Everyone talks about culture.
Everyone talks about authenticity.
Everyone talks about AI.
But here's the question no one seems to ask:
If your employees don't believe you, does any of it matter?
In this episode of Inside the C-Suite, Christy Honeycutt sits down with Mike Peditto—founder of Realistic Recruiting, author of Yes, You're Being Judged, keynote speaker, recruiter, and one of the most respected voices in talent acquisition—to challenge some of leadership's biggest misconceptions.
Together, they unpack why "culture" has become one of the most overused words in business, why employer branding often tells a different story than employees do, and why authenticity isn't a marketing strategy—it's a leadership decision.
Mike shares candid lessons from recruiting thousands of professionals, navigating career setbacks, and witnessing firsthand the gap between leaders' public personas and the reality employees experience every day. They also tackle one of today's hottest topics: AI. Rather than chasing the latest tools, they explore why organizations should start by solving real business problems—and why HR leaders have a critical role in shaping AI responsibly.
This isn't a conversation about buzzwords.
It's a conversation about trust.
Because in a world where anyone can create polished content with AI, authenticity may be the last true competitive advantage.
What you’ll learn:
- Why "culture" might be the most misunderstood word in business.
- The difference between employer branding and employee reality.
- Why authenticity always outperforms performance.
- Better interview questions than, "Tell me about your culture."
- Why AI should solve business problems—not create new ones.
- The biggest mistakes leaders make when adopting AI.
- How career setbacks can become your greatest leadership lessons.
- Why trust is built through consistency—not communication.
- What it really means to lead in a world where appearances are easy but authenticity is rare.
| Connect with Us |
Follow Mike Peditto:
LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/mpeditto/
Instagram – Mike Peditto| HR & Tech Leader | Chicago (@realisticrecruiting) • Instagram profile
Tiktok – Mike Peditto| HR & Tech Leader on TikTok
Website – Modern Hiring. Real Talk. Smarter Careers. Mike Peditto.
(Mike Peditto is a recruiter, hiring strategist, author, keynote speaker, and content creator with extensive experience helping startups and growing organizations build stronger hiring practices. Known for his candid perspective on recruiting, leadership, and workplace culture, Mike combines practical recruiting expertise with thoughtful commentary on the evolving future of work. Through consulting, speaking, writing, and digital content, he helps leaders make better hiring decisions while challenging conventional thinking.)
Follow Christy Honeycutt:
Website: Podcast | Empower Your Leadership Journey — Listen Now — Christy Honeycutt
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christyhoneycutt/
Instagram: Christy | Leadership Coach (@christy_honeycutt) • Instagram profile
Facebook: Christy Honeycutt
TikTok: Christy Honeycutt on TikTok
Book: The Inner Work of Leading in a Broken System
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LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/christyhoneycutt/
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