webinar

Compensation Conversations Enabling Manager Readiness

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.

Nick Rettenmyer

Founder of Pay Simplicity

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:

  • Comp conversations vs. cycle readiness
  • Where transparency helps (and hurts)
  • Measuring readiness beyond pulse surveys
  • How execs drive accountability
  • Why multi-modal training matters

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

Topics

Theme 1: Equipping Managers Beyond the Basics

Standard Questions:‍

  • How do you define manager readiness when it comes to compensation? Why is it important?
  • What are the most common gaps you see in how companies prepare managers today?
  • What formats or training approaches have been most effective in driving actual behavior change?

Controversial Question:

Should every manager really be expected to talk about compensation, or should we not depend on managers?

Theme 2: Transparency, Tools, and the Line Between Clarity and Chaos

Standard Questions:‍

  • Where do you draw the line between helpful transparency and too much information?
  • How do you tailor the level of detail shared with new managers versus senior leaders?
  • What role should compensation tools play in enabling manager conversations versus replacing them?

Controversial Question:

Is sharing average increase percentages or budget targets with managers a waste of time and a setup for comparison-driven pushback?

Theme 3: Accountability, Influence, and Measurement

Standard Questions:‍

  • How can you create urgency to prioritize manager readiness?
  • What signals tell you that your organization is truly ready to enable and trust managers with compensation? 
  • How do you measure if manager readiness is working? Especially beyond basic survey results?
  • What impact does executive involvement have on manager engagement and compliance? What are some examples of where this has gone well? 

Controversial Question:

If a manager consistently avoids comp training or conversations, should they lose the ability to make compensation decisions entirely?

About the speaker

Nick Rettenmyer

Founder of Pay Simplicity

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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