Where’s the Line Between Business Necessity and Moral Obligation?

Last week, I stood on the same street where a CEO was tragically killed—a place now etched into a chilling narrative. What struck me wasn’t just the tragedy itself, but the public’s reaction: people online celebrated it. They believed he “deserved it” because of perceived corporate greed.

Violence is never the answer and what happened is unprecedented, but this brutal response is a warning that CEOs can’t afford to ignore.

As leaders automate jobs, chase profits, and cut costs, they risk becoming symbols of faceless, destructive change. In a world where AI threatens millions of livelihoods, CEOs aren’t just decision-makers—they're the faces of societal upheaval.

The Cost of Ignoring Public Sentiment

The public's outrage wasn’t about one man—it was about a system failing millions. When leaders reduce people to metrics and focus solely on the bottom line, they sow seeds of resentment that can’t be quantified—or contained.

Consider UnitedHealthcare, the company at the center of this tragedy. Reports indicate they used AI algorithms to review insurance claims, resulting in a significant increase in denials. Between 2022 and 2023, denials rose more than 20% for private, commercial claims and nearly 56% for Medicare Advantage claims. (Newsweek)

In some instances, AI tools developed by NaviHealth, a UnitedHealthcare subsidiary, were alleged to have a 90% error rate, leading to wrongful denials of care. (Computerworld)

In critical sectors like U.S. healthcare, automation without empathy isn’t just a tech issue—it’s a human crisis. When life-altering decisions are made without human oversight, it’s no longer about efficiency—it’s about betraying trust.

The New Leadership Mandate

Accountability in the AI era goes beyond shareholder returns. It’s about building a world where businesses drive progress without leaving humanity behind.

Here’s how leaders can start:

• Adopt Responsible Automation: Use AI to complement, not replace, human potential. In industries like healthcare, human intervention isn’t optional—it’s life-saving.
• Lead with Purpose: Profit and purpose aren’t enemies—if you have the courage to align them.
• Plan to Pivot: Leaders embracing AI must ensure they proactively plan to pivot their workforce toward meaningful work.

This isn’t just about managing reputation—it’s about avoiding social collapse. Leaders who treat business and moral responsibility as separate worlds won’t survive the era of radical transparency and public reckoning.

The best leaders ensure that as work evolves, people evolve with it. This is Zero Wasted Potential — the hallmark of leaders we need and want.