Shapeholder Strategy: Leading Institutions in an Era of Polarization
Navigating stakeholder pressure, shaping perception, and leading with purpose
“In today’s environment, it’s not just shareholders or voters shaping outcomes—it’s shapeholders: actors with the power to influence your mission without owning a stake or casting a vote.”
Overview
- Polarization. Activism. Distrust. Across sectors, leaders face a world where external actors—activists, regulators, NGOs, media voices, and public movements—can shape institutional outcomes more powerfully than internal governance structures.
- This keynote draws from Mark Kennedy’s acclaimed book Shapeholders: Business Success in the Age of Activism (Columbia Business School Publishing) to offer a strategic framework for engaging those who shape your mission without owning it. Kennedy, whose career spans the boardroom, the Capitol, and the quad, equips leaders with the tools to succeed under scrutiny—by aligning purpose with perception, and strategy with trust.
About the Book
- In Shapeholders, Mark Kennedy introduces a new class of influential actors—those who can shape outcomes but don’t share in profits or votes. Combining insights from business, politics, and academia, the book challenges traditional stakeholder models and provides actionable tools for navigating external pressure while staying mission-driven.
- Praise for Shapeholders:
- "Today, shapeholders without a stake in the success of a corporation have teh power to influence corporate outcomes like never before. Kennedy answers the question of how a corporation should behave in the face of activism."
- - Greg Page, former CEO of Cargill
- "Kennedy's insights suggest the intersection of activisma nd corporatism neeed not be zero-sum. Profit can be found for shapeholders, stakeholders, stockholders, and, I submit, readers"
- - Major Garrett, Chief White House Correspondent, CBS News
- "Now that social and political activists have growing power to shape the fates of companies, Mark Kennedy is here to help, offering guidance on how to engage activists and avoid scandals."
- - Adam Grant, New York Times best-selling author of Originals and Give and Take
Key Themes Covered
- Who are shapeholders, and how do they impact business, academia, and public institutions?
- How to map influence beyond shareholders, customers, and voters
- Strategies to engage critics constructively and align with key allies
- The importance of public narrative, institutional voice, and mission clarity in polarized times
- Lessons from successful (and failed) attempts to lead through controversy
Audience Takeaways
- A new lens for understanding institutional vulnerability and influence
- Practical tools for building support and preempting backlash
- Leadership principles for earning trust and remaining mission-focused in divided times
- A call to lead with purpose, transparency, and strategic foresight
Who This Is For
- CEOs, university presidents, and nonprofit executives
- Communications and public affairs leaders
- Governance professionals and board members
- Students and faculty of leadership, ethics, and strategic communication
🎥 Watch Mark in Action
- Leading in the Age of Activism
- University of North Dakota | April 2017
- Surviving Public Scrutiny in the Global Marketplace
- Globis Business School - Tokyo | June 2016
- Engaging to Win
- Sandia National Laboratories
- Washington, DC | April 2017
- Shapeholders, Business Success in the Age of Activism
- Wharton Business School, University of Pennsylvania
- Profeassor Petkoski said many students listed my lecture as their favorite experience in the course.
Context for Earlier Videos
- Since these videos were recorded, Mark Kennedy has served as president of two flagship public research universities and now leads a global policy institute focused on strategic competition.
- While these leadership roles limited his public speaking on Shapeholders, they profoundly broadened his aperture, deepening his understanding of institutional dynamics, public trust, and governance under pressure. Today, Kennedy brings even greater perspective to this increasingly urgent topic—making his early insights not only relevant, but prescient.
Tailored for Every Audience
- Every keynote is tailored to the unique context of its audience—whether the focus is business innovation, geopolitical alignment, national security, or institutional strategy. Mark Kennedy’s delivery is engaging, pragmatic, and deeply informed by experience across sectors and continents.
- While his prepared remarks offer strategic clarity, audiences consistently find the real value in his interactive Q&A sessions. These conversations bring the frameworks to life through candid dialogue, sharp analysis, and real-time application.
Book This Keynote
- For civic forums, executive retreats, university leadership conferences, or governance symposia:
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