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/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

Melanie Naranjo’s LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/melanie-naranjo/

Workplace performance isn’t just L&D’s responsibility; it belongs to the whole company.

And yet, many HR and learning teams still treat training as a standalone solution.

In this episode, Kevin Yates joins Karina Young to reframe how we think about impact, and why the question isn’t just “Did people complete the program?” but “Did anything change as a result?”

Kevin, known across the industry as the “L&D Detective,” shares what he’s learned from nearly 30 years in the field and why measuring outcomes requires more than a survey or LMS report. He explains how to shift from reporting activity to proving contribution, and why L&D must be embedded in a broader performance ecosystem to make a meaningful difference.

Together, they explore what most organizations overlook: how business goals get lost in translation, how legacy habits still shape how programs are designed, and how measurement can become a strategic advantage, not just a reporting requirement. Kevin also offers a practical lens for partnering across functions and building internal alignment around shared outcomes.

For HR and L&D leaders navigating increasing pressure to deliver results, it’s a timely reminder: meaningful change doesn’t happen in a vacuum. It takes a village.

Join us as we discuss:

(00:00) Meet HR Superstar: Kevin Yates

(02:38) How the L&D Detective name came about

(04:37) Discovering the passion for measurement in L&D

(07:47) Aligning training with business goals

(09:31) Breaking legacy habits in L&D practices

(10:56) Shifting from order-taker to performance consultant

(12:56) The workplace performance ecosystem and its importance

(16:30) Why L&D can't succeed alone in impacting business goals

(21:00) Operationalizing the measurement of L&D’s impact

(23:28) Activity metrics vs. true performance impact

(32:05) Leveraging AI tools to enhance L&D performance measurement

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

Kevin Yates’s LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevinmyates/

Even though people are at the heart of business outcomes, HR leaders still struggle to be seen as essential voices at the executive table.

In this episode, Karina Young, VP of People at 15Five, sits down with Jeff Smith, Chief Product and Marketing Officer at 15Five, to talk about how to show up in the boardroom with clarity and confidence. Jeff shares lessons from working closely with HR leaders over the years and offers practical guidance on how to present people strategy as business strategy.

They cover how to prepare for board meetings, tell compelling stories with data, and answer tough questions without losing trust. This episode offers an honest and empowering look at why HR deserves a seat at the table.

Join us as we discuss:

(00:00) Meet HR Superstar: Jeff Smith

(05:02) Jeff Smith on what happens inside a boardroom

(07:13) Fighting for your seat at the table

(08:31) How to communicate HR strategy in business terms

(10:42) Organizing the data you’re presenting

(13:53) The value of preparing with your peers

(20:29) How to prep for tough questions in the boardroom

(22:19) Avoiding common pitfalls in presentations

(23:22) The power of storytelling when sharing data

(26:54) Building confidence and presence ahead of high-stakes conversations

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 Outcomes 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

Jeff Smith’s LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffsmithphd