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/

HR leaders hold immense responsibility but too often lack the authority and confidence to match.

In this episode, executive communications coach and world-champion debater Kate Mason joins Karina Young to explore how leaders can use everyday conversations to earn trust and build influence. Kate is the author of Powerfully Likable and has coached executives across industries on how to communicate with confidence.

Kate shares practical tools to avoid diminishing language, how to make competence visible through intentional communication, and why signposting creates calm and credibility. She and Karina also discuss the unique challenges women in HR face around power, how to regulate presence in high-pressure moments, and the importance of framing recommendations with conviction in executive settings.

This episode offers actionable ways for HR leaders to strengthen their voice at the table, communicate with authority, and show the true strategic value of the people function.

Join us as we discuss:

(00:00) Meet HR Superstar: Kate Mason

(03:11) Kate Mason's journey from debate to executive coaching

(05:17) Building trust when HR is brought in too late

(06:44) How to demonstrate competence without downplaying your impact

(11:48) Why many women hesitate to claim power in leadership

(14:15) Practical tools for calming nerves in high-stakes moments

(17:02) Recognizing what powers you up and shuts you down

(23:12) Navigating executive friction and showing up with authority

(29:52) Communicating effectively with CEOs and gaining their trust

(35:38) Breaking habits that diminish your presence at the table

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 Review 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

Kate Mason's LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/katemasonphd/

The future of work is already here, so why does HR still feel stuck in the past?

Despite rising expectations, many HR teams are still relying on outdated tools like annual surveys, rigid change models, and compliance-first programs. The result: employee experiences that feel transactional instead of inspiring.

In this episode, Loren Blandon joins Karina Young to talk about how HR can finally catch up to the way people actually work today. Loren is a Future of Work Strategist and Fractional HR Executive with nearly two decades of experience across industries.

Loren shares why HR should borrow from marketing and brand building, how she rebuilt learning teams with human-centered design, and the importance of creating programs employees are proud to talk about outside of work. She and Karina also dig into how to get past "check-the-box" approaches, why HR leaders need to put the employee at the center of every decision, and how grassroots energy often drives change more effectively than top-down mandates.

For HR leaders carrying more responsibility than ever with limited resources, this episode is a call to bring creativity, empathy, and courage to the way we design work and to step confidently into the future that's already unfolding.

Join us as we discuss:

(00:00) Meet HR Superstar: Loren Blandon

(02:21) Loren's path from psychologist to HR leader

(03:41) Why traditional change models no longer work

(05:19) What HR can learn from top consumer brands

(08:52) Breaking free from compliance-first HR mindsets

(10:45) Designing learning programs people actually want

(14:06) The role of AI in today's HR function

(17:11) Addressing fear and uncertainty across every career stage

(23:53) Using influencers to amplify culture and learning programs

(27:26) The future of employee listening powered by AI

(31:40) Practical ways HR teams are using AI today

(37:00) Advice for HR leaders stepping into new roles

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 Loren Blandon's LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/lorenblandon/

Authenticity in leadership is often encouraged, but rarely modeled at the top.

And in HR, the pressure to stay polished can make vulnerability feel off-limits.

In this episode, Nicole DuBois joins Karina Young to reflect on what happens when people leaders stop compartmentalizing and start leading from their full selves.

Nicole, CHRO at Graham Windham, opens up about publishing a memoir under a pseudonym, sharing her story publicly, and how that decision impacted her team and her career.

Together, they talk about how HR teams can influence culture by showing up as humans first, what it looks like to embed compassion into strategic planning, and why trust with employees hinges on transparent follow-through. Nicole also shares how her team is building programming around vulnerability, leadership coaching, and belonging across the organization.

For HR leaders looking to lead with more intention and impact, it's a reminder that honesty isn't a liability but a strategy.

Join us as we discuss:

(00:00) Meet HR Superstar: Nicole DuBois

(01:25) The pressure to stay polished as an HR leader

(03:18) Nicole's journey from policy enforcer to strategic people partner

(06:22) What to do when HR needs HR

(08:15) Writing a memoir while hiding behind a pseudonym

(10:11) The moment Nicole chose to show up fully

(12:31) How authenticity changed her team relationships

(16:28) The loneliness of leading HR without peer support

(21:25) Building an annual plan rooted in compassion

(23:20) Supporting employees in emotionally demanding roles

(27:20) Coaching leaders stuck in outdated management styles

(33:23) Turning engagement survey feedback into visible action

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

Nicole DuBois 's LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicole-dubois-24568510/