Corporate leaders are "tired" of being the sole voices on gun control, says Yale professor Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, who has close ties with top executives. For years, CEOs have been vocal on issues such as corporate social responsibility and sustainability, but their silence on gun reform following a recent school shooting in Nashville is jarring.
In 2019, nearly 150 major companies called for legislation to address gun violence, only to be met with continued inaction from lawmakers. Now, top executives are feeling frustrated that they're being expected to solve the problem alone.
"This isn't what we're hearing from CEOs," Sonnenfeld says. "They're not getting tired of advocating. They've jumped into every cause and need others to join them."
The expectation on CEOs to be the face of social change has created a sense of complacency among Americans, who are now relying on corporate leaders rather than grassroots activism to drive reform.
"They've taken a strong stance, but they're not where the general public is in terms of action," Sonnenfeld explains. "Social capital is as valuable as financial capital. CEOs want there to be social capital, but they need the rest of civil society to join them."
The reality on the ground doesn't always match the narrative from top executives. In the case of Tesla, CEO Elon Musk claimed strong demand for lower-priced vehicles following a series of price cuts, but sales actually increased by only 4% in the first quarter compared to last year.
Tesla's production numbers far outstrip sales, with over 78,000 more cars produced than sold in the past 12 months. This suggests that while executives may be talking about strong demand, the reality on the ground is different.
For Sonnenfeld, the issue isn't just about CEOs getting tired of advocating for gun control, but also about the broader expectation that corporate leaders should solve social problems alone. He argues that this mindset has created a sense of complacency among Americans and that true change will only come when grassroots activism and collective action are prioritized over individual business leaders trying to fill the void.
"We're waiting for everybody else to join them," Sonnenfeld says. "We need to recognize that CEOs can't do it alone."
In 2019, nearly 150 major companies called for legislation to address gun violence, only to be met with continued inaction from lawmakers. Now, top executives are feeling frustrated that they're being expected to solve the problem alone.
"This isn't what we're hearing from CEOs," Sonnenfeld says. "They're not getting tired of advocating. They've jumped into every cause and need others to join them."
The expectation on CEOs to be the face of social change has created a sense of complacency among Americans, who are now relying on corporate leaders rather than grassroots activism to drive reform.
"They've taken a strong stance, but they're not where the general public is in terms of action," Sonnenfeld explains. "Social capital is as valuable as financial capital. CEOs want there to be social capital, but they need the rest of civil society to join them."
The reality on the ground doesn't always match the narrative from top executives. In the case of Tesla, CEO Elon Musk claimed strong demand for lower-priced vehicles following a series of price cuts, but sales actually increased by only 4% in the first quarter compared to last year.
Tesla's production numbers far outstrip sales, with over 78,000 more cars produced than sold in the past 12 months. This suggests that while executives may be talking about strong demand, the reality on the ground is different.
For Sonnenfeld, the issue isn't just about CEOs getting tired of advocating for gun control, but also about the broader expectation that corporate leaders should solve social problems alone. He argues that this mindset has created a sense of complacency among Americans and that true change will only come when grassroots activism and collective action are prioritized over individual business leaders trying to fill the void.
"We're waiting for everybody else to join them," Sonnenfeld says. "We need to recognize that CEOs can't do it alone."
. They try their best but at the end of the day its not just about one person or company making a change, its collective effort. We need to put pressure on lawmakers and demand action from all angles, not just the ones with deep pockets 
. I mean what's next? Are we gonna rely on Elon Musk to solve climate change too 
?! The more I think about it, the more I'm convinced that CEO's should be talking about the issue rather than shying away from it, but now they're feeling like its their duty to lead the charge and still nobody is taking action. Its a vicious cycle and we need to break free from it 
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. I mean, come on, they've been talking about sustainability and social responsibility for years, but when it comes to actually doing something about gun violence, suddenly they're too tired? 
. 4% increase in sales? That's not exactly a ringing endorsement. And let's be real, if CEOs are talking the talk but not walking the walk, then what's the point of all that PR?
. Grassroots activism and collective action are what will actually drive change, not just a bunch of CEOs tweeting about it 
. We need to recognize that business is just one part of the solution, not the only part 
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. it's so frustrating when people expect them to be the saviors of social justice and reform, but in reality, that's not how it works 
. we need to hold them accountable for their actions and support those who are doing real work towards creating positive change 
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It's time for them to take ownership and stop waiting for others to catch up 
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. It's like, remember when Tony Stark (aka Iron Man) used to say "I am Iron Man" and then BAM! He'd save the world? 
But in reality, there are actual people working on that, not just some rich dude with a suit 
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That guy was more of a disaster than a game-changer 
. Grassroots activism is key, and if we want real change, we gotta get behind it 
. It's like, CEOs think we're all just waiting for them to solve our problems, but what about the rest of us who are actually doing the work on the ground? 
, I mean have you seen all these school shootings lately?! It's like they think corporate leaders are the ones who can just magically solve everything... but honestly what's the point if we're not actually doing anything in our communities? I remember when my kid was little, their school had a bake sale to raise money for a new playground. That was awesome! The whole community came together and made it happen. But now it feels like all we're hearing from CEOs is empty words 
. We need people on the ground doing something tangible, not just tweeting about social justice. And btw, if Tesla's sales are only 4% higher than last year... 
People getting frustrated with silence from big companies is totally understandable 
Corporate leaders say one thing, but sometimes their actions don't match 
For instance, Tesla's production numbers were way higher than sales 
We need grassroots activism and collective action to create real change 
. They just sit back and expect everyone else to join in while they take a seat at the table. I mean, come on, CEOs - can't you see what's going on? People are over here doing actual activism on the ground, and you're still expecting them to step up? It's time for some accountability 
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, and how I tried this new restaurant near the shore... they had amazing fish tacos! 
anyway, back to gun control - I feel like corporations should be held more accountable for their social impact. I mean, have you seen those weird sustainability reports they publish? 
it's all about optics, but what about actual change? I think grassroots activism is where it's at... my friend's sister started a community garden in her neighborhood and it's really making a difference. Plus, Tesla's sales numbers are just wild 
And what about all the times they said one thing but did another? It's like, CEOs are just talking the talk, not walking the walk. We need more than just corporate leaders trying to fill the void. We need actual grassroots action and people getting involved in real ways. Can't we just get some real change for once?