HR Superstars - podcast cover

HR Superstars

HR and People Ops can be challenging, but there’s a community of others who’ve been in your shoes. HR Superstars is the podcast from 15Five that connects you with confident and respected strategic people leaders who have conquered a myriad of challenges and now have valuable and actionable insights to share. In each episode, our host, Adam Weber, VP of Community at 15Five, will talk to some of the world’s leading innovators in the HR/People Ops space willing to share their insights and advice to help you in your journey. We get real with topics like being a strategic business partner to the rest of the organization, how to have difficult conversations while maintaining empathy, and how to make DEI a part of your cultural DNA instead of just lip service. 15Five is here to help you do what matters most—develop your workforce, create a strong employer brand, and be respected as the strategic business partner you are. Come join thousands of your fellow HR Superstars, we’re so excited to have you.
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Episodes

Why Compensation Needs Collaboration with Shane Metcalf

On this show you get to hear from truly stellar people leaders and how they think about running extraordinary companies and cultures. While Shane occasionally shares some of his ideas alongside them, we thought we’d switch things up a bit and give you a glimpse into how he thinks about the world of progressive HR, people operations, and doing business a little differently than it's ever been done before. In this episode, Shane shares his opinion on compensation philosophies and what it takes to ...

Oct 18, 20227 min

The Paradox of People Leadership with Julie Rogers

What’s the People Leadership paradox? HR, the people tasked with driving outcomes via all the other individuals at the company, are often set up for failure. Employees are an organization’s largest expense and also the most important driver for achieving your goals. Shouldn’t companies be empowering HR to succeed? Helping employees thrive within the confines of a budget, performance standards, and compensation parameters is a paradox many people leaders face, and Julie Rogers joins the show to d...

Oct 11, 202246 min

How Time Off Inspires Creativity with Shane Metcalf

On this show you get to hear from truly stellar people leaders and how they think about running extraordinary companies and cultures. While Shane occasionally shares some of his ideas alongside them, we thought we’d switch things up a bit and give you a glimpse into how he thinks about the world of progressive HR, people operations, and doing business a little differently than it's ever been done before. In this episode, Shane shares why he’s taking a sabbatical and why 15Five created a sabbatic...

Oct 04, 20226 min

Translating Personal Conversations into Business Results with Komodo Health’s Kathleen Ragelis

There are a lot of taboo topics these days. But some of the most moving experiences happen when we muster up the courage to talk about the things we aren’t supposed to talk about. Kathleen Ragelis , Head of People at Komodo Health , joins the show to share her experience with the power of vulnerable conversations and how they translate to business results. She also walks us through how to build an environment that balances high-performance with high-care. She shares three practices her team uses...

Sep 27, 202238 min

The Power of Believing with Shane Metcalf

On this show you get to hear from truly stellar people leaders and how they think about running extraordinary companies and cultures. While Shane occasionally shares some of his ideas alongside them, we thought we’d switch things up a bit and give you a glimpse into how he thinks about the world of progressive HR, people operations, and doing business a little differently than it's ever been done before. So here it is. Your first sneak peek into Shane's brain and his take on the power of believi...

Sep 20, 20228 min

Leveraging Whole-Brain Thinking to Become a Human-Centered Leader with Ann Herrmann-Nehdi

How many times have you taken a personality assessment only to forget all about it a few days later? Ann Herrmann-Nehdi , Chair of the Board and Chief Thought Leader at Herrmann , believes it’s time to make assessments usable on a daily basis. Hermann uses a proprietary Whole Brain® Thinking approach (not a personality assessment) to make it easy to build alignment, engagement, and agility across your organization. Ann’s on a mission to help leaders and teams change their thinking and leverage e...

Sep 13, 202232 min

Teasing Out Season 3

We’re about to launch our new season of HR Superstars in September, so we wanted to give you a sneak peek at which amazing guests you can expect to hear from. First, we kick off with brain science. Ann Herrmann-Nehdi , shares how Herrmann’s HBDI Brain Dominance Instrument assessment differs from personality assessments, using a proprietary Whole Brain Thinking approach to make it easy to build alignment, engagement, and agility across your organization. Next, Kathleen Ragelis , Head of People at...

