You cannot ask for C suite exec salary without being one. Did she ask for C suite position instead? This reminded me of tv series ‘Suits’; Donna was indispensable assistant. She wanted partnership so she asked for COO post. However dramatic the shift was, atleast she didn’t ask for C suite salary at assistant position.

To be frank, corporates always value 'managers' of talent over talent. I have learned it a hard way. I chose to be Individual Contributer in Software Industry but I have not been given any growth path by corporate after a point; I simply have nothing chalked out for me untill I start management. I have been hinted that I am replaceable many times, that too by young people who have couple of certificates. This situation made me realize that I should try for my own business; that’s the only way to handle replacement threat.