HR leaders hold immense responsibility but too often lack the authority and confidence to match.

In this episode, executive communications coach and world-champion debater Kate Mason joins Karina Young to explore how leaders can use everyday conversations to earn trust and build influence. Kate is the author of Powerfully Likable and has coached executives across industries on how to communicate with confidence.

Kate shares practical tools to avoid diminishing language, how to make competence visible through intentional communication, and why signposting creates calm and credibility. She and Karina also discuss the unique challenges women in HR face around power, how to regulate presence in high-pressure moments, and the importance of framing recommendations with conviction in executive settings.

This episode offers actionable ways for HR leaders to strengthen their voice at the table, communicate with authority, and show the true strategic value of the people function.

Join us as we discuss:

(00:00) Meet HR Superstar: Kate Mason

(03:11) Kate Mason’s journey from debate to executive coaching

(05:17) Building trust when HR is brought in too late

(06:44) How to demonstrate competence without downplaying your impact

(11:48) Why many women hesitate to claim power in leadership

(14:15) Practical tools for calming nerves in high-stakes moments

(17:02) Recognizing what powers you up and shuts you down

(23:12) Navigating executive friction and showing up with authority

(29:52) Communicating effectively with CEOs and gaining their trust

(35:38) Breaking habits that diminish your presence at the table

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 Review 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

Kate Mason’s LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/katemasonphd/

The future of work is already here, so why does HR still feel stuck in the past?

Despite rising expectations, many HR teams are still relying on outdated tools like annual surveys, rigid change models, and compliance-first programs. The result: employee experiences that feel transactional instead of inspiring.

In this episode, Loren Blandon joins Karina Young to talk about how HR can finally catch up to the way people actually work today. Loren is a Future of Work Strategist and Fractional HR Executive with nearly two decades of experience across industries.

Loren shares why HR should borrow from marketing and brand building, how she rebuilt learning teams with human-centered design, and the importance of creating programs employees are proud to talk about outside of work. She and Karina also dig into how to get past “check-the-box” approaches, why HR leaders need to put the employee at the center of every decision, and how grassroots energy often drives change more effectively than top-down mandates.

For HR leaders carrying more responsibility than ever with limited resources, this episode is a call to bring creativity, empathy, and courage to the way we design work and to step confidently into the future that’s already unfolding.

Join us as we discuss:

(00:00) Meet HR Superstar: Loren Blandon

(02:21) Loren’s path from psychologist to HR leader

(03:41) Why traditional change models no longer work

(05:19) What HR can learn from top consumer brands

(08:52) Breaking free from compliance-first HR mindsets

(10:45) Designing learning programs people actually want

(14:06) The role of AI in today’s HR function

(17:11) Addressing fear and uncertainty across every career stage

(23:53) Using influencers to amplify culture and learning programs

(27:26) The future of employee listening powered by AI

(31:40) Practical ways HR teams are using AI today

(37:00) Advice for HR leaders stepping into new roles

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

Loren Blandon’s LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/lorenblandon/

Authenticity in leadership is often encouraged, but rarely modeled at the top.

And in HR, the pressure to stay polished can make vulnerability feel off-limits.

In this episode, Nicole DuBois joins Karina Young to reflect on what happens when people leaders stop compartmentalizing and start leading from their full selves.

Nicole, CHRO at Graham Windham, opens up about publishing a memoir under a pseudonym, sharing her story publicly, and how that decision impacted her team and her career.

Together, they talk about how HR teams can influence culture by showing up as humans first, what it looks like to embed compassion into strategic planning, and why trust with employees hinges on transparent follow-through. Nicole also shares how her team is building programming around vulnerability, leadership coaching, and belonging across the organization.

For HR leaders looking to lead with more intention and impact, it’s a reminder that honesty isn’t a liability but a strategy.

Join us as we discuss:

(00:00) Meet HR Superstar: Nicole DuBois

(01:25) The pressure to stay polished as an HR leader

(03:18) Nicole’s journey from policy enforcer to strategic people partner

(06:22) What to do when HR needs HR

(08:15) Writing a memoir while hiding behind a pseudonym

(10:11) The moment Nicole chose to show up fully

(12:31) How authenticity changed her team relationships

(16:28) The loneliness of leading HR without peer support

(21:25) Building an annual plan rooted in compassion

(23:20) Supporting employees in emotionally demanding roles

(27:20) Coaching leaders stuck in outdated management styles

(33:23) Turning engagement survey feedback into visible action

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

Nicole DuBois ’s LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicole-dubois-24568510/