

HR Superstars
15Five
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.
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.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Apr 30, 2024 • 38min
Creating a Culture of Belonging in the AI Era with Smiley Poswolsky
Amidst a backdrop of burnout, layoffs, and loneliness, belonging at work has never been more important. In this episode, keynote speaker Smiley Poswolsky unpacks the power of belonging in the workplace. He shares how the current loneliness epidemic and his experience at Camp Grounded, an adult summer camp focused on digital detox and authentic connection, solidified his passion for fostering belonging. Smiley explains how to create cultures of belonging and why it’s so important in the era of AI. He shares how to overcome common barriers to belonging and leaves us with easy ways to build opportunities for authentic connection into everyday rhythms at work. 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. Want to connect with thousands of other strategic HR leaders like you? Join the HR Superstars Community! Listening on a desktop & can’t see the links? Just search for HR Superstars in your favorite podcast player.* Hear Adam’s thoughts on elevating your HR career by following him on LinkedIn. Click here to download 15Five’s Performance Review Playbook! For more on maximizing employee performance, engagement, and retention, click here. Smiley Poswolsky's LinkedIn - click here!

Apr 23, 2024 • 34min
Crafting A Human-Centric Workplace with Watchen Nyanue Hampton
Does your company culture make every employee feel seen, heard, and appreciated? Or is it deep-rooted in behaviors that cause someone to feel like a number? In this episode, Watchen Nyanue Hampton, Founder and CEO of I Choose The Ladder, shares her unique perspectives on the need for more human-centric approaches in the workplace. She calls upon HR leaders to view employees as full individuals, highlighting that behaviors and actions should align with the company’s core values. Watchen also relays her opinions about outsourcing employee surveys and exit interviews. She notes that outsourcing creates a sense of safety for employees to be candid with feedback. During the conversation, Watchen taps into practical methods to counter generational clashes arising from differing workplace expectations. You’re sure to take away strategies for creating more relatable and less mechanical work environments. 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. Want to connect with thousands of other strategic HR leaders like you? Join the HR Superstars Community! Listening on a desktop & can’t see the links? Just search for HR Superstars in your favorite podcast player. Hear Adam’s thoughts on elevating your HR career by following him on LinkedIn. Click here to download 15Five’s HR Outcomes Playbook! For more on maximizing employee performance, engagement, and retention, click here. Watchen Hampton's LinkedIn - click here!

Apr 16, 2024 • 29min
Bridging the Skills Gap in Modern Work with Ravin Jesuthasan
Ravin Jesuthasan, Global Leader for Transformation Services at Mercer and an HR Tech influencer, explores the shifting dynamics of HR in today's workplace. He discusses the urgent need for upskilling and reskilling amidst the rise of generative AI. Ravin emphasizes redefining HR's role from traditional practices to a strategic steward of work. He highlights innovative approaches to engage business leaders and adapt HR strategies for collaboration and employee experience, showcasing how skills have become the new currency in an agile workforce.

Apr 9, 2024 • 30min
The Power of Science-Based Simplicity with Marc Effron
What’s your approach to maintaining simplicity in performance management while ensuring it’s thorough enough to capture the company's objectives? This episode features insights from the Talent Strategy Group’s President, Marc Effron, as he sheds light on the power of simplifying processes and HR’s critical role in fostering a goal-centric culture that thrives on clarity and focus. Marc details two critical steps that help drive employee performance: setting “stretchy” goals and building influencing skills. He also stresses the need for HR leaders to become “business junkies” who deeply understand the business to drive meaningful impact in an organization. The conversation dives further into the science of human performance and academic research to inform HR processes, maintaining the idea that performance management is strategy implementation. 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. Want to connect with thousands of other strategic HR leaders like you? Join the HR Superstars Community! Listening on a desktop & can’t see the links? Just search for HR Superstars in your favorite podcast player. Hear Adam’s thoughts on elevating your HR career by following him on LinkedIn. Click here to download 15Five’s Performance Review Playbook!

Apr 2, 2024 • 28min
Career Development Beyond the Manager Path with Dr. Bev Kaye
How would your HR journey change if you knew that “up” wasn’t the only direction for your career? It’s certainly OK to work toward promotions, but don’t forget to explore the other moves in mobile career development. This concept of “career leverage” holds value today as much as it did forty years ago. As one of the most recognized thought-leaders in HR, Dr. Beverly Kaye shares her deep wisdom, practical insights, and timeless truths developed over six decades of experience in career advancement and employee engagement. You’ll learn how Bev’s philosophy challenges traditional career paths and offers new ways for individuals to find satisfaction within their careers beyond the typical managerial trajectory. The conversation expands on groundbreaking yet practical strategies to empower two sets of relationships: HR leaders to managers and managers to their employees. 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. Want to connect with thousands of other strategic HR leaders like you? Join the HR Superstars Community! Listening on a desktop & can’t see the links? Just search for HR Superstars in your favorite podcast player. Hear Adam’s thoughts on elevating your HR career by following him on LinkedIn. Click here to download 15Five’s Manager Enablement Playbook!