Sep 06, 20223 min

The Power (And Business Value) of Believing In Your People with Sprinklr’s Diane Adams

A people-first approach to work sounds great, but is it really a winning strategy? Diane Adams , Chief Culture and Talent Officer at Sprinklr , is here to say it is, and she has the numbers to prove it. In just over a year, her team reduced attrition by 44%, even in the midst of a hot labor market. She joins the show to share her perspective on work-life integration, the power of believing in people, and balancing authenticity with performance. Join us as we discuss: [02:00] The value of work-li...

Aug 23, 202243 min

Compensation in the Context of Total Rewards with Affirm’s Andrea Morales

If you want to be a strategic HR leader, you need to master compensation. And then remaster it again and again. Andrea Morales , VP of People Rewards, Data, and Operations at Affirm , shares insights from her experience, as well as principles for creating a compensation strategy that accomplishes business goals and retains high performers. Buckle up for a great conversation that’s part therapy and part strategy. Join us as we discuss: [02:00] How collaboration with total rewards helps achieve bu...

Aug 16, 202234 min

Teaming Up with Your C-Suite with Playfly Sports’ Kate McKinnon

Becoming a teammate with the rest of the leadership team is critical to building a successful HR function. Kate McKinnon , Head of HR at Playfly Sports , knows this firsthand and has developed strategies that allow her to serve her form a partnership with the C-Suite from day one at an organization. In this episode, Kate and Shane discuss what it looks like to partner with your people, find creativity in HR, and unify around a shared mission. Join us as we discuss: [02:00] Forming a partnership ...

Aug 09, 202240 min

Bringing Human Flourishing to Work with Lippert’s Amber Selking

In the midst of the Great Resignation, Great Reshuffling, or whatever you call the turnover trend, any organization would jump at the chance to reduce their attrition by 100% and serve their community at the same time. Amber Selking , VP of Leadership and Culture Development at Lippert Components , joins the show to share how her team’s attrition fell drastically over 10 years as their organization began to prioritize purpose and community service. In this episode, she and Shane discuss how to h...

Aug 02, 202235 min

Building a Global People Team through Hypergrowth with Deel’s Casey Bailey

Developing an intentional culture is a challenge for any team, but it’s especially daunting in the midst of intense growth. Casey Bailey , Head of People at Deel , jumped in to build HR infrastructure soon after the company had grown from 50 to 550 employees in a single year. In this episode, she shares how you can avoid some of the challenges she’s been facing, how she takes a high-trust approach to performance management, and how to build a strong global remote culture. Join us as we discuss: ...

Jul 26, 202234 min

People Leaders are Business Leaders with Help Scout’s LaToya Lyn

LaToya Lyn , Chief People Officer at Help Scout , is more than a people leader. She’s a business and product leader. In this episode, LaToya shares what this dichotomy looks like for her, how HR drives business growth, and the importance of finding both mental and emotional renewal. She also explains how to find a seat at the table for strategic business conversations while prioritizing both personal and organizational sustainability. Listen in for LaToya’s advice on how to grow the HR “products...

Jul 19, 202244 min

Start with Principles, Not Policy with Slack’s Brian Elliott

Are you still looking for your “new normal”? It’s not coming anytime soon, explains Brian Elliott , Executive Leader of Future Forum, SVP at Slack , and author of How the Future Works . The good news? We’re going to keep getting better – constantly evolving, rather than settling into the status quo. In this episode, Brian shares research-backed insights from how to most effectively change company practices to build relationships in a digital-first environment. He leaves you with ideas to ponder ...

Jul 12, 202249 min

Scaling People Teams Thoughtfully with Kiana Davari, Head of People at Sorare

If you build on a house of cards, it will eventually crumble. Kiana Davari , Head of People at Sorare , learned first-hand earlier in her career that how you think about organizational design, and your hiring process early on is critical at a fast-growing company. She’s starting at square one again at Sorare and is bringing lots of wisdom with her this time around. She joins the show to share her biggest learnings about scaling people teams at high-growth organizations. We discuss all things peo...

Jul 05, 202237 min

Fostering Authenticity in Controversy with Justworks’ Jen Fox

What does it mean to bring your whole self to work? And is that actually what we want from our people? Jen Fox , Director of People Experience and Culture at Justworks , joins the show to share how her team meets the needs of employees and stays authentic in messy conversations—all while setting healthy boundaries. We discuss the importance of curiosity, intentionality, and calling others in rather than calling them out. Listen in for Jen’s advice on balancing the tension we encounter in healthy...

Jun 28, 202242 min

Reviving the Art of Listening with HubSpot’s Katie Burke

We're all figuring out what we want to be when we “grow up”. Katie Burke , HubSpot ’s Chief People Officer, shares that sometimes in order for us to create a different future, we have to be willing to recreate what will get us there. In this episode, we discuss creating a culture that normalizes growth and development, and why listening is one of our greatest superpowers. Katie shares how to think about listening at scale and holding firm to core values in a large and diverse organization. Liste...

Jun 21, 202246 min

Gaining Wisdom through Modern Mentorship with Sarah Haggard, CEO and Founder of Tribute

One of the most undervalued yet critical aspects inside modern organizations is the ability to effectively help people grow and develop. Sarah Haggard , CEO and Founder of Tribute , shares that mentorship programs are an easy and highly effective way to integrate growth and development into your company culture. In this episode, Sarah shares her journey as a first-time founder, some of the key moments of her own mentorship, and why she is so passionate about bringing modern mentorship to the wor...

Jun 14, 202238 min

The Measurable Value of Inclusion with 15Five’s Cara Pelletier

Creating an inclusive culture involves much more than trite phrases and modernizing policies. Cara Pelletier , Sr. Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging at 15Five , shares how building an inclusive culture takes multiple building blocks. Some of those blocks are cultivating traits like humility, curiosity, and vulnerability. Others are very tactical, like using intentional language, incorporating neurodiversity, and embracing healthy conflict. Cara also explains how inclusive c...

Jun 07, 202249 min

The Keys to a Successful 4-Day Workweek with Bolt’s Jennifer Christie

Burnout and inefficiency are some of the biggest challenges people leaders face today. Jennifer Christie , Chief People Officer at Bolt , shares how her team’s transition to four-day workweeks has unlocked efficiency and provides space for employees to pursue their passions outside of work. Join us as we discuss: [01:00] What inspired Bolt’s four-day workweek [06:30] Cultural changes as a result of the shift [14:00] Adjusting to a four-day workweek [28:00] Conscious.org , a movement by Bolt [36:...

May 10, 202241 min

Becoming an Empowering People Partner with Stripe’s Susanna Fisch

What does it take to be a great People Partner? Susanna Fisch , Lead of Stripe ’s People Partners, is here to tell us. We dive into the best tactics for enabling teams, measuring your impact, and why managers are the linchpin of your organization. Join us as we discuss: [01:00] The role of People Partners [08:30] Leveraging leaders within your organization [15:00] What great People Partners and managers look like [21:00] Areas of people development managers should own [25:30] Measuring the impac...

May 03, 202235 min

Considering A New Way to Win with Business Coach, Chris Westfall

It’s no secret that life is hard. But we tend to make it harder than it needs to be. Chris Westfall , author, speaker, and business coach, has learned this the hard way and joins the show to share how to discover easier paths in all areas of life. Join us as we discuss: [02:00] Reframing your circumstances [09:30] Creating possibility at scale [16:00] Becoming a better coach [23:00] What causes stress and how to stop it For the entire interview, follow HR Superstars on Spotify , Apple Podcasts ,...

