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EP. 13 From Humble Hawaiian Beginnings to Angel Investor: How Sage Leveraged Salary Negotiations to Build Her Empire

Season 1 Episode 13

In this episode, I sit down with Sage Ke’alohilani Quiamno, a nationally recognized DEI leader, founder, and angel investor who has helped over 2,500 WOC negotiate higher salaries. But her story didn’t start in boardrooms and conference stages—it started with a childhood experience that shaped her mission to advocate for women of color.

We dive deep into the why behind our negotiation fears, how childhood money stories influence our worth, and tactical tips for taking up space in rooms not built for us.

What We Cover:

  • Sage’s journey from painfully shy to powerhouse speaker
  • Navigating money shame as an Indigenous and immigrant-raised woman
  • How to build your "mana folder" to prep for negotiations
  • Political power mapping inside corporate systems
  • Using negotiation skills beyond the workplace

Timestamps:

00:00 – Meet Sage & the story of how we met

03:58 – Growing up in Hawaii & early fears around public speaking

10:46 – Intergenerational money stories & guilt around success

20:18 – How Sage built her negotiation skills

33:03 – Power mapping, documenting wins & timing your ask

38:58 – Building trust to fundraise & build a business

41:53 – Advice Sage would give her 22-year-old self

About Sage:

Sage is a Native Hawaiian leader, global advisor, and national speaker dedicated to creating pathways for women of color in leadership. She’s the award-winning co-founder of Future for Us and a former Global DEI Leader at Prime Video & Amazon MGM Studios, where she led talent strategies across 12 countries.

Her work on pay equity and inclusive leadership has been featured in Forbes, Fast Company, and Entrepreneur. Today, she serves as an angel investor focused on Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander, and Asian women founders, while advising boards like Hawaii Peoples Fund and Natives Rising.

Sage brings deep expertise in negotiation, equity strategy, and Indigenous values to help build community-driven, transformative change.

Follow Sage on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sage-quiamno/

Speaking Events: May 22 at Waikiki Yacht Club & June 13 at Women by Women Summit.

Invitation to Inner Niña Audacity Career Manifestation Workshop
Join me as we channel our inner niña audacity as we reframe limiting beliefs and build trust in ourselves to call in our audacious career dreams. Sign up here.

Until next time amigas ✨

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