WWJHD: What Would John Hancock Do?
What the Massachusetts business leaders of today can learn from their predecessors about social responsibility and civic engagement.

Business leaders have a reputation for not wanting to rock the boat when it comes to activism on issues of the day. Here in Massachusetts, history tells us otherwise:
John Hancock: prominent Boston merchant and signer of the Declaration of Independence who used his financial resources to help support the Patriots.
Lydia Pinkham: businesswoman and marketer from Lynn who opposed slavery and segregation and spoke out on issues of women’s health
Henry H. Rogers: leading Industrialist from Fairhaven who helped build Standard Oil, he financed 65 schools for African Americans, and was a major donor to the Tuskegee and Hampton institutes
John J. Smith: Beacon Hill barber and African American abolitionist who hosted abolitionist meetings in his barbershop
James Swan: wealthy Boston financier and member of the Sons of Liberty, he participated in the Boston Tea Party (he literally rocked the boat)
And so, this weekend’s David Gelles piece in The New York Times — “The Moral Voice of Corporate America” — begs the question: WWJHD? What would John Hancock, Lydia Pinkham, John Smith, and other outspoken Massachusetts business leaders before and since do in today’s climate? There can be little doubt that they would subscribe to Gelles’ assertion that “faced with circumstances they cannot in good conscience accept, more and more chieftains appear unafraid to act.”
Being unafraid to act is more important now than ever, and many in corporate America are stepping up. CEOs are raising their voices to combat climate change. The business community is rallying in support of immigrants. Corporate leaders are making their intolerance of racism and anti-Semitism clear. Faced with extreme urgency on the national level, business leaders are recognizing the power and privilege of their bully pulpit, and are using it to advance change.
But what about the legacy of Hancock, Pinkham, Smith, and others here in the Commonwealth? Many of the issues at the state level are different than the ones making national headlines, but the opportunity for impact is the same. The business community wields influence on both Beacon Hill and Capitol Hill, but while Washington is engrossed in a mix of crisis and gridlock, the State House remains collaborative and productive. Leaders of the private sector looking to make a difference should look under the golden dome.
Jeff Bussgang, General Partner at Flybridge Capital and Chair of the Alliance for Business Leadership (ABL) puts it like this: “If there has ever been a moment for the business community to lead, this is it. Just as we need to push back when our leaders in Washington act in a manner that is anathema to our values, we have work to do here at home. We must make the case for advancing equality and social mobility in our own back yard, using our platforms to push for change at all levels.”
What does that look like? It looks like writing a letter to the editor making the business case for investing in clean energy. It looks like reaching out to elected officials to talk about why paid family and medical leave saves companies money by reducing turnover. It looks like attending a community forum in support of raising revenue to invest in education and transportation. It looks like advocating for an increase in the minimum wage. It looks like giving a speech about the ways in which diversity benefits the bottom line. And it looks like pushing for workforce housing so that the people who work here can afford to live here.
Some good news: in recent years we have seen how business leaders in Massachusetts can come together to create progressive change. In 2014 ABL successfully backed a nation-leading minimum wage increase. Last year the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce, the Massachusetts Business Roundtable, and Associated Industries of Massachusetts joined ABL to support the passage of the nation’s strongest equal pay law. Those groups and others came together again with House Speaker Robert DeLeo to craft recommendations around the future of early education in the state.
Just yesterday, Harvard Business Review weighed in. Professors Nour Kteily and Francesca Gino wrote: “In these tumultuous times, business leaders shouldn’t worry about whether it is appropriate for them to take a public stand in defending the values that are dear to them and their organizations. It is.” Agreed. And while the political debates in Massachusetts may not rise to the level of Washington tumult, all the more reason to strengthen the civic environment at home.
Massachusetts business leaders, rock the boat. Find the issue of our day that you’re passionate about, and use your power and privilege to advance it. Call up one of the many organizations around the Commonwealth dedicated to the greater good and ask how you can be of service. Join the Alliance for Business Leadership. John Hancock said that “the greatest ability in business is to get along with others and to influence their actions.” How are you using your influence?
