Technology decisions can shift dramatically when HR steps in with a human-centered perspective.

In this episode, Kate O'Neill, CEO of KO Insights and author of What Matters Next, explains how HR can influence innovation before decisions are locked in. She shares why employee experience, ethics, and organizational performance belong at the center of technology conversations, not after rollout plans are set.

You'll hear practical ways HR can gather partial answers, synthesize insight, and guide leaders through uncertainty while staying grounded in values, privacy, and workplace communication.

If you want HR leadership that builds credibility and influence, this conversation offers clear frameworks you can apply today.

Join us as we discuss:

(00:00) Meet HR Superstar: Kate O'Neill

(04:22) Digital transformation vs. innovation

(09:54) How HR can influence without being the decision maker

(14:15) Common mistakes when rolling out change and new tools

(22:38) Finding the right pace in technology decisions

(28:54) Carrying culture forward into the AI age

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 Performance Review Playbook: https://www.15five.com/ebook/review-process-playbook?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=Q2_2023_Podcast_CTAs&utm_content=Performance

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

Kate O'Neill's LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/kateoneill/

HR leaders are feeling the squeeze.

With limited resources and growing pressure to improve engagement, performance, and retention, many are tasked with building manager support systems from scratch, often without the time or tools to do it effectively. In this episode, Morgan Webb, Senior Strategic Advisor at 15Five, and Yen Tan, Evangelist, Expansion & Manager Products at 15Five, share how HR can take a more focused and sustainable approach to manager enablement.

They discuss why blanket training programs rarely work, how to use data to identify where support is needed most, and why piloting and iterating can drive better results than aiming for perfection. This conversation guides HR teams ready to stop doing it all and start doing what works.

Join us as we discuss:

(00:00) Meet HR Superstars: Yen Tan & Morgan Webb (06:19) The current state of HR and why HR owns manager enablement

(09:39) Managers are the bridge between HR goals and culture

(14:34) The danger of generic training and what to do instead

(18:19) Piloting and adapting learning based on feedback

(27:42) Overcoming skepticism and finding champions

(31:17) Measuring the effectiveness of manager enablement

(35:35) Using manager meetings and existing rhythms for reinforcement

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 Manager Enablement Playbook: https://www.15five.com/resources/ebook/15fives-manager-enablement-playbook-for-hr-leaders?hsLang=en?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=2026_Podcast&utm_content=ebook

For more on maximizing employee performance, engagement, and retention, click here: here:https://www.15five.com/demo?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=Q2-Podcast-Ads&utm_content=Schedule-a-demo Yen Tan's LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/helloyenhere/ Morgan Webb's LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/morgan-webb/

The more friction you have in an organization, the harder it is to move forward.

In this episode of HR Superstars, Karina Young sits down with David Hassell, CEO of 15Five, to discuss how trust, awareness, and conscious leadership can foster a culture of growth and empower teams to achieve their full potential. Drawing from the practices of conscious leadership, David explains how perception shapes behavior, why trust accelerates execution, and what HR leaders can do to strengthen the social fabric of their organizations.

Join us as we discuss: (00:00) Meet HR Superstar: David Hassell (06:52) HR's evolution into a strategic function (11:13) The future of leadership and AI (15:27) What is Conscious Leadership? (24:36) Applying Conscious Leadership in the workplace 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 Manager Enablement Playbook: https://www.15five.com/resources/ebook/15fives-manager-enablement-playbook-for-hr-leaders?hsLang=en?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=2026_Podcast&utm_content=ebook

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 David Hassell's LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidhassell/

High performers are often seen as the ones you don't have to worry about.

But behind consistent output and quiet competence, there can be early signs of burnout and disengagement.

In this episode, Melanie Naranjo joins Karina Young to challenge how companies define top talent and why performance without support leads to retention risk.

Melanie, Chief People Officer at Ethena, shares a candid perspective on why high performers need more than praise. They need space to grow, permission to speak up, and help rewiring habits that no longer serve them.

