Upskilling is one opportunity for change that emerges in a crisis. Another
such opportunity is the chance for bolder, nobler business purpose in a time of
broad inequality. In “A crisis of legitimacy,” Blair Sheppard and Ceri-Ann Droog
consider the political cross-currents of the past few years and propose a way for-
ward (page 100). The leaders of large businesses (and other prominent multina-
tional institutions) should tackle the problem of asymmetric wealth head-on.
Another opportunity emerging from the crisis is reflected in the corporate
governance guidelines put in place by France’s government this year, building in
part on the ideas of Jean-Dominique Senard, who is interviewed on page 136.
Senard is best known as the recently appointed chairman of Renault; before tak-
ing on that post in May, he was the CEO of the Michelin Group. In each of these
capacities, he has been a consistent advocate for corporations as social leaders:
promoting compassionate, innovative capitalism to avoid broad upheaval.
That approach is especially relevant in the auto industry as it tries to in-
vest adequately in connected, autonomous, shared, and electric (CASE) vehicles.
“Facing up to the automotive innovation dilemma” (page 42) explains why ve-
hicle makers feel unprecedented pressure to retreat and consolidate, even though
the industry is growing. “Competing for consumers in driverless cars” (page 19)
dissects one new opportunity for carmakers: the autonomous vehicle as a mobile
entertainment center.
Elsewhere in this issue, you’ll find screenwriter Bruce Feirstein’s memoir
about his years in the nascent Chinese cinema industry (page 118); an interview
with Jochen Menges, an expert on happiness at work (page 27); and a report
on the incentives that foster a strong leadership culture (page 55). These, too,
could be considered commentary on the opportunities that emerge in a crisis. Or
maybe just good day-to-day management. Sooner or later, if you spend enough
time in crisis, it begins to feel like normalcy.Art Kleiner
Editor-in-Chief
kleiner_art
@strategy-business.com2
strategy+^ business^ issue^96ed
ito
r’s
(^) le
tte
r