Leadership Now Project

Leadership Now CEO Daniella Ballou-Aares's TED Talk is live! Daniella reveals how business leaders have sleepwalked into autocracy in nations like Turkey and Hungary – and makes the case that the same could happen in the U.S. The talk ends by reminding us it is not too late to reverse course and highlights the powerful impact of Leadership Now members.   Watch, share, and join the conversation: https://lnkd.in/e-wHkzkj #LeadershipNow #BusinessAndDemocracy #TEDTalk

Last week, I had the privilege of sharing with Paul Klein (Forbes) insights on how businesses can profitably address society’s most pressing challenges. Drawing from Oxford professor Colin Mayer’s perspective, I reflected on the powerful connection between purpose and profitability—two forces that, when aligned, create extraordinary impact.   As Daniella Ballou-Aares (Leadership Now Project) reminded us, CEOs who avoid engaging with critical economic, environmental, and social issues risk undermining the very stability that supports their businesses. Business success and community success are synergistic. The leadership of CECP’s affiliated companies in this space is essential and inspiring.   Thank you, to our affiliates, for showing that business can—and must—be a force for good. Together, we are shaping a better future. #CorporatePurpose #CSR #ESG #ExecutiveLeadership

🏆 Leadership Now Receives 2024 Anthem Award Leadership Now Project is honored to be a 2024 Anthem Award recipient for “Protecting Majority Rule in Ohio and Supporting Wisconsin Election Administrators.” The award recognizes our work in Ohio and Wisconsin to ensure that elections reflect the will of the people and that election administrators can safely do their jobs. The Anthem Awards, launched by The Webby Awards, recognize innovative projects that inspire social good and build a better future. Selected through over 8,000 jury reviews and 47,000 votes, the winners represent teams making a tangible difference. Leadership Now is in good company, with this year’s honorees including the World Central Kitchen, Google, League of Women Voters, and many more. This recognition highlights the exceptional leadership of our members and teams in Wisconsin and Ohio. We extend special thanks to Anoop Prakash, Tom Florsheim, and Patrick Guarasci in Wisconsin, as well as Richard A. Stoff, John Pepper, and Jeni Britton in Ohio, for their tireless efforts in advancing our mission. This award underscores the power of collective action—thank you to our members and partners for making this possible! Learn more here: https://lnkd.in/ezkcWRaJ #AnthemAwards #LeadershipNow #Democracy Daniella Ballou-Aares

Sharing a brief reflection on the election. The headline: Leadership Now Project is ready to play a proactive role in what comes next. 🔹The 2024 Election Results & The Path Forward The results are in: former President Donald Trump has won the presidency, Republicans have taken the Senate, and the House remains undecided but is likely to stay under Republican control. Leadership Now Project extends deep gratitude to the election workers and officials who, despite unprecedented threats, ensured voters could freely cast their ballots. We also commend leaders across industries who courageously stood for democracy—supporting election officials and highlighting the risks of a leader who disregards the rule of law. While the path ahead may feel uncertain, our mission is clear. Leadership Now will focus in three areas: 🔹We will remain vigilant and respond swiftly to threats, working in coalition with those who share our commitment to the rule of law and democratic values. 🔹We will analyze the election results and seek to understand better what is driving dissatisfaction with the political system. But in doing so we will avoid seeking a singular driver, culprit, or solution to a multi-faceted problem. 🔹We will take action, harnessing the extraordinary talent, networks, and creativity of our members to reimagine the path forward toward a modern, effective government that delivers for all Americans. This work is far bigger than Leadership Now. It will require new energy, approaches and partnerships, and a deep commitment to America. We know a critical role will be played by state and local leaders in government and civil society, including business. Leadership Now looks forward to playing a proactive role in what comes next. Thank you for your commitment to American democracy. Please stay engaged, share your ideas, follow us on LinkedIn, and take time to rest and recharge—we’ll need your energy for the road ahead.

In a new piece for Fast Company, the founding leaders of the Business & Democracy Initiative—Daniella Ballou-Aares, Samantha Tweedy, and Rhett Buttle—make the case for why business leaders must lead the charge to protect elections. They write, “Threats to democracy and election legitimacy are threats to economic stability.” During this voting period, it’s crucial to remember that threats to democratic processes—from disinformation to intimidation of election workers—not only endanger our democracy but also the stability that supports our economy. In an organized effort, business leaders across the country—including over 150 executives, 500+ small business owners, and 20+ associations—are speaking out: protecting democracy is a business imperative. Learn how business leaders can protect democracy: https://lnkd.in/eH2GZufA #2024Election #businessleadership #businessanddemocracy #economicstability

