Priorities CEOs and HR Leaders Can Agree On in 2025

Incredible things happen when CEOs and CPOs are truly on the same page. Strategy and execution move in lockstep, people initiatives directly fuel business growth, and everyone feels the momentum. But let’s be honest—getting there isn’t easy. Priorities shift, perspectives differ, and sometimes, it feels like we’re tackling the same big questions from completely different angles.

So, how do we bridge that gap and ensure we’re asking the right questions together—questions like: How do we build high-impact teams? How do we move faster and smarter? And how do we stay ruthlessly focused on what truly matters?

I recently sat down with Melanie Naranjo from Ethena to explore these themes and what’s top of mind for CEOs and CPOs heading into 2025. We landed on three areas that will have the biggest impact this year: talent density, efficiency, and ruthless focus.

Let’s dive in—and if you’re a CPO looking to get more aligned with your CEO, I’ve got some ideas to help.

1. Prioritizing Talent Density

Talent density is more than just having a bunch of talented folks on your team—it’s about how they amplify each other’s strengths. A high-density team learns faster, innovates more, and weathers challenges better. However, achieving that requires reducing “friction” in the workplace. Think about it: A competent employee who needs constant oversight creates more friction than an autonomous one who can run with things. Self-reliant, values-aligned team members help organizations move faster and adapt better.

So, how do you build and sustain talent density without friction?

  • Get crystal clear on roles. Are the right people in the right seats for where your company is today—and where it’s heading?
  • Enhance coaching capabilities. Move beyond managing work to coaching people to problem-solve and bring others along.
  • Recruit intentionally. Hire for “values alignment and culture add,” bringing in diverse skills and perspectives. (🔥This was a hot topic during our webinar – catch the replay here!)
  • Connect work to the bigger picture. Equip employees to challenge processes that aren’t serving broader organizational goals.

When everyone is rowing in the same direction, you maximize impact across the board.

2. Efficiency in All Areas

Efficiency will be a top priority in 2025, especially as AI adoption grows. From a CEO’s perspective, here’s where People leaders can make a difference:

  • Maximize existing resources. Before asking for more headcount, ensure current resources are being fully utilized.
  • Simplify and automate. Streamline People processes and focus on clear communication.
  • Strive for “minimum viable clarity.” Ask yourself: What’s the minimum clarity we need to move forward on a decision? Avoid overthinking or overcomplicating. (This concept is at the heart of our “80% is Better than 0%” core value at LifeLabs Learning!)

3. Ruthless Focus

In a world of shifting priorities, intentionality is key. What worked last year might not work this year, so continuously reassess and realign with your CEO’s current vision and risk tolerance.

Instead of spreading resources thin across too many initiatives, concentrate on doing a few things exceptionally well. Ruthless focus doesn’t mean saying “no” to everything—it’s saying “yes” to what matters most.

How to Get on the Same Page with Your CEO

Feeling a bit out of sync with your CEO? It happens. Priorities shift, businesses evolve, and sometimes, we find ourselves needing a recalibration. Here’s how to bridge the gap and align with your CEO’s evolving vision:

  • Ask, Don’t Assume. Instead of guessing what’s top of mind for your CEO, ask directly. What keeps them up at night? What challenges are they seeing that might not be on your radar?
  • Speak Their Language. Tie People initiatives to business outcomes—revenue, efficiency, risk mitigation. The clearer the connection, the better the buy-in.
  • Focus on the “Big Bets.” CEOs are juggling countless priorities. Find out their top 2-3 focus areas and align your People strategy accordingly.
  • Be the Bridge. Translate strategic goals into actionable people programs and show how your team drives impact.

Alignment isn’t about agreeing on everything—it’s about having the right conversations and staying connected to shared goals.

Closing Thoughts

At the end of the day, we’re all after the same thing: building stronger, more adaptable companies that can thrive in 2025 and beyond. Whether it’s talent density, efficiency, or ruthless focus, the magic happens when we work in sync.

Priscila Bala
Priscila Bala
Priscila’s expertise is in getting great ideas to scale. She has spent her career building companies and helping others do the same. She is an entrepreneur, advisor, and former-VC investor who equips high performing teams to do amazing work. She has an MBA from Yale University with a research focus on negotiation, behavioral economics, and the psychology of career choices. She has won leadership prizes from Barclays, The Consortium for Graduate Studies in Management, Yale School of Management, and the St. Gallen Symposium.
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