Together, they explore how over-reliance on top talent can backfire, why traditional engagement strategies often miss the mark, and what managers can do to spot red flags before it's too late. Melanie also offers clear strategies for re-engaging high performers and building a culture where expectations, accountability, and care go hand in hand.

For HR leaders working to retain their best people, it's a compelling reminder: performance doesn't mean immunity. It means opportunity.

Join us as we discuss:

(00:00) Meet HR Superstar: Melanie Naranjo

(01:14) The hidden costs of quiet disengagement

(03:28) Rethinking what "high performer" really means

(06:26) Debunking the myth of passion and performance

(10:19) Building flexible perks that actually engage people

(12:58) Early signs your top talent is burning out

(15:19) Questions managers should ask but usually don't

(20:03) How to coach overwhelmed team members

(22:30) Why surveys won't help you retain your best people

(24:17) High performers suffer when underperformers go unchecked

(31:19) Re-engaging talent through targeted development plans

(35:25) What to do when a high performer is a jerk

(38:23) Questions every manager should ask top talent

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 The HR Leader's Guide to Reducing Regrettable Turnover:

https://www.15five.com/resources/ebook/guide-to-reducing-regrettable-turnover?hsLang=en?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=Q4_2025_CTA&utm_content=turnover

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 Melanie Naranjo's LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/melanie-naranjo/

If HR wants to evolve, doing things the same way year after year won't cut it.

Change requires bold, new strategies.

In this episode of HR Superstars, Karina Young is joined by Crystal Boysen, Chief People Officer at Sprout Social, to challenge traditional HR thinking around risk, planning, and employee value.

Crystal discusses why fear-based policies and over-engineered processes create friction instead of trust. She also shares how HR leaders can design systems that help people move faster, with more clarity and confidence. She explains why strategy often fails, not because the plan is wrong, but because organizations never change how work actually gets done.

This episode calls on HR leaders to let go of a risk-averse mindset and embrace a more adaptive, people-first approach.

Join us as we discuss: (00:00) Meet HR Superstar: Crystal Boysen (06:08) Creating an environment where teams feel safe enough to learn (11:06) A different approach to planning cycles (15:39) Why strategy is not a fixed plan (20:08) What today's employees expect beyond pay and benefits (38:10) Crystal's bold move for 2026

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 Employee Engagement Playbook:

https://www.15five.com/ebook/engage-to-excel-15fives-employee-engagement-playbook/?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=Q2_2023_Podcast_CTAs&utm_content=Employee

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 Crystal Boysen's LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/crystalmboysen/

If you're in HR, you're already working with data, whether you realize it or not.

Every time you spot a pattern, have a feedback conversation, or reflect on team dynamics, you're using data to make decisions. In this episode, Dr. Dieter Veldsman, Chief HR Scientist at AIHR, shares ways HR leaders can feel more confident using data in their everyday decisions.

He explains what it means to be data-led and why it has nothing to do with being technical. You'll learn how to ask better questions, focus on what matters, and use data to bring more clarity to conversations with executives and your team.

This episode is a reminder that data isn't something to fear—it's something you already know how to use.

Join us as we discuss: (00:00) Meet HR Superstar: Dieter Veldsman (03:11) Why many HR leaders feel intimidated by data (09:07) This is how you lose credibility as a people leader (15:11) How to use metrics thoughtfully (20:31) Practical steps to build data confidence (25:51) The impact of HR data on sales and retention (32:33) Asking better questions about HR data (34:48) Access to HR benchmarks without dashboards or large data sets

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 Employee Engagement Playbook:

https://www.15five.com/ebook/engage-to-excel-15fives-employee-engagement-playbook/?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=Q2_2023_Podcast_CTAs&utm_content=Employee

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

Dieter Veldsman's LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/dieterveldsman/?originalSubdomain=nl

Everyone is rushing into AI, but few teams are preparing their data well enough to truly benefit from it. This episode features a recorded session from Thrive 2025. Guest host Anthony Onesto, VP of Platform and Product Marketing at 15Five, sits down with Nelson Spencer, Founder & CEO of efora, to discuss the data foundations HR needs before bringing AI into daily work. Nelson explains how large language models function and how centralizing data can help HR shift from reactive reporting to forward-looking insights.

