In the face of new pressures inside and outside their organizations, purpose-driven leaders need to navigate high-stakes decisions where values, responsibilities, and business realities collide—without losing trust or undermining their impact. Though they may understand the need for caution to minimize litigation risk, reputational pressure or political blowback, these leaders also recognize the imperative to sustain – and even accelerate – progress on regenerative and resilient business practices and opportunity for all. Every day, these larger tensions translate into concrete “moments of truth” where sustainability, CSR, people and other leaders must make high-stakes decisions under pressure.
When is the right time to say Yes—and what does it look like to say No effectively?
Presented by PolicyLink, Third Side Strategies, and the American Sustainable Business Network, this intimate, off-the-record workshop will explore how sustainability, CSR, people leaders, and others are navigating these high-stakes moments—and why the ability to say No constructively is critical to preserving trust, staying aligned with core values, and strengthening civic norms.
Drawing on real-world case studies and a proven framework for crafting a “Positive No,” we’ll surface strategies for responding to pressure without retreating from principle.
Topics we'll explore in this 90-minute session include:
1. How to uphold professional and personal values amid rising external and internal pressures.
2. What it means to say No in a way that protects relationships and fosters long-term influence. And how to reframe a tough stance as a gateway to a better Yes.
3. Real-world scenarios facing corporate legal and executive teams and what tools can help.
This is a candid, facilitated discussion among peers—designed to equip you with practical tools for one of the most important leadership challenges of our era.