The Dialogue Project recently staged a crisis simulation exercise at the annual conference of the Page Society, the global association of chief corporate affairs officers. Using a hypothetical but highly realistic event, and with the participation of some of the world’s most admired leaders from business, government and journalism, the session explored how a multinational organization must manage a range of stakeholder demands as it confronts a crisis that combines a global public health issue with the politicization that unfortunately accompanies it.

This spring, The Dialogue Project, a program inside the Fuqua School of Business that explores what role business can play to help reduce polarization in our society, hosted a discussion as part of the school’s alumni reunion weekend, in which …

Companies and researchers outline frameworks for speaking out on societal issues

In partnership with the Aspen Institute, Allstate is a major sponsor of the Better Arguments Project, a program that teaches how to have healthier, more productive conversations with those who hold differing views.

Chevron wrote a new community development playbook in one of the world’s most troubled regions. The new model, which encourages and rewards compromise, is off to a promising start.

Courageous Conversations, a guided discussion series sponsored by General Mills, is showing that people can discuss the difficult issues with open minds and respect for all.

Albert Bourla, CEO of Pfizer, says he experienced two very different reactions in society related to the development of the company’s COVID-19 vaccine. The first was a hero’s welcome.

During 2020, we have experienced a range of emotions – from those related to the COVID-19 pandemic to those stemming from racial violence and injustice. In both cases, my inspiration and hope for the future come not only from seeing how people have reached out to others and how they have come together to solve problems, but also how they’ve done so despite their differences.

As the leader of an organization that empowers people to live better as they age, and as the mother of a son and daughter—both millennials—I am disheartened by the deterioration of civil discourse in this country. We have become a polarized nation. It appears dialogue, bipartisanship, cooperation and the ability to compromise have all but disappeared.

Few things are more troubling to our society than the polarization gripping our country. It impacts our ability to deal with the most pressing issues of the day, ranging from climate change to energy production and consumption, from public health to economic growth. 

Business will be a big voice in Twitter’s future direction

Author Max Fisher takes a deep dive into the role social media plays in our current state of polarization.