129. How to Influence Year-End Budget Conversations (When You're Not in the Room)

Send us a text

Right now, your manager is in a meeting you're not invited to, deciding your promotion, your raise, and your 2026 compensation. Directors, VPs, and HR are comparing you to people you've never met, asking questions you've never been asked to answer. And by the time you find out what was decided? The budget is locked.

Stop leaving your career to chance. In this episode, Kele Belton gives you the strategic playbook to influence these decisions and secure the promotion and compensation you've earned.

In this episode, you will learn: 

✅ The three-layer budget decision process and who's really in the room advocating for (or against) your promotion. 

✅ How to build a business case, not just a performance case, that makes saying "no" to your promotion harder than saying "yes." 

✅ The exact language to use when discussing your career path with your manager—whether you're committed long-term or frustrated after being passed over. 

✅ How to activate a network of advocates beyond your direct manager, including skip-level leaders, cross-functional peers, and HR business partners. 

✅ The documentation strategy that makes you visible in calibration meetings and budget justification reports. 

✅ What to do if you don't get promoted this cycle—how to get clarity, create accountability, and decide whether to stay or go.

This episode is essential for:

• Women in middle management who want to get promoted.
• Aspiring leaders preparing for career advancement.
• Anyone frustrated by working hard without seeing results in their compensation or title.

Connect with Kele for more leadership insights:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kele-ruth-belton/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thetailoredapproach/
• Website: https://thetailoredapproach.com