This past January, the ground shifted beneath business leaders across America.
Although the country’s business environment has long been intertwined with politics, when power changed hands in Washington and consolidated in a second Trump Administration, large employers seemingly overnight faced a wave of repercussions stemming from their diversity, equity and inclusion (DE&I) policies. What was once a hallmark initiative for corporate America quickly became a major political vulnerability.
Looking ahead, the politicization of DE&I will not be the last sudden threat to the reputations of companies and those who lead them. The unfortunate reality is that CEOs and their teams must scenario-plan for future political storms. In today’s rapidly shifting environment, there will undoubtedly be more repercussions to pay for companies that inserted themselves into policy debates and news cycles in recent years. This dynamic has been long brewing. In 2023, polling commissioned by Narrative Strategies forecasted voter frustration with the perception that corporate America failed to focus on its core mission—providing a good product at a fair price while treating customers and employees well.
Please select this link to read the complete article from Chief Executive.