Mar 26, 2024 • 44min
HR Superstars LIVE From Austin!
We’re getting spicy in this episode – literally! Hollie Castro, CPO at Miro, Amy Campbell, CPO at Overhaul, and host Adam Weber dig into HR hot takes over hot wings in front of a live audience in Austin, Texas. Hot topics include the value of employee engagement surveys, who HR should report to, and knowledge decay from L&D efforts. Amy and Hollie also share their unfiltered insights on how to thrive as people leaders, from setting priorities to managing stress. Amy discusses fighting comparison and learning to say no, while Hollie reflects on her personal growth journey and the value of vulnerability. 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. Want to connect with thousands of other strategic HR leaders like you? Join the HR Superstars Community! Listening on a desktop & can’t see the links? Just search for HR Superstars in your favorite podcast player. Hear Adam’s thoughts on elevating your HR career by following him on LinkedIn. Click here to download 15Five’s HR Outcomes Playbook!

Mar 19, 2024 • 41min
Navigating Generational Diversity in the Modern Workforce with Donald Knight
Can fusing Gen Z’s tech skills with older generations’ expertise create smarter HR practices and push business creativity forward? In this episode, Donald Knight, Chief People Officer at Greenhouse Software, shares his remarkable insights about Gen Z’s impacts on the workforce, DEI’s evolution, and fulfillment in maximizing your time and dedicating your service. Donald discusses his rich experiences and personal journey through HR, revealing that he doesn’t believe in a work-life balance. Instead, he uses a “work-life blender” strategy to facilitate personal growth and amplify talent development within his team. You’ll also learn why Donald calls on DEI professionals to shift their focus toward results and adopt a data-centered approach. 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. Want to connect with thousands of other strategic HR leaders like you? Join the HR Superstars Community! Listening on a desktop & can’t see the links? Just search for HR Superstars in your favorite podcast player. Hear Adam’s thoughts on elevating your HR career by following him on LinkedIn. Click here to download 15Five’s HR Outcomes Playbook!

Mar 12, 2024 • 35min
Fostering Connections and Conflicts in Remote Work with Katya Laviolette
The modern workplace is evolving to embrace the personal within the professional sphere. Think of it as “bringing your whole self to work.” In this episode, Katya Laviolette, CPO at 1Password, candidly discusses integrating diversity, equity, and inclusion practices within remote environments. She celebrates the blended approach of profit, people, and culture as a means for both individual and company-wide prosperity. Katya offers her insights on conflict management, the necessity of intentional communication, and the valuable impact that occasional in-person meetings can have on the work culture—including conflict resolution. The conversation also details the tricky topic of managing performance and behavior, advocating for simplicity and clarity in conveying company values. 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. Want to connect with thousands of other strategic HR leaders like you? Join the HR Superstars Community! Listening on a desktop & can’t see the links? Just search for HR Superstars in your favorite podcast player. Hear Adam’s thoughts on elevating your HR career by following him on LinkedIn. Click here to download 15Five’s Performance Review Playbook!

Mar 5, 2024 • 30min
Embracing Post-Traumatic Growth within HR with Rebecca Weaver
Continued changes within HR mean additional opportunities for growth and reimagination. But how can you take your own experiences, both in and out of HR, and apply what you’ve learned to benefit others? In this episode, Rebecca Weaver, founder and CEO of HRuprise, discusses HR’s transformative journey, challenging us to rethink how we work and lead. She proposes creating a specialized HR role that combines managerial duties with proactive employee involvement. This compelling vision of a restructured HR can guide organizations through modern-day challenges. Rebecca also shares her personal tales of resilience through her health crisis and the creation of HRuprise against the backdrop of #MeToo and the pandemic. Her story reveals the untold strength found in post-traumatic growth—a concept that sows seeds of change for contemporary leadership. 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. Want to connect with thousands of other strategic HR leaders like you? Join the HR Superstars Community! Listening on a desktop & can’t see the links? Just search for HR Superstars in your favorite podcast player. Hear Adam’s thoughts on elevating your HR career by following him on LinkedIn. Click here to download 15Five’s Manager Enablement Playbook!

Feb 27, 2024 • 32min
Redefining Work-Life Balance with Anessa Fike
What do you think about the meaning of HR work at its core? How do HR leaders bring humanity back to work cultures and meet changing workforce needs? The future of HR sees a call to action for leaders and organizations to redefine their work cultures. In this episode, Anessa Fike, Founder of Fike & Co. and author of “The Revolution of Work,” challenges the traditional work structure framework and advocates for a more humane approach to productivity—one that honors diverse life demands. Anessa highlights the realities of an ever-changing workforce and the imperative for choice and adaptability in work arrangements. But the conversation is more than just a dialogue about work structure. From psychological safety to a culture celebrating vulnerability, the revolution of work should promote places of balance, respect, and emotional intelligence. 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. Want to connect with thousands of other strategic HR leaders like you? Join the HR Superstars Community! Listening on a desktop & can’t see the links? Just search for HR Superstars in your favorite podcast player.* Hear Adam’s thoughts on elevating your HR career by following him on LinkedIn. Click here to download 15Five’s HR Outcomes Playbook!