What 15Five’s VP of People Teaches Us About Bold HR Leadership

Ever wonder what the path to an HR leadership position looks like? Here’s a hint: It’s not always a straight line. 

Meet Karina Young, 15Five’s VP of People, whose career proves that powerful, strategic HR can start by accident.

In her recent “Faces of HR” profile in HR Daily Advisor, Karina opens up about launching her career by being what she refers to as a “Jill-of-all-trades” – in other words, doing everything from setting up new hire laptops to helping remodel the office. But it was when she realized her real passion was in creating moments that mattered to employees that her true passion for HR began to shine through.

Karina’s journey illustrates how HR isn’t about waiting for a seat at the table—it’s about building one. She bridged the gap between executives and teams by embracing data, asking tough questions, and aligning people strategy to business outcomes. 

And yes—she believes in the power of vulnerability, too. One of her most formative missteps? Telling someone she didn’t trust them, which she admits was “brutally honest and totally unhelpful.” That moment taught her honesty without compassion can do more harm than good, and that owning your mistakes can be one of the strongest leadership moves of all. 

If you’re looking for a dose of HR inspiration and an honest take on what it takes to climb the ladder, this one is for you: https://hrdailyadvisor.com/2025/08/21/faces-of-hr-the-strategic-journey-of-karina-young/.