What happens when high performance hides toxic leadership? As innovation accelerates, overlooking the human side of work can quietly erode even the strongest companies.

In today’s episode, Marc Cunningham sits down with Michael Baumgartner—veteran HR strategist and founder of the Work Life Survival Center—to explore how talent, leadership, and culture intersect. Together, they tackle the hidden costs of poor management, why employee advocacy is non-negotiable, and how businesses can build environments where people and profits thrive.

Join us as we discuss:

• The hidden dangers of promoting talent without people skills
• How promoting without empathy destroys culture
• How HR can become a true catalyst for culture change