What if career success has less to do with titles and compensation—and more to do with who you choose to work for? In this powerful conversation, Fortune 100 CHRO Mike Theilmann shares his unconventional career path and a radically human philosophy: start with people, and everything else follows. This episode is packed with real stories about development, courage, coaching, and what it actually means to put people first at scale.<br /><br />Reach Mike here: [email protected]<br /><br />Key Topics:<br /><br />•    Pick the person, not the position<br />Careers accelerate when you work for leaders who genuinely develop people. <br /><br />•    Ask better interview questions<br />“Who have you developed?” may be more important than any job description. <br /><br />•    Development doesn’t come from comfort<br />Growth comes from being stretched into situations you don’t fully understand—yet. <br /><br />•    Coaching and feedback are different tools<br />Feedback helps people learn from moments; coaching helps people think and grow over time. <br /><br />•    People-first leadership scales<br />When organizations prioritize human capability, business results follow. <br /><br />•    You don’t wait for the ladder—you pull it down<br />Ownership, curiosity, and initiative matter more than permission.<br />