Читать книгу Corporations Compassion Culture - Keesa C. Schreane - Страница 22

Mainstream corporate leaders, their business savvy, and brilliance at generating profits are on full display all around us as historical figures. No research required. They are important stories. But they are not the only important stories.

Historically, society has done a poor job highlighting non-mainstream corporate narratives that may serve as either cautionary tales or as celebratory stories about the power of leading and governing with equality, inclusion, and compassion. This is especially the case with underestimated and underrepresented groups such as women and Blacks, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC).

Things are changing. Business narratives are becoming more diverse and inclusive. During movements such as #MeToo and #BlackLivesMatter, social media, storytellers, and academics shared stories featured in media more prominently and consumed by the public more voraciously. They shared stories of business titans who included equality, inclusion, and compassion in their enterprises. These stories were of people of color, women, and other groups who were left out of the mainstream narrative previously. The momentum in which these narratives are now being consumed is another example of the slow, but steady, moving ship. These narratives are way overdue in being recognized.

Workers of color and women have had to navigate hurdles ranging from violence to modern microaggression to harassment, even when in leadership positions. Historically, these underestimated and underrepresented leaders prioritized social purpose, profit, and compassion just as the early industry titans who are more widely celebrated in historical texts and oral histories. Underrepresented leaders and their stories of brilliant business savvy, ethical treatment of workers, and compassion are just as worthy to be told, and repeated, as any mainstream business story.

Chapter 2 examines ways in which underrepresented people were treated in business historically, as well as how underrepresented people emerged as business leaders, managing compassionate leadership toward people who make up those corporations. Generations of poor treatment in and by the mainstream culture make the case that businesses need to root out systematic racism before they can expect further social license to operate. This rooting-out process starts with bringing inclusion, equality, equity, and compassion into corporate cultures.