If you want AI to support faster decision-making and better performance outcomes, this session gives you a clear place to start.

Join us as we discuss: (00:00) Meet HR Superstar: Nelson Spencer (03:18) Large language models explained simply

(04:35) Why data quality matters for AI

(07:22) Bringing scattered HR data into one system

(13:48) The biggest mistake teams make with AI adoption

(19:10) Using AI for predictive insights

(21:23) First steps to build a strong data foundation

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

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

Nelson Spencer's LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/nelsonspencer

Too many leaders still separate people and performance, as if caring about one cancels out the other.

In this episode, Fringe CEO and co-founder Jordan Peace joins Karina Young to challenge that mindset. He explains how trust and genuine care empower people to do great work. Together, they explore what happens when organizations lose their sense of humanity, how fear and disconnection create cynicism, and why rebuilding culture starts with small acts of kindness. Jordan also shares how HR leaders can use data and storytelling to get executives to prioritize employee well-being as a key driver of an organization's long-term success.

Join us as we discuss: (00:00) Meet HR Superstar: Jordan Peace (04:33) Why workplaces feel disconnected from people (08:34) Cultural warning signs: cynicism and blame (12:18) Relationships drive engagement and productivity (14:16) How to get the C-suite to care more (19:19) The impact of people-first leadership (26:06) Why events & activities can't fix culture (34:30) Healing workplace cynicism through genuine care

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 The HR Leader's Guide to Reducing Regrettable Turnover: https://www.15five.com/guide-to-reducing-regrettable-turnover?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=Q2_2023_Podcast_CTAs&utm_content=Reducing Regrettable Turnover eBook

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

Jordan Peace's LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jordan-peace-fringe/

We talk a lot about strategy in HR, but not enough about the stories behind it.

Too often, people-first initiatives lose their power because the "why" gets buried under data, process, and policy.

In this minisode, Karina Young, VP of People at 15Five and host of HR Superstars, discusses why storytelling is one of the most overlooked skills in HR leadership. She shares how storytelling makes sense of data, experience, and business decisions and how HR leaders can use stories to earn buy-in for initiatives across the organization.

For anyone looking to strengthen their communication skills, this episode will help you lead with more empathy and impact.

Join us as we discuss: (00:00) Meet HR Superstar: Karina Young (00:44) Why HR storytelling matters now (02:30) Translating your "why" across audiences (06:04) Do this to improve your communication skills

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 Employee Engagement Playbook: https://www.15five.com/ebook/engage-to-excel-15fives-employee-engagement-playbook/?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=Q2_2023_Podcast_CTAs&utm_content=Employee 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

AI can give HR leaders what they've always wanted: more time to focus on people, not paperwork. In this episode, Karina Young chats with Anthony Onesto and Theresa Fesinstine about how people leaders can confidently adopt AI without losing the human side of leadership.

They discuss what most teams get wrong about AI, how to start small without fear, and why a curious mindset matters more than being tech-savvy. Anthony and Theresa speak candidly about the pressure to move quickly, the fear of falling behind, and the importance of HR leading the AI conversation rather than reacting to it.

This episode offers an honest look at how AI can support HR's core mission of helping people thrive in the workplace.

Join us as we discuss: (00:00) Meet HR Superstars: Anthony Onesto and Theresa Fesinstine (07:17) Getting started with AI when you're not technical (11:30) Staying relevant through curiosity and experimentation (16:00) Helping HR leaders build confidence with new technology (20:29) Examples of AI tools supporting HR strategy (26:01) How AI changes the way we work (28:57) Balancing human impact and efficiency in the AI era

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 Employee Engagement Playbook: https://www.15five.com/ebook/engage-to-excel-15fives-employee-engagement-playbook/?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=Q2_2023_Podcast_CTAs&utm_content=Employee

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

Anthony Onesto's LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/anthonyonesto/

Theresa Fesinstine's LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/theresafesinstine/