We have an Authenticity Crisis

In recent weeks, headlines have spotlighted major law firms walking back their commitments to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI), often under mounting political pressure. These decisions—regardless of one’s stance on the politics—expose a far deeper and more damaging issue: a crisis of authenticity at the heart of many institutions.

Trust in Institutions Is at an All-Time Low

Public trust in corporations and governments has been declining for years. We’ve seen corporations swing dramatically with the political winds—first embracing progressive ideals when they felt culturally dominant, then quietly retreating when tides began to shift. Whether its law firms pivoting away from DEI, Anheuser-Busch misjudging its customer base, or Jaguar abandoning brand heritage, the pattern is consistent. These aren’t isolated decisions. They are symptomatic of a systemic failure to hold a steady moral compass.

It’s Not About Left or Right

This isn’t a debate about left versus right, or woke versus anti-woke. It’s about integrity. When companies act based on what they think people want—rather than what they stand for—they erode trust. The public sees through the inconsistency. And now, for the first time in years, the consequences are visible.

We are witnessing a shift. After more than a decade of left-leaning orthodoxy in Western political and corporate discourse, dissenting voices—from the USA to El Salvador—are gaining confidence. What was once unspeakable in boardrooms is now mainstream at the ballot box. The Overton window is moving.

The Cost of Inauthenticity

But make no mistake: the penalty is not for being progressive or conservative. The real cost comes from appearing opportunistic. Authenticity isn’t about aligning with a particular ideology—it’s about coherence between words and actions, especially when financial stakes are high.

A value is only a value when it costs you something. When firms reverse course the moment there’s pressure, they don’t appear pragmatic—they appear hollow. And no amount of spin or rebranding can fix that.

A Maturity Lens on Authentic Leadership

People don’t evaluate whether a firm’s values are left or right. We assess whether they are real. Are they embedded in systems? Are they defended in moments of adversity? Do leaders act from principle or convenience?

The recent corporate retreats from DEI are not being penalized because they are “anti-woke.” They are being penalized because they expose a lack of authentic commitment to any set of values. In that sense, these moves don’t represent bold leadership. They represent strategic incoherence.

The Bottom Line

We are in an era where the public is more attuned than ever to hypocrisy. Institutions must stop managing optics and start managing integrity.

Because in the end, a company’s true values are not what it prints on a wall—but what it’s willing to protect when there’s money on the table.