" and start asking "have I made the case for this?"
  • E- Expand Expand your ask. Salary is one lever. Think equity, bonus, title, PTO, flexibility, learning budget 
  • P — Practice Practice until you feel confident in your own pitch. Use a mirror, a partner, a mentor or whoever will listen.

"The risk of asking is far smaller than the cost of not asking."

Tazeen also reminded us: negotiation is not a personality trait. It's a skill and can be learned at any stage of your career.
She closed with a challenge: lift as you rise. Advocate for other women in rooms where they're not present. Drop their names. Champion their work. We all rise together.

The conversation that followed


The Q&A was rich with wisdom from the whole group:

  • On timing: Don't wait for year-end reviews. Keep the conversation going year-round and set expectations early. If the organization's promotion cycle is in December, start the conversation now.
  • On keeping your data: Several attendees shared the habit of maintaining a running log of achievements, kudos, and expanded responsibilities so that when the moment comes, the case is already built.
  • On expanding your ask: It's not always about salary. Flexibility, title, learning budgets, equity, remote days are all negotiable. Know what matters to you before you sit down to negotiate.
  • The 25% rule: If your responsibilities have grown 25% or more beyond your original role, that's a signal to start the promotion conversation.

"If you're hungry, just say I'm hungry  and then food will come. You know yourself best. There is no one who will advocate for you better than you."

Join the Community


All session recaps, resources, and ongoing conversations live in our Women in Automation group on the Pathfinder Community. 

Want to speak at a future session, or suggest a topic? Reach out to us

See you next month. 💜

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