Payroll Forward 2025: The movement shaping the future of payroll leadership

Overview: A new era of payroll is here

At Payroll Forward 2025, two hundred payroll professionals from Anchorage to Barcelona came together to talk about the transformation of payroll into a strategic, tech-forward, and C-Suite function.

Hosted by Chime Workplace, the summit featured visionary talks, real-world panels, and leadership training, all built around one mission: to elevate payroll professionals in general and empower 30 trailblazers to become Chief Payroll Officers by 2030.

“Payroll isn’t just about getting people paid. It’s about driving progress.”

— Jason Lee, Chief of Chime Enterprise

Session 1 recap: When innovation comes of age

Jason Lee, Chief of Chime Enterprise, opened the summit with an engaging look at the life cycle of innovation and how payroll technology, from direct deposit to the cloud to workflow automation, has followed that curve.

He outlined the four stages of innovation: introduction, adoption, scrutiny, and maturity. Using examples like smartphones, Western Union money transfers, and modern payroll systems, Lee showed how disruption eventually becomes the new normal.

“Every innovation looks clunky at first,” Lee said. “But through adoption and scrutiny, the best ideas mature, just like payroll is doing now.”

Jason then walked through a case study on earned wage access (“EWA”) and how it has followed the typical path of product evolution. Following its introduction a decade ago, EWA was offered by employers to help workers take their first steps towards financial health. Initial success led to greater visibility and scrutiny, especially around the two Cs: Cost and Compliance. Now, EWA is maturing into a free solution within a financial wellness platform that is built for compliance.

His challenge to the audience was clear: payroll professionals should see themselves not as administrators, but as innovators who can guide their organizations through change with confidence.

“30x30 is really about investing in you as an individual, as a person, as a professional.”

Session 2 recap: From chaos to C-suite

The second session featured three powerhouse payroll leaders: Monica Miller (Compass Group), Davida Lara (Entertainment Partners), and Jodi Parsons (Kansas City Royals), moderated by Jason Lee.

Each panelist spoke candidly about the early challenges of their careers and how they evolved from crisis managers to strategic thinkers. Miller described the daily grind as “rising above the ankle-biting alligators” and using data and automation to prevent problems before they happen. Lara encouraged payroll professionals to “look under the hood” to understand what causes constant busyness and fix it at the source. Parsons reminded the audience that delegation and trust are essential to both leadership and team growth.

“When we use data and automation to predict and prevent, that’s when payroll becomes strategic.”

— Monica Miller, Compass Group, SVP Payroll and Work Force Strategy

“You have to be able to connect the dots within the organization.”

— Davida Lara, Entertainment Partners, EVP, Payroll Services

“Payroll is the hub, and if you’re the hub, you have to have those relationships in order for it to be a successful organization.”

— Jodi Parson, Kansas City Royals, Senior Director, Payroll Operations

The panel also addressed AI, calling it a powerful opportunity to reduce manual work without replacing the human element of payroll. When asked whether 30x30 would be successful in elevating payroll, the tone was confident and united. Miller summed it up: “Zero doubt, yes.”

Session 3 recap: Launching the Payroll Advisory Council, mastering executive presence

Jaime McDougall, Head of Marketing at Chime Enterprise, unveiled the Payroll Advisory Council, a new community for payroll innovators to share best practices and mentor future Chief Payroll Officers.

The first official member, Troy Markusson, VP of Payroll at ABM Industries, described why he joined. “I’m proud to be a payroll nerd. This council brings together people who care about shaping the future of payroll, not just managing it.”

Council members will help guide the profession through new standards and opportunities while receiving ongoing education and support through PayrollOrg partnerships.

Bill Gartland, a former Wall Street executive and leadership coach, closed the event with a masterclass on executive presence. His session outlined eight traits that separate great leaders from good ones, including strategic thinking, social intelligence, cross-functional flexibility, time management, gravitas, and clear communication.

He emphasized that doing your job well is not enough to lead at the executive level. “C-suite executives live in the future,” Gartland said. “They see things as they could be, not as they are today.”

“A C-suite job is a big job. You cannot do all the work yourself. You have to motivate others. You have to convince others. You have to bring them along with you.”

— Bill Gartland, Executive Coach

He also reminded attendees that influence often happens outside formal meetings. “Chili’s is the new golf,” he joked, urging payroll leaders to invest in informal relationship-building and everyday visibility.

As the summit wrapped, McDougall thanked attendees for their energy and vision. “Today was about recognizing the people who power pay,” she said. “Together, we’re building the next generation of payroll leadership.”

Key takeaways from Payroll Forward 2025

• Payroll innovations have followed a pattern, demonstrated most recently by the evolution of earned wage access into a free solution within  a financial wellness platform.

• The 30x30 mission is moving forward as payroll professionals begin acting like C-suite leaders.

• Community and collaboration are driving progress through the new Payroll Advisory Council.

• Leadership is a skillset that can be learned and practiced, not just a title to earn.

Join the 30x30 movement

Payroll Forward 2025 is just the beginning. Visit chiefpayrollofficer.com to join the 30x30 community, apply for the Payroll Advisory Council, and get access to upcoming events and leadership resources.

Because the future of payroll isn’t waiting. It’s already in motion.