webinar

Compensation Conversations: How Boards Think About Compensation

Aired: Tuesday, June 24th, 2025

Nick Rettenmyer is a global compensation and people strategy leader who has shaped Total Rewards at some of the world’s most iconic brands, including Microsoft, Tableau, Nike, and Airtable.

In this session, he unpacks what it takes to build fair, scalable, and transparent compensation strategies that actually work in 2025. From manager enablement to pay design to driving alignment across the business, he provides you with practical, battle-tested insights you can apply immediately.

Frank Wagner

VP of Total Rewards, Cloudflare

Rani Mavram

Co-founder & CEO of Complete

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Overview

Managers are some of the most critical stewards of the compensation program in today’s world. They also happened to be the least enabled. 

Nick Rettenmyer (ex-Microsoft, Tableau, Nike, Airtable) unpacks what it really takes to build manager fluency and confidence in comp conversations. Topics include:

  • What boards and comp committees care about most
  • How to build trust and credibility when presenting comp strategy
  • Best practices for run rate, equity planning, and peer groups
  • What’s changing in executive comp — and what’s not
  • How to set your CEO and CFO up for success

Walk away with clear tactics to boost manager engagement and strengthen your comp strategy.

Topics

Theme 1: Building Trust and Framing for the Boardroom

Standard Questions:‍

  • What every Head of Total Rewards should know before meeting with the board
  • How to position comp as both a risk and a lever for growth
  • Why timing, framing, and credibility matter more than data alone

Controversial Question:

Frank shares lessons from years of experience working with top board members at Google and Cloudflare.

Theme 2: Run Rate, Dilution, and Performance

Standard Questions:‍

  • How to explain dilution and burn rate in a way that sticks
  • Why boards care more about volatility than single-point forecasts
  • How to be proactive—not reactive—in equity strategy and communication

Controversial Question:

Includes examples of sensitivity analysis, front-loaded grants, and evolving stakeholder expectations.

Theme 3: The Future of Executive Comp

Standard Questions:‍

  • What's driving PSU skepticism and changing ISS influence
  • How leading companies are creating a “top talent” tier beyond execs
  • Why RSUs are on the rise—even pre-IPO—and how to talk about it with the board
  • How volatility is shifting equity strategies, from grant frequency to front-loaded vesting

Controversial Question:

Frank offers a forward-looking perspective on the next 10 years of executive pay.

About the speaker

Frank Wagner

Frank brings 35+ years of experience leading compensation at the world’s most iconic tech companies. From comp committees to cap tables, his insights have shaped how compensation leaders communicate with the boardroom.
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Nick Rettenmyer is a compensation and people strategy leader who’s led global Compensation and Total Rewards programs at some of the world’s most recognizable brands like Microsoft, Tableau, Nike, and Airtable. With global experience spanning companies of various sizes, stages, and industries, Nick brings a pragmatic, innovative, and executive-savvy approach to building scalable comp strategies, enabling managers, and driving org-wide alignment. He’s passionate about operationalizing fairness in comp through thoughtful design, communication, and systems.

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