Engagement Starts with Managers: Here’s What Really Moves the Needle

Employee engagement is at a 10-year low—and outdated assumptions about what drives it are partly to blame. Too many companies still believe that perks, pay, and an occasional team lunch are enough to keep people motivated. But the reality is clear: if you want stronger performance, better retention, and a healthier culture, it starts with how your people are led, every day.

In this on-demand webinar, we debunk common myths about engagement and explore the outsized impact managers have on team performance. We dig into why recognition, feedback, and trust aren’t just “nice to haves,” but essential habits that drive real business outcomes—and what’s getting in the way of more managers leading this way today.

Because while HR can guide the strategy, engagement lives or dies in the manager-employee relationship. And when managers have the right tools and support, they can build high-performing teams that are connected, motivated, and ready to win.

We dig into:

What the data actually says about the manager’s role in engagement
Why old-school tools and thinking are setting managers up to fail
The most overlooked drivers of engagement—and how to activate them
Tactical actions managers can take today to create more engaged, resilient teams

This is a must-view session for People leaders and frontline managers who want to drive better performance—by leading with intention, not assumption.

Meet the Presenters

Debra Squyres, Chief Customer Officer at Bonusly

As Bonusly's Chief Customer Officer, Debra combines her passion for an exceptional customer experience with her drive to empower companies to connect, motivate, and engage their employees to build winning workplaces. Prior to Bonusly, Debra was the VP of CS at Beamery and the Chief Client Officer at Namely, to name a few. She has over 25 years of experience in senior leadership roles in Human Resources ranging from in-house HR leadership to HR Consulting, Outsourcing, Client Services, and Customer Success working directly with HR teams across a variety of industries. She currently resides in Fort Worth, Texas with her husband.

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Kjerstin Greene, People Business Partner & Development Coach at

Kjerstin (pronounced Shustin), a California native with a very Swedish name, is an HR professional with 10+ years of experience working with various high-growth tech companies. Most recently, she served as a People Business Partner at Sequoia Consulting Group, supporting leaders across the organization. Prior to that, she spent 5 years at Connery Consulting where she ran the HR consulting practice and worked closely with various tech companies, large and small. She is a New Ventures West Certified Development Coach and recently passed the SPHR. Between her robust HR knowledge and coaching experience, she endeavors to support business leaders in running the most effective teams possible. Originally from the Bay Area, Kjerstin now resides in LA with her husband and their two little ones. On the weekends you will find her at the pool with her kids, exploring LA and soaking up the sunshine. Unrelated and in no particular order she loves all things Swedish, cheeseburgers, when her kids are finally asleep, spa days, living in cities, and hosting parties.

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