So, we’ve all heard the buzzwords, right? “Stakeholder capitalism,” “ESG” — they’ve become a sort of new gospel for modern corporations. But, man, what a turn we’ve taken. When I first started penning thoughts about these ideas, I had to act like some kind of translator, breaking down these novel terms. But now? The conversation has flipped. Everyone’s heard of them, but their essence? That’s been watered down, almost bastardized by the very people who claim to champion them.

Here’s the rundown: Stakeholder capitalism used to mean something transformative. The whole point was that companies should focus on more than just raking in profits for shareholders. They should also give a damn about societal issues, environment, employees — you know, the greater good. But as this concept’s gotten more popular, something’s gotten lost in translation. What was once a revolutionary concept is now becoming a marketing tagline, a check-box exercise that corporations go through to appear “woke.”

Why is this problematic? Well, think about it. The essence of stakeholder capitalism challenges the gospel according to Milton Friedman, who’s basically the high priest of shareholder capitalism. He preached that a company’s sole purpose was to generate profits for shareholders, no questions asked. Stakeholder capitalism was supposed to be the antidote to that philosophy. Yet, here we are, the champions of stakeholder capitalism diluting its meaning to fit neatly into corporate slide decks.

And Friedman’s cautionary words? They’re becoming eerily prescient. He warned us that shifting focus from profits could make companies less efficient, less effective, ultimately hurting society at large. The diluted version of stakeholder capitalism we’re seeing could make Friedman’s fears a reality. Companies might still chase profits, now under the guise of also serving broader societal goals. But if those goals are just lip service, we’re fooling ourselves and doing a disservice to society.

It’s a strange paradox, man. The popularization of stakeholder capitalism and ESG is making these concepts both more visible and more invisible at the same time. More companies are adopting the language, but fewer are embodying the original spirit. It’s like watching a powerful idea get slowly drained of its soul.

We’re at a crossroads. Either we redefine what stakeholder capitalism really means, rooting it back in its foundational ideals, or we watch as it becomes another corporate fad, devoid of real impact. Because at the end of the day, if the champions of a movement can’t even protect its essence, who will? And what’s left when the essence is gone? Just a hollow shell of what could’ve been a revolutionary idea. And, man, that’s the biggest tragedy of all.