HR Superstars

Hosted by 15Five

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208

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Aug 2026

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About the show

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, Karina Young, VP of People 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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August 25, 202633 min

How to Talk to Employees About Career Growth with Brittany Storie

We've been taught to picture career growth as a straight line upward. That's not how careers actually unfold. In this episode of HR Superstars, Karina Young speaks with Brittany Storie, Product Advisor and Sales Leader at AllVoices. They discuss how HR leaders can build a more flexible approach to career growth in a workforce where linear paths are no longer the norm. Brittany shares why companies should be honest about the fact that employees may eventually leave—and how that honesty can build trust, strengthen performance, and create lasting alumni relationships. She also explains how employees can take ownership of their growth and what HR leaders can do to create more human workplaces. You'll learn: How to talk openly with employees about their growth at the company How HR leaders can think beyond the org chart for employee development Why hiring needs to recognize nonlinear resumes and nontraditional career paths Join us as we discuss: (00:00) Meet HR Superstar: Brittany Storie (02:58) The traditional career ladder is outdated (06:19) How to build trust with new hires about career growth (11:24) The value of a strong alumni network (13:28) Going beyond traditional paths for employee development (17:22) Psychological safety and trust with employees (22:06) Hiring for nonlinear, nontraditional career paths (27:42) The need for internal champions to drive culture change 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 Brittany Storie's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brittanystorie/

August 11, 202637 min

How To Change Difficult Behavior Before It Costs You Your Culture with Diana Lowe

What do you do when your highest-performing employee is also creating tension across the team? HR leaders often face the difficult choice of tolerating harmful behavior because of someone's results or taking action and risking the loss of valuable expertise. In this episode of HR Superstars, Karina Young sits down with Diana Lowe, executive coach, author, and founder of Blue Light Leadership. They discuss why changing workplace behavior is so difficult and how leaders can create the conditions for meaningful growth. Diana shares why difficult behavior is often more complex than it appears and how HR leaders can use curiosity, accountability, and empathy to help leaders grow and teams thrive. You'll learn: How to find the root cause of difficult behavior How to hold high performers accountable with empathy, not punishment How to drive change through internal motivation Join us as we discuss: (00:00) Meet HR Superstar: Diana Lowe (04:22) Difficult behavior is a system problem (15:15) The "iceberg" of behavior: what we don't see (19:51) How to coach and provide feedback to leaders (24:34) Holding the line between empathy and accountability (34:20) The next step for HR leaders 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 Diana Lowe's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dianaelowe/

July 28, 202628 min

Rethinking Performance in the AI Era with Chris Walker

High performance has traditionally been measured by individual output, but that definition is starting to change. In this episode of HR Superstars, Karina Young continues her conversation with Chris Walker, entrepreneur and author of The Frequency Era. They discuss why companies need to move beyond measuring individual output, how hiring practices can better identify potential, and how HR leaders can recognize the people who elevate the performance of those around them. Listen as Chris shares his perspective on building organizations where people continue to grow, evolve, and create meaningful impact in a rapidly changing workplace. You'll learn: Why traditional performance metrics are becoming outdated How HR can move beyond training programs to shape culture, behavior, and leadership effectiveness How to create a hiring process that better reflects the realities of modern work Join us as we discuss: (00:00) Meet HR Superstar: Chris Walker (00:38) Why leaders should trace every problem back to the top (04:17) The quality of your people is your biggest strategic advantage (06:53) How to treat skills as trainable capacities (11:29) Measuring the ROI of your people (14:58) How HR business partners can help unlock unique capabilities (18:35) Why resumes are ineffective as a primary way to filter candidates (22:50) Trial-based hiring models to assess 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 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 Chris Walker's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chriswalker171/ The Frequency Era: https://www.amazon.com/Frequency-Era-Chris-Walker-ebook/dp/B0GXGBWSWQ

July 14, 202634 min

How Great Leaders Will Thrive Alongside AI with Chris Walker

As routine tasks become increasingly automated, organizations need to rethink how they develop leaders and teams. Judgment, creativity, and adaptability become increasingly more important than knowledge or technical skills. In this episode of HR Superstars, Karina Young sits down with Chris Walker, entrepreneur and author of The Frequency Era, to discuss how AI is reshaping the role of HR. He explains why traditional approaches to learning and leadership development are no longer enough, how workplace cultures often suppress creativity, and what HR leaders can do to help their organizations thrive in this new era of work. You'll learn: Why AI is increasing the value of uniquely human capabilities How HR can shift from building knowledge to building human capacity What leaders can do to foster clarity, creativity, and better decisions Join us as we discuss: (00:00) Meet HR Superstar: Chris Walker (05:58) Why AI is creating a new era of human potential (11:33) Creativity is the ultimate competitive advantage (13:34) Rethinking how HR develops people (19:49) Why "soft skills" are now business-critical skills (26:05) Why personal and professional development must converge (29:21) What organizations need to do differently to thrive 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 Chris Walker's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chriswalker171/ The Frequency Era: https://www.amazon.com/Frequency-Era-Chris-Walker-ebook/dp/B0GXGBWSWQ

June 30, 2026Episode 20536 min

How AI Agents Can Multiply HR's Impact with Nelson Spencer

HR and people leaders often feel pulled in a hundred directions, leaving little time for strategy or growth. What if you could reclaim that time and make a bigger impact without working longer hours? In this episode, Karina Young sits down with Nelson Spencer, founder of Augie Ventures. They discuss how AI and intelligent agents can help you offload repetitive tasks, streamline workflows, and amplify your impact. Learn practical strategies for using AI to handle the operational side of HR while freeing yourself to focus on leadership, culture, and employee development. You'll learn: How to leverage AI to multiply HR impact Practical steps for AI adoption in HR Translating existing HR skills to AI work Join us as we discuss: (00:00) Meet HR Superstar: Nelson Spencer (04:01) Navigating anxiety around AI adoption (05:15) Using AI to multiply human talent (07:27) Moving beyond basic AI tasks (18:06) Applying leadership skills to AI (21:22) Building trust and psychological safety (27:45) Improving quantity & quality of work through AI (33:57) Maintaining the human lens of HR 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/

