Leading fairly: where social justice begins

Leading today means navigating a world of uncertainty, rapid change and growing human expectations. Between economic performance and social responsibility, many leaders feel a new tension, often silent but very real. On the occasion of the International Day of Social Justice, and following on from recent discussions in Caux with business leaders, Ignacio Packer, Executive Director of the Caux Foundation, offers his thoughts on what it means to lead with justice in our time. An invitation to take a step back and reflect on the role of leadership in a changing world.

On 13 February, at the Caux Palace, we spoke with business leaders about a paradox that has become almost commonplace: their companies are still holding on... but their teams are getting tired.

No one mentioned AI at first.

We talked about difficult management meetings. About competent employees who are not leaving but who no longer make suggestions. About economically sound decisions that leave a vague sense of unease.

And at one point, one executive summed up what many were thinking: "I have to transform my company, but I don't want to be the one who hurts people."

For me, this sentence is at the heart of World Social Justice Day, which we celebrate on 20 February. Today, social justice is no longer just about laws or redistribution. It is about the daily decisions made by thousands of executives. It is about very concrete choices: reorganising, automating, cutting jobs, asking for extra effort... or waiting.

Today, social justice is the daily and very concrete decisions made by executives.

A new silent responsibility

Today, many leaders are experiencing the same tension. On the one hand: costs, skills shortages, market instability, and AI. On the other: human fatigue, loss of meaning, and fragile commitment. Swiss insurance companies confirm that exhaustion has become a major cause of long-term absenteeism.

But managers do not have the luxury of waiting. And that is where something is changing profoundly.

Businesses are no longer just facing an economic crisis; they are at the crossroads of technological, social, ecological and human transformations. In this context, leadership is no longer just about optimising an organisation. It's about staying the course in uncertain times without losing people along the way.

AI is changing less the work... than the role of leaders

There is a lot of talk about what AI will replace. But the real question is: who will bear the human responsibility for decisions optimised by machines? AI will analyse better. It will often decide faster and more economically. But one question will remain human:

Is this decision fair to the people concerned?

The role of leaders is shifting from performance manager to architect of human trajectories.

Leadership is no longer just about optimising an organisation. It is about staying the course in uncertainty without losing people along the way.

Ignacio Packer

What we learned in Caux

After several discussions with leaders, one thing became clear: the problem is not primarily technical. It is internal.

Many know what to do, but are unsure how to do it without breaking trust. What is missing is not a tool. It is a space to think clearly. A space where we can step out of emergency mode and become fully responsible again.

An experience, not a training course

That is why we have designed an immersion programme with Chemin 28 in Caux, from 28 to 30 October 2026, to explore the question of how to lead with humanity in the age of artificial intelligence.

This choice is part of a long tradition: since 1946, the Caux Palace has been an international venue for dialogue and reflection on ethics, responsibility, and the role of decision-makers. From the Principles for Business, launched in 1994 by the Caux Round Table, to the current programmes on ethical leadership and people-centred economics, this approach has for decades supported those who see people as the key to sustainable performance.

It is not about learning AI, but about learning how to make decisions when everything is changing. A time to rediscover our inner compass, understand what needs to change and what needs to be protected, articulate performance and dignity, and transform without betraying our values.

Leaders will not come here looking for recipes. They will come here to rediscover their stance. Because, ultimately, sustainable competitiveness today depends on a rare quality: the ability to transform an organisation without creating injustice.

Social justice in practice

Social justice is no longer an abstract concept. It comes into play when a leader announces change without humiliating, automates without abandoning, reduces without destroying, explains without manipulating.

In a world marked by multiple crises and AI, the company should be a place of social stability. And every managerial decision becomes a societal decision.

At Caux, we seek to enable leaders to experience:

• the security of a space of trust,
• the clarity of deep reflection,
• the hope that comes from having a clear direction
• and the ability to take concrete action.

Then something can change.

It's not about being kinder, but about being fairer. Because it is this inner requirement that makes it possible to transform the company without sacrificing either its performance or its people.

A conviction

We are entering an era in which machines will optimise decisions. But social cohesion will depend on those who give them meaning. Leading tomorrow will not primarily be a technical skill; it will be a human responsibility.

And perhaps, ultimately, a deeply social responsibility.

Our event ‘Leading with humanity in the age of artificial intelligence’ interest you? Immerse yourself in the magnificent natural setting of the Caux Palace and explore with us how to accompany technological transitions in a fully conscious, democratic and respectful manner.

CONTACT US

It is not about being kinder, but about being fairer. Because it is this inner requirement that enables us to transform the company without sacrificing either its performance or its people.

Ignacio Packer

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Ignacio Packer is Executive Director of the Caux Initiatives of Change Foundation, a Swiss charitable foundation committed to promoting trust, ethical leadership, sustainable living and human security. With over 30 years of experience in humanitarian and development work, he worked at the European Bank for Latin America and then at KPMG, before becoming a recognised leader of NGOs and international alliances for over 25 years. An expert in human rights and social issues, he has been particularly involved in defending protection frameworks for migrants and refugees, especially children and young people.

Photos: Olivia Chollet & Christophe Koninckx