DEI isn’t just a buzzword—it’s the foundation of healthy, high-performing cultures. In this episode of The Culture Advantage Podcast, host Michael Baran breaks down what diversity, equity, and inclusion truly mean, why they matter, and how leaders can start noticing everyday behaviors that shape belonging in the workplace. 

Culture isn’t about food days, slogans, or posters on the wall; it’s about how people actually experience your organization every day. 

In the premiere episode of The Culture Advantage Podcast, Dr. Michael Baran unpacks what culture really means, why it determines everything from retention to innovation, and how leaders can intentionally create environments where people thrive and teams excel.

From hidden messages to everyday interactions to structures and policies, culture has a significant impact on how people feel, collaborate, and perform. 

In this inaugural episode, Dr. Michael Baran shares about his background and his motivation for starting this podcast to help you build a culture that supports all people, catalyzes effective collaboration, and leads to thriving organizations.