The Shot Heard Around the Business World – And the Heroes of American Business
Washingtoner/10277592

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. - Washingtoner -- By Chris Benguhe, RaeAnne Marsh, and Elaine Pofeldt

The business of America is business. That's why it's especially crucial in this nation that we conduct it with respect for humanity being our top priority.

Many in the business community are trying to make sense of the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson and the tremendous public outcry on social media and elsewhere against large health insurers that headlines about it have sparked. Many of the commenters have shown a disturbing lack of empathy for Thompson and his family, citing the harm they or their own families have faced from big insurers that denied their claims for needed medical care.

We don't know if the shooter was among these angry consumers. At the time of this writing, police have announced the arrest of a person of interest and the discovery of a document they say reveals his "motivation and mindset," but the contents are not known.

More on Washingtoner

• Pregis Expands Wind Energy Use, Advancing Progress Toward Net Zero by 2040
• Dr. Sheel Desai Solomon and Preston Dermatology Continue Awards Streak with Top Honors in 2026 Maggy Awards
• How Boeing's 2002 Mandates, ANAB's Federal Underwriter Fraud, and the 2026 GLOBAC Merger Exposed a Collapse in Certification Across All Industries
• Jack and Sage Acquires Sustainable Apparel Brand Kastlfel, Expanding Premium Logo Wear Across National Parks and Ski Resorts
• The Media Should Protect the Public When It Comes to Boeing — But Does It?

What we do know is that everyday people are outraged at the insurance industry and reaching their breaking point as they refuse to express even an ounce of sorrow or mercy for Thompson or his family.

All of this begs the questions: Where are we and how did we get here?

While there is no reasonable justification for this horrible and ghastly act of madness, nor for the callous and insensitive response in a civilized society, there is no doubt this crime has served an irrefutable wake-up call to CEOs and business leaders everywhere that the American people feel victimized by business practices that they see as putting profits above people and morality. They do not feel that enough business leaders are listening.

Our hope is that all leaders will see this as an opportunity to take a close look at how they are serving all their stakeholders — including their employees, their customers and their communities — and make sure they are truly doing all they can to balance serving them with their obligations to shareholders. Clearly, something is out of balance. The only way to find that balance is to have an open dialogue, not just within the walls of the company but with people whose voices may be inconvenient to those who simply want to maximize profits.

More on Washingtoner

• Cancun International Airport Prepares for Record Travel Surge Ahead of Spring Break, Summer, and the 2026 High Season
• $167 Billion Pharma R&D Market Largely Untapped by AI Creates Major Growth Runway for KALA Bios Data-Sovereign AI Strategy: N A S D A Q: KALA
• Lighthouse Tech Awards Recognize Top HR Technology Providers for 2026
• ADB Selects OneVizion to Advance Field Execution and Infrastructure Program Management
• Memelinked Social Media powered by cryptocurrency launching July 2026

Read the whole article and see the Center's Top CEOs for 2023-2024 at the link below.

The Shot Heard Around the Business World – And the Heroes of American Business

Check out more articles and insights at www.socapcenter.com