Even though people are at the heart of business outcomes, HR leaders still struggle to be seen as essential voices at the executive table.

In this episode, Karina Young, VP of People at 15Five, sits down with Jeff Smith, Chief Product and Marketing Officer at 15Five, to talk about how to show up in the boardroom with clarity and confidence. Jeff shares lessons from working closely with HR leaders over the years and offers practical guidance on how to present people strategy as business strategy.

They cover how to prepare for board meetings, tell compelling stories with data, and answer tough questions without losing trust. This episode offers an honest and empowering look at why HR deserves a seat at the table.

Join us as we discuss:

(00:00) Meet HR Superstar: Jeff Smith

(05:02) Jeff Smith on what happens inside a boardroom

(07:13) Fighting for your seat at the table

(08:31) How to communicate HR strategy in business terms

(10:42) Organizing the data you’re presenting

(13:53) The value of preparing with your peers

(20:29) How to prep for tough questions in the boardroom

(22:19) Avoiding common pitfalls in presentations

(23:22) The power of storytelling when sharing data

(26:54) Building confidence and presence ahead of high-stakes conversations

 

Resources:

For the entire interview, subscribe to HR Superstars on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or YouTube, or tune in on our website. Original podcast track produced by Entheo.

Listening on a desktop & can’t see the links? Just search for HR Superstars in your favorite podcast player.

Hear Karina’s thoughts on elevating your HR career by following her on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karinayoung11/

Download 15Five’s HR Outcomes Playbook: https://www.15five.com/ebook/hr-outcomes-playbook-unlocking-the-true-business-value-of-hr/?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=Q2_2023_Podcast_CTAs&utm_content=HR Outcomes Playbook 

For more on maximizing employee performance, engagement, and retention, click here: https://www.15five.com/demo?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=Q2-Podcast-Ads&utm_content=Schedule-a-demo

Jeff Smith’s LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffsmithphd