The Modern People Leader: Forward-Thinking HR

232: The Modern Compensation Playbook: Matt McFarlane (Director, FNDN) & Haris Ikram (Co-Founder & CEO, CandorIQ)

46 snips

May 30, 2025

Guest

Haris Ikram

Guest

Matt McFarlane

In this engaging discussion, Matt McFarlane, Director of FNDN and a compensation expert, teams up with Haris Ikram, Co-Founder and CEO of CandorIQ, who specializes in tech solutions for HR. They delve into the complexities of modern compensation, emphasizing the need for transparency and effective job architecture. The duo shares strategies for aligning compensation with performance, leveraging AI tools, and transforming merit cycles. They also explore the shifting expectations of Gen Z in the workplace, providing invaluable insights for forward-thinking HR leaders.

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ANECDOTE

Ice Skating Father-Son Story

Haris Ikram shared how his young son convinced him to learn ice skating to play ice hockey together.
This personal story highlights the evolving ways people connect and learn new skills through family.

ADVICE

Enhance Pay Transparency

Don’t just disclose salary numbers; explain how compensation decisions are made to build transparency and trust.
Empower managers with information so they can effectively discuss pay with employees.

ADVICE

Centralize Employee Data

Consolidate all employee data into a single platform to avoid manual spreadsheet work.
This frees HR teams to focus more on strategic insights rather than data management.

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Matt McFarlane and Haris Ikram joined us for a live session to break down everything modern HR leaders need to know about compensation—from philosophy and strategy to pay transparency and AI tools.

Together, they shared a forward-thinking playbook for tackling merit cycles, aligning job architecture, and driving better employee experiences through data and design.

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(04:00) Why Compensation Now? – The narrative HR leaders are sharing

(06:30) Comp is Still Broken – Transparency, tech, and rising expectations

(08:30) Gen Z and the Value Prop Shift – Employment has changed

(10:00) Making Pay Make Sense – Linking compensation to performance

(13:00) Real-World Comp Challenges – From spreadsheets to strategy

(15:30) Global Comp Complexity – APAC, logistics, high- and low-tech roles

(17:00) Job Architecture's Role – Why it’s foundational to HR today

(20:30) Rapid Fire: The Comp Playbook – Philosophy, strategy, equity, benchmarking

(32:00) Tech for Comp Teams – Centralized data, manager enablement, and AI insights

(42:00) Rethinking Merit Cycles – What modern comp reviews should look like

(47:00) Manager Training & Transparency – Empowering leaders with the right tools

(53:00) Total Rewards Experience – From offer letters to ongoing employee clarity

(58:30) Final Thoughts & One-Word Close – Key takeaways from the session

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Past guests on MPL include Brené Brown, Annie Dean (VP of Team Anywhere, Atlassian), Josh Bersin, Katie Burke (Chief People Officer, Harvey), Liz Fosslien, Helen Russell (Chief People Officer, HubSpot), Dave Scott (Chief People Officer, ADT), Melanie Rossenwasser (Chief People Officer, Dropbox), Crystal Boysen (Chief People Officer, Sprout Social), and many more.