Quote · The Rest Is Politics: US
The Secret To Asking For A Pay Raise (Mika Brzezinski)
Where this was said
Listener Questions: Idea Theft and Maternity Leave
At 45:18 · chapter starts 44:45
Listener Evie asks how to assert her contribution when a senior colleague consistently presents their jointly developed ideas as solely his. Mika's response is direct: [1] — Mika Brzezinski "When a colleague steals your ideas, act within one week or you become part of the problem. Never go to a third party first — go directly to…" 44:45 if this has been going on for more than a week, Evie is now part of the problem by allowing it to continue. Address it immediately and only with the person involved — going to others first makes you look like a whiner and destroys trust. A direct conversation may reveal the colleague was simply thoughtless and will become a supporter. Listener Fatima asks how to re-enter the workplace after maternity leave without seeming like she's complaining about being sidelined. Mika offers a ready-made script: thank colleagues for their sensitivity, immediately reassure them you are ready and available, and proactively ask how you can get involved in upcoming projects — flipping what could be a defensive complaint into a confident, forward-leaning statement.
When a colleague steals your ideas, act within one week or you become part of the problem. Never go to a third party first — go directly to the person involved, build trust through direct confrontation, and get your name on your own work before the pattern becomes permanent.
The single most important thing Mika has learned is that women have a long runway — decades to dream, pivot, reinvent, and start over. For her generation, life after 50 looked like empty white space. Today it's overflowing with possibility. Slow down, stop racing the clock, and enjoy the ride.
