Should companies take a stand or remain silent in response to contested social and political issues not directly related to core business? Both options are increasingly untenable and fraught with risk. We consider the reasons for and against corporate engagement and explore the possibility and benefits of an alternative approach that mitigates effects on employees, institutions, and public debate.

Key areas of research expertise and advisory experience:

• Understanding the range and complexity of contested issues, as well as the modes of corporate engagement and occasional entanglement
• Identifying the full spectrum of views inside and outside organisations
• Evaluating concerns, resistance and backlash accurately and fairly
• Enhancing leadership and governance thinking and decision-making processes
• Awareness of the geopolitical dimensions surrounding contested issues
• Cultivating organisational and sectoral resilience in hyperpolitical environments

Contested issues involve tense debates, strong emotions and passionate disagreement. Pluralistic societies need to learn how to disagree better and tolerate diverse points of view so as to not become further fragmented or polarised. We bring an interdisciplinary lens to devise practical solutions and interventions for business leaders wishing to address internal polarisation and external social division around issues of public interest.

Key areas of research expertise and advisory experience:

• Cultivating respectful debate and facilitating institutionally appropriate discussion
• Managing generational differences surrounding work, purpose and values
• Responding to employee disagreement, advocacy and activism
• Understanding the dynamics surrounding workplace and societal polarisation
• Improving employee wellbeing, psychological safety, and freedom of expression

With increasing contestation, coarseness and shrillness in public debate, as well as illiberal tendencies from the left and the right, we will explore efforts that improve public discourse and understanding of divergent views, as well as the supportive role that different sectors can play – education, media, sport, religion, and the arts – in facilitating robust and respectful exchange that can restore confidence in democratic institutions.

Key areas of research expertise and advisory experience:

• Facilitating exchange and understanding of diverse and divergent perspectives
• Reducing animosity and friction surrounding highly contested issues
• Building alliances and finding common ground across ideological boundary lines
• Awareness of the nature and challenges associated with public debate
• Understanding of different sectoral environments and their associated civic roles
• Co-designing policy frameworks and approaches to achieve systems level change