Staying the Course on Principled Leadership in a Turbulent Era

By: Mahlet Getachew, Managing Director of Corporate Racial Equity at PolicyLink

As we close out a turbulent and unprecedented year, one thing is clear: business leadership will help decide what comes next—for fair workplaces, our economy, and our democracy.

Federal actions have tried to roll back progress on civil rights, fair workplaces, and an equitable economy. But they have not changed our civil rights laws, the fundamentals of smart business, or the moral imperative to build an economy that works for everyone.

Throughout the year, we’ve convened experts and practitioners to make sense of the shifting landscape and prepare business leaders for what lies ahead. More uncertainty is coming, but each of us holds real power — and responsibility — to shape a fairer future for all. Here are six takeaways from our conversations to keep front and center in the months ahead to protect your people, your organization, and the economy and democracy we all depend on:
 

1. Separate the noise from reality.
 

Our core civil rights laws and decades of precedent have not changed. Executive orders and shifting EEOC guidance cannot rewrite the Civil Rights Act or make DEI “illegal.”

Base decisions on the actual law, your values, and business fundamentals—not headlines, soundbites, or fear. Ask your counsel, “How do we protect and sustain our work?” not “What are we allowed to do?”
 

2. Treat DEIA as core business strategy and risk management.
 

Diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility, or DEIA, is not a side initiative; it is central to managing risk and driving performance.

Data collection, barrier analyses, and pay equity reviews — as just a few examples of fundamental practices — help you spot issues early and mitigate legal, talent, and reputational risk. In a choppy economy and fraying safety net, fair workplaces, inclusive benefits, and intentional practices are both risk-reduction tools and real competitive advantages.
 

3. Prepare for scrutiny, without retreating.
 

Expect more investigations, shifting guidance, and political theater. Don’t be surprised by it; prepare for it.

Know which initiatives are both legally sound and business-critical. Run tabletop exercises. Clarify escalation paths. Build a crisis communications plan. Be ready to explain your efforts clearly—to regulators, boards, employees, and the public.

Much of today’s regulatory focus is detached from the actual strictures of our laws. Don’t fold under politicized pressure.
 

4. Own the story of what you’re doing.
 

Stop talking about “DEI programs” in the abstract. Talk instead about equal opportunity, safety, respect, and fair rules.

Use language people trust: merit, dignity at work, better decisions, innovation, and stronger performance. Actively counter misinformation, especially the idea that DEIA equals  favoritism.

Tone matters: a steady, factual, values-rooted message reaches and wins over far more people.
 

5. Choose courage and community over quiet cutbacks.
 

Fear fuels authoritarianism. All companies rely on the rule of law, pluralism, and shared prosperity for long-term success. This is a moment to be a bulwark, not a bystander:

• Join coalitions.
• Support underrepresented leaders and entrepreneurs.
• Defend lawful workplace policies.
• Stand up for democratic norms—even when it carries short-term risk.

Steady, collective action now will shape the operating environment for years to come.
 

6. Look for what’s hidden—and who is most affected.
 

We are losing critical public infrastructure that provides transparent, objective data about our economy, our communities, and our planet. Protecting independent data collection and disclosure is essential—without a clear picture of where we are, leaders can’t chart where we’re going.

But businesses must go further. Engage directly with workers, communities, and civil society—and listen closely to those most affected by disruption. The most important signals may never make the front page. Leaders must look in new places, get proximate to real experiences, and understand impacts that traditional data may no longer capture.

Then, bring those insights into your decisions—from where investments flow to who benefits from them. Leaders who ground strategy in lived experience avoid leaving whole segments of our economy behind—and make wiser, more responsible choices for the long term.
 

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If leaders hold fast to these principles, we can show up as calm, clear anchors—shaping a fairer future where everyone can thrive, regardless of background or political persuasion.

At the Alliance, we remain committed to supporting business leaders in meeting this moment with clarity, resolve, and confidence. Our Business Standards will be a critical guide for the path ahead, and we have a big agenda next year to launch them and continue supporting the business community in shaping what comes next.

We look forward to building on this work with you. Check out our latest newsletter for updates on our standards launch, key events to stay connected and informed, and new resources to protect and advance your work.