DEBATE – “Business Will Never Be Brave.”
Nov 6, 2025 — 04:15 pm - 5:05 PMVision Stage
Description
Whether starting a company or steering a major organisation through instability, business leaders often stake their reputations on bold innovations, navigating uncertainty with courage to drive progress. But while individuals may be brave, the system is not. Our economic model rewards short-term, risk-reducing strategies that maximise shareholder profit, often stifling diverse ideas and prioritising safe bets over transformative, inclusive solutions.Yet, we see examples of businesses thriving through long-term investments in the resilience and adaptation of our economies and societies— and it can make financial sense: every $1 invested in resilience can generate more than $10 in benefits over ten years, according to a recent WRI report. Could leaders follow these examples into a market-wide shift — and should we question their bravery if they don’t? Or are we deceiving ourselves, placing too much responsibility and faith in businesses to lead systemic change?
