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ARTICLE · 22 APRIL 2024

Cunningham Delivers 2024 Weinberg Lecture

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As with many issues in our polarized era, there's passionate debate between two rival camps: those who say CEOs are dutybound to speak out, against those who say CEOs are dutybound to stay silent.

United StatesConsumer Protection
Caitlin Kaplan
Caitlin Kaplan
Lawrence A. Cunningham
Lawrence A. Cunningham
Anna T. Pinedo
Anna T. Pinedo
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As with many issues in our polarized era, there's passionate debate between two rival camps: those who say CEOs are dutybound to speak out, against those who say CEOs are dutybound to stay silent. That puts CEOs, as well as boards, in a bind.

In my professional capacity, I do not align myself with either extreme of the debate. Instead, my advice to boards and CEOs is to consider each situation individually, assessing its unique circumstances, rather than adhering to a rigid doctrine.

I recommend a principled framework that allows each board and CEO to make informed business judgments tailored to their company's specific context, guiding them in deciding when it is appropriate for a CEO to speak out or stay silent on particular issues.

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