I've been thinking a lot about the pressures against "DEI," and the reversals of so much of the societal progress we've made in the past 60 years, and how business and company cultures are being - and will be - affected.

I've long believed that the macro-trends have been towards, rather than away from - egalitarianism. And I believe systems that embrace equality and trust, and honor and truth, and treating everyone with dignity and respect, are far to be preferred over systems that, well, don't.

A crucial paradigm shift
Does anyone believe we're not standing at a crucial intersection in business and human development, where traditional approaches to commerce must evolve to meet the challenges of our time?

If so, then welcome to what I've come to call The Pregalitarian Era – a period of transformation in how we conceptualize success, sustainability, and human flourishing in the business world.

Our current paradigm of profit maximization / the "extraction economy" has extracted a significant toll on both humanity and our planet. Yet within this challenge lies an unprecedented opportunity for evolution – not just of our business practices, but of how we understand success itself. This evolution isn't merely aspirational; market forces and stakeholder demands are already driving this change.

Six core values
At the heart of this transformation lie six core values that I continue to believe successful businesses must embrace:

• Truth: The courage to face and speak about what we're really facing, even when profits might temporarily benefit from obscuring it. Today's stakeholders demand transparency and authenticity.

• Honor: The unwavering commitment to ethical behavior, even when shortcuts promise quick gains. Long-term success increasingly depends on reputation and trust.

• Justice: The recognition that sustainable success requires fairness for all stakeholders. Companies that ignore this <should> face mounting regulatory pressure and consumer backlash.

• Love: The understanding that business decisions affect real human lives and communities. Employee retention, customer loyalty, and community support flow from this awareness.

• Compassion: The wisdom to see that true prosperity cannot come at the cost of human dignity. This translates into better workplace cultures, reduced turnover, and stronger brand loyalty.

• Empathy: The ability to truly understand and respond to the needs of both our people and our planet. This drives innovation and opens new market opportunities.

I don't see these as mere platitudes. Rather, are they not fundamental principles that, when genuinely embraced, can - and should - reshape how we approach commerce and community alike?

Without these as the foundation of a new business ethos – where people take precedence over immediate profits – not as a compromise, but as a pathway to sustainable prosperity – does anyone truly think we are going to thrive as humans?

The extraction economy is what needs to die - and we should let it
To prioritize human welfare over short-term financial gain clearly aligns with evolving market demands and stakeholder expectations. Companies that don't understand - and embrace - this, just won't see the benefits of improved employee engagement, customer loyalty, and community support. The extraction economy that has dominated recent centuries simply must give way to a more sustainable, stakeholder-oriented model.

I "get" the desire to maintain the old paradigm, and that to move forward in this way is scary and, in many ways - dangerous. But the costs of not doing so are becoming more apparent every day. Environmental degradation, worker burnout, community dissolution, and the widening wealth gap aren't just social problems – they're business risks that threaten long-term viability.

As Buckminster Fuller noted, "You never change things by fighting the existing reality. To change something, build a new model that makes the existing model obsolete."

The discomfort of evolving business models, the challenge of prioritizing people over immediate profits, the struggle to balance stakeholder needs – these are necessary steps in creating more resilient and successful organizations. Forward-thinking companies are already embracing this transformation, recognizing that sustainable success requires a more holistic approach to value creation.

Labor pains and growing pains
Most businesspeople I know are familiar with Maslow's Heirarchy. And we're all familiar with the seasonality of our yearly and monthly cycles, and the concept of "birthing something new."

The Pregalitarian Era represents the necessary labor pains preparing for a truly egalitarian society, where business cultures both drive and reflect higher levels of consciousness and human development.

The pain of transformation – whether personal, organizational, or societal – is not punishment, but preparation. The discomfort of evolving business models, the challenge of prioritizing people over immediate profits, the struggle to balance stakeholder needs – these are all necessary labor pains preparing us for a new birth. And, as Rumi said about the birthing process, "Welcome this pain; it opens the dark passage of grace."

The last word
I could go on. But by embracing these core values and understanding business as a vehicle for both profit and human development, companies can position themselves at the forefront of this inevitable transition. This isn't just about corporate social responsibility – it's about building organizations that can thrive in an increasingly complex and interconnected world.

The Pregalitarian Era represents both a challenge and an opportunity. Those who recognize and adapt to this shift will be better positioned to succeed in a future where business success and human flourishing are inextricably linked. The question isn't whether this transformation will happen, but whether your organization will help lead the way.

~ Mark Head
© 2025. All Rights Reserved.

Aspirations
"When I despair, I remember that all through history the way of truth and love has always won. There have been tyrants and murderers, and for a time, they can seem invincible, but in the end, they always fall. Think of it—always. Whenever you are in doubt that that is God's way—the way the world is meant to be. The way of the world is to be violent, to be angry, to be selfish. But God's way is to be loving, to be forgiving, to be peaceful. Try to do it His way."
~ Gandhi

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