June 16, 2026Episode 20437 min

Why Manager Support Needs to Move Beyond Training with Sara Canaday

Managers are being asked to do more than ever. They're expected to coach, support well-being, drive performance, and navigate uncertainty, often without the necessary systems or tools to do it effectively. In this episode of HR Superstars, Karina Young sits down with Sara Canaday, leadership strategist and award-winning author, to explore how HR can better support managers. Sara explains why manager overload is often a systemic issue, not a skill issue, and discusses how HR can transition from one-time training to real-time enablement. She also discusses how AI can help managers reduce cognitive overload while still leading with discernment and authenticity. You'll learn: Why manager overload is a system issue, not a skill gap How HR can shift from training to real-time support How AI reduces overload, supports tough conversations, and improves decisions Join us as we discuss: (00:00) Meet HR Superstar: Sara Canaday (04:58) Manager struggles are a systems issue (06:35) Why HR needs to shift from training to enablement (14:03) Misconceptions about managers & coaching (20:26) How AI can help leaders move from overload to clarity 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 Sara Canaday's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/saracanaday/

June 2, 2026Episode 20333 min

HR as the Anchor in AI Transformation with Jeff Smith

Implementing AI isn't about systems or workflows alone. It's a human transformation that touches every role, skill, and interaction. This is why HR needs to lead the change. In this episode, Karina Young is joined by Dr. Jeff Smith, author and COO at 15Five, to discuss how HR can guide organizations through this shift. Jeff shares strategies for managing change with empathy, upskilling employees, and creating systems where humans and AI complement each other. They also discuss the importance of trust, communication, and engagement in making AI adoption successful. What you'll learn: The importance of HR leading AI transformation, not just IT or executives How to address fears and resistance around AI Key skills for employees and managers to thrive in an AI-powered workplace Join us as we discuss: (00:00) Meet HR Superstar: Jeff Smith (07:02) AI as a rethinking of work, not a productivity tool (12:47) Managing FOBO and resistance (15:11) Long-term planning for AI adoption (25:41) The AI maturity framework (30:33) The mindset shift that HR needs right now 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/ Register to 15Five Next: https://www.15five.com/15five-next-2026-registration 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 Jeff Smith's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffsmithphd/

May 19, 2026Episode 20213 min

The Shift from Doing Work to Leading It with Karina Young

What if the way we develop leaders is exactly why they end up stuck in the day-to-day instead of driving results? In this episode of HR Superstars, Karina Young, VP of People at 15Five, makes the case that most organizations are developing strong people managers when what the business needs are system leaders. If your leaders are struggling, this episode will help you figure out why and what HR can do about it. You'll learn: Why promoting top individual contributors into leadership roles often backfires The difference between developing people managers vs. system leaders How to spot when a leader is stuck in execution mode Why coordination — not expertise — is the defining skill of great senior leaders How HR can take ownership of the leadership development gap Join us as we discuss: (00:00) What makes a great leader (01:52) Is your organization enabling leadership or execution? (05:00) The common problem in leadership development (09:24) Coordination is a key leadership skill 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 Karina Young's LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/karinayoung11/

May 5, 202640 min

Building the Mindset and Systems To Break HR's Reactive Cycle with Lisa Young

Most HR professionals didn't step into HR to spend their days putting out fires — but that's exactly where so many end up. When the reactive cycle takes hold, confidence fades, credibility takes a hit, and the meaningful work keeps getting pushed to "next week." In this episode, Karina Young sits down with Lisa Young, founder of HRHQ, an online HR community and education platform, to talk about what it actually takes to break out of survival mode. Lisa works with HR professionals to build the mindset, systems, and communication skills needed to stop reacting and start leading — and in this conversation, she shares exactly how. What you'll learn: Why your mindset has to shift before any system or habit can work How to manage your energy, not just your time, to create space for proactive work The small, practical steps that move HR from reactive to strategic Join us as we discuss: (00:00) Meet HR Superstar: Lisa Young (03:37) What reactive HR actually looks like day-to-day (08:40) Why your mindset has to shift before anything else can (15:27) Building resilience when you're holding space for everyone else (24:03) The systems and habits that create space for proactive work (38:00) What transformation actually looks like from the inside out 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 Lisa Young's LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisa-young-exceedhr/

April 21, 202627 min

Why PIPs Should Be About Improvement and Not Punishment with Karina Young

Performance Improvement Plans often get a bad rap. When they're misused or poorly implemented, PIPs can create more harm than good. In this episode of HR Superstars, Karina Young, VP of People at 15Five, clears up the misconceptions and explains how PIPs can be a valuable tool for employee growth. Karina shares how PIPs should be about clarity, alignment, and development, not punishment. She discusses how to provide consistent feedback, set clear expectations, and offer the support employees need to succeed. You'll learn: Why clarity and communication are essential to create effective PIPs How to identify role mismatches instead of focusing solely on performance Why investing in PIPs can save time and costs in the long run Join us as we discuss: (00:00) Why PIPs are essential in the workplace (05:29) Employee growth and manager accountability (12:03) Misconceptions about PIPs (19:16) Actionable strategies in creating a PIP (22:04) The key role of communication (23:30) What you should know about PIPs as an employee (25:12) Motivating employees and shaping career trajectories 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