Apr 12, 202232 min

Financial Wellness As A Core Part of the Employee Experience with Northstar's Will Peng

The days of handing your employees a 401k brochure and wishing them luck are gone. Modern employers need to support their people in making the best decisions about their finances. Will Peng , CEO and Co-Founder of Northstar , shares why employers need to provide guidance to help their employees through the paradox of choice in personal finance. He also explains how financial wellness is about more than dollars and cents. It’s a foundation for emotional and mental wellbeing that allows employees ...

Mar 22, 202227 min

The Evolution of Total Rewards with First Person’s Bryan Brenner and Paul Ashley

Developing a compensation philosophy is no simple task, but it’s critical to your success. First Person’s CEO & Founder, Bryan Brenner, and SVP & Consultant, Paul Ashley , reveal the strategic power of getting compensation right and share their tips to help you get started. We also dive into HR trends Bryan and Paul have noticed, where total rewards fit in the HR hierarchy of needs, and how focus on mental health leads to a thriving organization. Join us as we discuss: - [01:00] Getting ...

Mar 15, 202241 min

Facilitating Community, Connectedness, and Belonging with Salesforce’s Karen Mangia

Karen Mangia , VP, Customer & Market Insights at Salesforce & WSJ Bestselling Author, is proof you don’t have to choose between advancing in a traditional career and building your personal brand. In fact, investing in yourself outside of your 9-5 is a win-win for employees and employers. The key to balancing it all? Living in alignment with your values. Karen joins the show to help you connect your people with their values in their day jobs and beyond to unlock their best, most fulfillin...

Feb 08, 202240 min

Building Extraordinary Culture Around A Strong Remote Community

How do you build a sense of community as a hybrid or fully remote organization? After multiple years of remote work, David Hassel and Shane Metcalf have learned a thing or two about creating a strong remote culture. David , CEO, and Shane , Chief People and Culture Officer at 15Five, share how they've cultivated a successful remote-first organization and managed to sustain its energy. Join us as we discuss : - [04:30] Practices for building healthy and successful remote cultures - [15:00] Listen...

Dec 14, 202129 min

Reframing Work, Life, and Employee Turnover with Abby Hamilton, Chief People Officer at LiveIntent

The way we work has changed dramatically. One thing that hasn’t changed, though, is the importance of putting people first. Abby Hamilton , Chief People Officer at LiveIntent , has compelling advice for doing just that, even when it’s hard. This value permeates all areas of her team, from conversations about compensation to managing employee performance. A people-first perspective also calls for reframing some aspects of work. Abby explains how turnover can be good for individuals and your organ...

Dec 09, 202136 min

Introducing Season 2 of HR Superstars

HR Superstars is coming back for a second season! In these new episodes, we're going to be hosting new HR leaders who are innovating high-performance cultures at some of the fastest-growing and most successful companies in the world. We're also adding some subject matter experts, academics, coaches, and other business leaders who work beside and inspire HR leaders. You don't want to miss it.

Nov 30, 20212 min

Rebuilding Healthy Relationships In HR with CoinDesk’s Talie Schwager

Trust is key in any relationship, but it's especially important for those in HR leadership right now. Skepticism is at an all-time high, and leaders are searching for ways to build (and rebuild) relationships. Talie Schwager , VP of People and HR at CoinDesk , gives her advice for restoring your people's trust. She shares ways to leverage tech to save time so you can focus on impacting your people, discusses true inclusivity, and emphasizes the importance of listening well. Join us as we discuss...

Nov 23, 202128 min

Empowering Your People To Be and Become Their Best Selves

There's no universal blueprint for personal and professional development. However, breaking your values into principles and guideposts can provide the focus and freedom your people need to grow. David Hassell , CEO, and Shane Metcalf , Chief People and Culture Officer at 15Five, walk us through 15five's values and explain how they're broken into clear principles. T hey also explain why the Great Resignation and Great Reshuffling have been a long time coming and aren't just a product of the pande...

Nov 16, 202125 min
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