About

About

Getting Black Women Paid is closing the pay gap, one negotiation at a time.

Vision

Getting Black Women Paid aims to enable Black women to change the trajectory of their careers, dramatically increase their lifetime earning potential, and achieve financial freedom.

Mission

Our mission is to provide the right education, products, and services for Black women to navigate their careers with confidence and increase their salaries.

About ‘Tine

A picture of 'Tine Zekis in glasses, and hoop earrings wearing a blazer and green shirt, standing with arms crossed.

Yo

Hello! My name is ‘Tine Zekis and my pronouns are she/her/hers. ‘Tine—pronounced “teen”—is short for Christine. I’m an educator turned software engineer turned career and negotiation coach, working to empower Black women to earn the salaries they deserve.

Years ago, I began my career as a high school math teacher, It was one of the most stressful times in my life. I worked long hours for little pay and was barely making ends meet. As I struggled to pay down my credit cards—let alone my student debt!—I realized I needed to make a change. While substitute teaching for a colleague who taught AP Computer Science, I realized I liked coding. So I went to a web development Bootcamp and became a software engineer.

I was nervous about moving into a white, male-dominated industry. During my initial job search, I promised myself this: I will not find out that the White guy sitting next to me. with the same level of experience, is getting paid more than I am. So I negotiated. I reached my goal for my starting salary and even landed some extra vacation days through the negotiation process. Then I helped one of my Black cohort-mates negotiate his compensation for the same role.

In the years that followed, I found myself at four different tech companies and I negotiated each time I moved. I also negotiated when it was time for promotions and compensation discussions. Two years into my career as a software engineer I doubled my teaching salary. It took four years to triple my teaching salary. I am now the sole breadwinner for a family of four, working reasonable and flexible hours.

I have always believed in the adage that we should lift as we climb. Along the way, I have coached several Black women through career changes and salary negotiations. I am passionate about diversifying Tech and other high-earning industries and dismantling the institutional systems designed to gatekeep. I founded Getting Black Women Paid to empower more people who look like me to grow in this space. Let’s take these next steps together!

Here's what people are saying...

'Tine’s powerful message is timely and so needed! You should do everything you can to hear what she has to say.

'Tine Zekis's session changed my life. I have since doubled my salary. I cannot even believe it. I took the limits off of my life.

I have seen hundreds of speakers, and NO ONE is doing what ‘Tine is doing!

Julienne W.

Danielle B.

Terha W.

About ‘Tine

Hello! My name is ‘Tine Zekis and my pronouns are she/her/hers. ‘Tine—pronounced “teen”—is short for Christine. I’m an educator turned software engineer turned career and negotiation coach, working to empower Black women to earn the salaries they deserve.

Years ago, I began my career as a high school math teacher, It was one of the most stressful times in my life. I worked long hours for little pay and was barely making ends meet. As I struggled to pay down my credit cards—let alone my student debt!—I realized I needed to make a change. While substitute teaching for a colleague who taught AP Computer Science, I realized I liked coding. So I went to a web development Bootcamp and became a software engineer.

I was nervous about moving into a white, male-dominated industry. During my initial job search, I promised myself this: I will not find out that the White guy sitting next to me. with the same level of experience, is getting paid more than I am. So I negotiated. I reached my goal for my starting salary and even landed some extra vacation days through the negotiation process. Then I helped one of my Black cohort-mates negotiate his compensation for the same role.

In the years that followed, I found myself at four different tech companies and I negotiated each time I moved. I also negotiated when it was time for promotions and compensation discussions. Two years into my career as a software engineer I doubled my teaching salary. It took four years to triple my teaching salary. I am now the sole breadwinner for a family of four, working reasonable and flexible hours.

I have always believed in the adage that we should lift as we climb. Along the way, I have coached several Black women through career changes and salary negotiations. I am passionate about diversifying Tech and other high-earning industries and dismantling the institutional systems designed to gatekeep. I founded Getting Black Women Paid to empower more people who look like me to grow in this space. Let’s take these next steps together!

Here's what people are saying...

'Tine’s powerful message is timely and so needed! You should do everything you can to hear what she has to say.

Julienne W.

'Tine Zekis's session changed my life. I have since doubled my salary. I cannot even believe it. I took the limits off of my life.

Danielle B.

I have seen hundreds of speakers, and NO ONE is doing what ‘Tine is doing!

Terha W.

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Getting Black Women Paid

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P.O. Box 705

Forest Park, IL 60130

Getting Black Women Paid

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