CEOs [not] speaking out: Pitfalls and imperatives

When should a CEO speak out on controversial issues, if at all? And what role should the board play in establishing parameters for the CEO as the voice of the company? These questions are moving front and center in the boardroom as employees, customers, and investors sharpen their scrutiny of a company’s public positions—or silence—on high-profile issues, from voting rights and climate change to equity and inclusion.

The March Quarterly Webcast considered the forces driving CEO speech, factors influencing which issues a company will (or won’t) take a stand on, and the board’s role in the process, as well as the pivotal issue of accountability and follow-through. Do the company’s actions align with its public statements?