From the Editor

A year-and-a-half since the global pandemic turned our lives upside down, we continue to navigate the choppy waters that it has wrought. Some have observed that COVID-19 has been a great equalizer, affecting us across the board whether we work in the C-suite or on the frontline. But at the same time, it has put the spotlight on widespread inequality and power imbalances in our society that demand our collective attention.

For leaders eager to seize this unique moment in history to jumpstart their organizations, the question is, Now what? In this issue of Rotman Management, we will explore some of the mindsets, approaches and operating principles that will be required to thrive in the post-pandemic world.

Amidst all of the uncertainty, one thing is clear: Today’s world is making demands on companies that traditional governance standards are simply not equipped to address. On page 6, Rotman Professor Sarah Kaplan and Executive-in-Residence Peter Dey present a new set of corporate guidelines.

The pandemic has served to highlight significant imbalances of power in our economy and society. On page 26, Rotman Professor Tiziana Casciaro shares insights for addressing this from her new book, Power, For All: Why Power is Everyone’s Business.

Elsewhere in this issue, economist and 3M board member Dambisa Moyo is featured in our Thought Leader Interview on page 12; Navi Radjou argues on page 32 that empathy-centred enterprises are destined to lead the way in the post-COVID-19 world; and we feature seven members of the Rotman community who are helping our society build back better on page 40. In our Idea Exchange, Paula Davis explains how to avoid burnout on page 96; Raja Rajamannar describes ‘quantum marketing’ on page 111; and we feature the latest research insights from Rotman faculty John Trougakos, Julie McCarthy and Camille Hebert.

Leaders are accustomed to focusing on the horizon, anticipating opportunities, challenges and disruptions for their organization, and acting accordingly. But a disruption of the magnitude
of COVID-19 has necessarily broadened the scope of focus for leaders across industries.

The true economic and societal impact of COVID-19 will take years, if not decades, to ascertain. But the top-level finding from the 2021 Edelman Trust Barometer applies right away: Business leaders and investors are being called upon to show greater ambition in helping to fight societal ills and ever-worsening inequality. Looking ahead, their priorities must include both risk mitigation — to avoid things getting worse — and innovative, sustainable solutions that expand economic growth and create opportunities for all. We hope this issue can serve as a compass to help orient you for the quest ahead. 

Karen Christensen, Editor in Chief
editor@rotman.utoronto.ca

Twitter: @RotmanMgmtMag

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