The Real Cost of People Problems | Helena Ferrari

Most owners think their biggest risks show up on the balance sheet. Helena Ferrari says the expensive ones are hiding in how your leaders show up every day.

Helena Ferrari (GPHR, PHR) is a fractional Chief HR Officer, board director, and risk mitigation advisor who has saved companies more than $150M across 15 countries. She has a gift for taking "soft" HR problems and putting a hard dollar figure on them before they become a lawsuit, a settlement, or a revolving door.

In this conversation with host David Carr, Helena unpacks:

- Why the costliest risks live in your leaders, not your balance sheet

- A 60% turnover problem dollarized to $6M a year — and fixed for a fraction of that

- A wage-and-hour audit that surfaced a $900K exposure from missed meal breaks

- Why every company needs an AI policy right now

- Interview questions that are quietly illegal (one cost a company $120K)

- Handling layoffs without triggering the WARN Act or bias claims

- Why HR belongs at the board table — and at the deal seat before the LOI

- Succession planning that keeps your IP from walking out the door

- Three questions every leader should ask themselves this week