While more than half of consumers want companies and their leaders to take a stand on social issues, doing so could come at a cost – whether it’s lost talent, sales, or partnerships. Recent examples include Bud Light, whose sales fell 30% in June 2023 compared with the same week in 2022 after it partnered with a transgenic influencer, and Target Corp., which lost $13 billion in market value in one month, with part of the loss being attributed to backlash of the retailer’s Pride-themed children’s clothing line. So what’s a leader to do when controversial social issues arise? With neuroscience in mind, NLI’s Laura Cassiday and David Rock offer up three approaches companies can take in Fast Company.
Accountability
Leading with the Brain: A Business Imperative
By Emma Sarro, PhD The conversation around Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) has become a minefield. The acronym itself is now so politically charged that many organizations are stepping back,
August 19, 2025
