About this episode

The episode analyzes two contrasting corporate communication moments involving McDonald's CEO Chris Kempczinski and Target's CEO Michael Fiddelke.

In this episode of Communication Breakdown, Steve Dowling and Craig Carroll analyze two very different communications moments playing out in public view. First, they examine a viral Instagram video featuring McDonald’s CEO Chris Kempczinski promoting the company’s new Big Arch sandwich. What began as a routine executive social media post quickly became an internet authenticity test, raising questions about relatability, performance, and how quickly online audiences can reshape a corporate narrative. In the second segment, the hosts turn to Target’s new CEO Michael Fiddelke and his early efforts to rebuild trust after the company’s controversial retreat from diversity initiatives and subsequent customer backlash. They explore how leadership candor, investor messaging, and operational fixes may help stabilize the brand, while questioning whether deeper values-based concerns among consumers have truly been addressed. Together, the two stories offer a sharp look at how corporate leaders navigate credibility, perception, and public trust in an environment where every message, planned or accidental, can quickly become a reputational test. Takeaways Social media has become an…

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