Reflecting on Leading Like Dr. King

Throughout my career, I’ve had the responsibility of advising corporate CEOs and executives as they navigated moments of extremism, hate, racism, and violence — when fear and division moved from the streets into boardrooms and breakrooms.

In 2016, as the nation reckoned with a polarizing election, I was co-chairing an effort that brought together seven corporate CEOs and their companies to leverage their platforms, workforce, resources, and relationships to build greater African American economic prosperity in solidarity with seven African American civic CEOs in North Minneapolis. What many saw as a political crisis, we understood as a leadership moment that required relationships grounded in trust earned over time — an opportunity for executives to model living their values on and off the clock in ways that would compel their employees, peers, and fellow parishioners to do the same. It was a moment that demanded sustained investment in the promise of communities long excluded from economic opportunity.

Then in 2017, when right-wing extremists marched in Charlottesville carrying swastikas and chanting “Jews will not replace us,” and a neo-Nazi rammed his car into a crowd of counter-protesters, killing Heather Heyer and injuring dozens more, those same leaders were forced to reckon again with the role of CEOs and corporations in moments of moral urgency. Many chose private, internal statements rather than public ones — revealing the tension leaders feel between conviction and consequence.

Minnesota Public Radio News reported at the time that the majority of major corporations headquartered in our state declined to comment on immigration issues, with the notable exception of Beth Ford of Land O’Lakes, who spoke out for immigration reform by linking it to economic health. While some corporate leaders initially distanced themselves from the first Trump administration after the President’s “blame on both sides” remarks following Charlottesville, many of those relationships were later quietly rekindled.

For these reasons, we should not be surprised that some of the same leaders whose brands were loud following George Floyd’s murder — condemning easily defined racism and violence, and calling for action and change — are quieter now when the moral lines are more complex, and the political costs feel higher.

Today, as we honor Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s life and legacy of activism, ministry, and advocacy for civil rights and just freedoms, we find ourselves asking not only: Where are the voices of our corporate leaders?

We also find ourselves asking: Where are their hearts — and their wallets?

Dr. King reminded us in 1967, “In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends,” as he lamented the staggering consequences of the inaction and quiet leadership of moderate white allies, in contrast to the overt hostility of outright racists and extreme opponents of the Civil Rights Movement.

So today, I echo his words — not as condemnation, but as a moral summons. It is never enough to simply decry wrongs or insist that someone else should take action. We who have power, voice, platform, and privilege must be the change.

America does not need more carefully worded corporate responses. It needs to see the values of its business leaders expressed through courageous, selfless leadership — leadership that invests publicly, partners deeply, and acts decisively in moments of moral urgency.

Undoubtedly, many leaders are giving personally. Many are supporting block clubs, churches, and civic organizations working tirelessly to feed, protect, and stabilize families who are so fearful for their safety that they cannot leave their homes. I am grateful for that generosity.

It is important.

But it is insufficient.

Private charity cannot substitute for public moral leadership; quiet generosity cannot replace structural investment; and internal statements cannot carry the weight of civic responsibility. As a woman of faith and a builder in the marketplace, I believe Commerce is not separate from conscience. Wealth is not separate from stewardship. Leadership is not separate from moral responsibility.

Scripture reminds us: “To whom much is given, much will be required.” (Luke 12:48)

Dr. King understood that economic justice was not an accessory to civil rights — it was its foundation. He called for living wages, fair housing, and an economy that honored the dignity of work and the worth of workers.

On this MLK Day, I’m reflecting on what it truly means to lead with courage — not just in what we say, but in what we build, who we invest in, and how we use our influence to expand dignity, opportunity, and belonging.

May we have the faith to align our convictions with our capital.

The wisdom to match our values with our investments.

And the courage to lead in ways history will not have to apologize for.