The Pilot

Words Matter: How use of “Weaponization” can Damage Interdependent Relationships and Strategic Decision Making

By Steve Weber, Partner “Weaponization” has become a favorite expression of commentators, politicians, and corporate actors in the past few years. Search it on Google and you’ll find it used in conversations about trade, finance, technology, regulatory and technical standards, even ESG criteria. What was once called propaganda is now “weaponization of information.” Economic sanctions […]

The Pilot

Employees First: Embracing the Shift Toward Worker Power Can Set Businesses up for Reputational Success

By Ben Williams Last year, we explored a relatively recent trend we’d been noticing: a shifting power dynamic within organizations from traditional centers of power – executives, senior staff, and management – toward employees. Our case stemmed from growing evidence of employee confidence in boldly calling out mismanagement, exposing toxic work cultures at senior levels, […]

The Pilot

Consumer expectations for corporate activism are here to stay. Businesses should embrace them.

By Nora Wahlbink As the Trump presidency dramatically intensified political polarization in the U.S., corporate activism became nearly a must-do. Many companies that had never taken a political stance before decided to speak out against extreme policies and in support of movements for racial justice and equity.  During the 2020 presidential election, we suggested what the future […]