Thrive 2025 Recap
On October 7th and 8th, hundreds of HR leaders from across industries came together for Thrive 2025, 15Five’s annual virtual event dedicated to exploring what it means to lead with intention, data, and humanity.
Over two packed days, we heard from thought leaders, industry experts, and bold practitioners who are shaping the future of HR. Here’s a quick look back at the moments that made this year’s event unforgettable.
A Reset and a Vision for the Future
The event opened with a powerful keynote conversation between 15Five CEO David Hassell and Chief Operating Officer Dr. Jeff Smith. Back at the helm as CEO, David shared reflections from his first 90 days and outlined a renewed vision for 15Five that’s focused on empowering HR leaders as architects of performance and culture.
Their conversation touched on everything from the evolution of HR to the rising urgency around meaningful data and product direction. They announced upcoming AI-powered products designed to turn insights into action.
Big Impact at Any Size
Next, 15Five VP of People Karina Young and Ethena CPO Melanie Naranjo discussed how HR leaders at small and mid-sized companies can claim strategic influence without needing a big team. The most impactful HR leaders bring clarity, conviction, and a strong business lens to everything they do, no matter the size of their team
AI Is Only as Smart as Your Data
In the next session, Anthony Onesto and Nelson Spencer, founder of efora.io, dove deep into why AI is only useful if your HR data is high-quality and well-organized. The session delivered actionable advice for leaders eager to leverage AI without amplifying existing messiness.
A Fireside Chat with Dunder Mifflin’s Former CFO
Yes, that happened. Andy Buckley, the actor famously known for playing David Wallace on The Office, joined Karina Young for a warm, reflective chat on work, career pivots, and the value of kindness and grit. It was a delightful way to wrap up the first day of Thrive.
Day 2: Strategy, Compensation, and a Whole Lot of Heart
Day 2 of Thrive 2025 was designed for our customers, and it delivered real-world stories, sharp insights, and plenty of moments that reminded us why HR matters so much right now.
We kicked things off with a conversation between Karina Young and David Hassell, who returned to explore the mindset of the modern HR leader. They talked about what it means to lead with clarity, own your influence, and show up with strategy and self-belief.
Next, we got into one of the most complex areas of people strategy, compensation. 15Five’s Jeff Smith sat down with Roger Lee, CEO of Comprehensive.io, for a conversation on what fair, motivating, and scalable pay really looks like today. From pay transparency to AI’s impact on performance-based comp, they made the case for moving past legacy “total rewards” models and toward systems that treat compensation as a true investment in people.
Building better
Karina Young and Jennifer Sobocinski, VP of People, ReUp Education, explored how HR leaders can use AI to scale decision-making without losing the human touch. The takeaway? When built intentionally, AI can help HR drive clarity, not confusion.
After celebrating some of our incredible customers during the Thrive Awards, we closed out the event with a keynote from Adam “Smiley” Poswolsky, who spoke about belonging, bravery, and what it really takes to build meaningful connections in a disconnected world. It was the perfect reminder that no matter how advanced our tools become, the human element will always be our greatest asset.
A huge thanks to everyone who made Thrive 2025 an amazing success. See you next year!