On the eve of Election Day, over 50 business leaders, CEOs, and associations—including several Leadership Now members, Mark Cuban, Ken Frazier, Roz Brewer, Reid Hoffman, Business Roundtable, and the National Association of Manufacturers—have come together through the Business and Democracy Initiative to call for a safe and accessible election process. As leaders from industries nationwide, they’re urging officials and candidates to respect the electoral process and ensure that every vote is counted. "The critical issues for business leaders this election are ensuring the legitimacy of elections, upholding the rule of law, and safeguarding national security. As we approach Election Day, business leaders are uniquely positioned to urge patience and reinforce trust in election administrators. Business leaders are unified in their support for the legitimacy of the election process and the importance of a peaceful transfer of power.” - Leadership Now Project CEO Daniella Ballou-Aares Read the statement to see what national, state, and economic leaders are saying about the importance of protecting the election: https://lnkd.in/gX8CdHSU Public Private Strategies Black Economic Alliance Douglas Pinkham John Fees John Pleasants Adam Goodman Ron Miller Lisa Stoner Patrick McGinnis Richard A. Stoff Anoop Prakash

I've felt that a lot of the coverage of business engagement in politics this cycle has missed the plot -- and the true depth of engagement by thousands of executives across the country to protect democracy. Here's my Letter to the Editor of the NYTimes posted today making that point. "To the Editor: In “American Business Can’t Risk Another Trump Term” (editorial, Oct. 20), you rightly recognize the need for business leaders to vocally oppose the risks posed by former President Donald Trump. You highlight Stephen Schwarzman and Elon Musk, who support Mr. Trump, as loud voices with large platforms, but they don’t represent the thousands of business leaders nationwide who our polling shows are deeply concerned about democracy. Leadership Now members across the country are actively working to protect it. Leadership Now members in Wisconsin and Arizona and senior executives across multiple industries have taken public stands against election denial, supported poll workers and mobilized their peers to offer time off for voting. Nationally, business leaders have signed our call for candidates to respect the election results and have endorsed Kamala Harris for her character and commitment to the rule of law. While your call to action is appreciated, implying that business is silent overlooks these efforts. Highlighting courageous examples can inspire others to join the pro-democracy business and civic leaders who are essential to protecting our nation." Leadership Now Project Roy E. Bahat

We're one day from a historically important election. In this edition, I share thoughts on what’s at stake and what to expect in the election process. And here's a final action agenda for the days ahead: ☑️ Be sure to cast your vote! ☑️ Make your final case: Share what’s at stake with your networks, and remind everyone to vote. ☑️ Reinforce trust in the process: Remind your network to have patience and trust the process, countering any misinformation that seeks to undermine confidence Learn more about the election process and what to expect here: https://lnkd.in/e4AeDPYC

CEO Daniella Ballou-Aares and Policy Member Grant Tudor of Protect Democracy caution business about the dangers of appeasing authoritarian threats in their latest Fast Company article. A recent example? Allies of former President Trump threatened to terminate Deloitte’s $3 billion in federal contracts if he is re-elected—all because one of Deloitte’s 457,000 employees made old messages with Senator J.D. Vance public. In response, Deloitte issued a generic statement about its nonpartisan values but otherwise remained silent, seemingly to appease the pressure. As Daniella and Grant put it, “Appeasement is likely to not just fail, but to make things worse. Autocrats observe that their threats pay off—and so they escalate them.” The lesson? Collective action is the antidote. “The best bet for business is the one to take now, before finding oneself in an autocrat’s crosshairs.” When businesses unite, as they did when Florida targeted Disney, they send a powerful message that government retaliation against free speech won’t be tolerated. 🔗 https://lnkd.in/eQ6nhiwb #BusinessLeadership #CollectiveAction #LeadershipNow #ProtectDemocracy #EconomicStability

In a recent The Hill op-ed, Leadership Now Member joel poznansky, Chairman of CBIS, and Douglas Pinkham, President of the Public Affairs Council, make a compelling call for business leaders and associations to defend democracy by supporting safe and secure elections. They write, “Associations and companies should not shy away from speaking up and stating the truths they know to be self-evident: that elections are fair unless proven otherwise, that voting is a sacred right that should not be abridged, and that political violence should never be tolerated.” With the upcoming election, major associations like the Business Roundtable and U.S. Chamber of Commerce have already reinforced the importance of fair elections and rule of law. In alignment with these efforts, more than 20 business associations have issued a joint statement from the Business and Democracy Initiative —a collaboration between Leadership Now Project, Black Economic Alliance, and Public Private Strategies—urging political leaders and fellow business organizations to support a safe and secure election process and reject political violence. Article: https://lnkd.in/eckhivkD Business and Democracy Initiative Statement: https://lnkd.in/d-3aiAR3 #2024Election #BusinessandDemocracy #leadership #associations