D. MICHAEL WILSON — Media - Thoughts and Perspectives on Business, Leadership and Philanthropy

Safety’s secret ingredient: The profound impact of caring for people

March 2024

Whether we realize it, risk permeates almost every aspect of our daily lives. From the moment we turn on a kitchen oven or burner, use sharp objects or work at heights doing home projects, or get in a car or on public transport to go about our day: Our physical safety is at risk. And emotional safety is equally as important if we are to exercise the courage required to speak up to family or friends when something feels off in a conversation or situation. Similarly, safety is foundational in corporate environments, especially in manufacturing facilities. Truly, one of the most enduring and difficult challenges a business — and any leader — faces is how to make safety part of its cultural fabric and everyday operations to ensure employees get home safely every day.

Help make Lowcountry Food Bank’s ‘Fueled by Fresh’ a success

May 2023

Food insecurity is an increasing and troubling global challenge. According to a recent feature by the McKinsey Global Institute, food insecurity is driven largely by the inability to access sufficient nutritious food due to affordability or physical access. Astonishingly, more than 3.1 billion people worldwide cannot afford a healthy diet.

Michael and Pam Wilson LEADERSHIP Giving CHALLENGE

April 2022

I’d like to express our gratitude to everyone who contributed to the Leadership Giving Challenge. It was a huge success and a new UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School fellowship has been endowed

Funding a Guiding Light for When Times Get Dark

November 30, 2021

Last week, we gave thanks for the blessings we have in our lives, and now on Giving Tuesday we have the opportunity to make our community stronger.

Leadership During COVID-19: Leave 2020 Behind And Embrace the New Year

December 31, 2020

In 2020, I joined a select group of CEOs appointed from the outside to serve organizations. Establishing yourself as a new leader in the midst of a pandemic, in a virtual work environment, brings increased challenges. In my latest article, I share some lessons learned and approaches that have proven effective. Here's to 2021!

The need is overwhelming. Our response must be too

Originally published in the Post & Courier; Aug 14, 2020

Since March, approximately 40 million Americans have lost their jobs, and the United States leads the world in confirmed cases of COVID-19. Despite the continued impact of the pandemic on our crippled economy, vital COVID-related government aid programs are drawing to a close.

Time, Talent, and Treasure: Why Philanthropic Work Is More Important Than Ever

July 20, 2020

Never in my lifetime has the need for corporations to lead the way in philanthropic work been more dire. This spring, as Covid-19 sunk its claws into the heart of our nation, nearly 40 million people lost their jobs, leading to record highs of unemployment claims with no indication of when or if a significant number of these jobs will return.

Connecting People to Purpose: How Corporations Can Create Benefit for All Stakeholders

June 30, 2020

There exists a universal human drive for purpose — it gives meaning to our lives and enables us to gain a sense of fulfillment. Corporations, which ultimately are comprised of people, likewise need to have a purpose if they are to flourish, especially in our current turbulent times. That core purpose, if it’s genuine and reflected in all of the company’s undertakings, can both increase the stature and financial performance of the company and be a powerful tool for driving greater employee engagement

CEOs Must Visibly Lead in a Disconnected World

June 12, 2020

After months of closures, remote work, and Zoom fatigue, America is finally getting back to work. Across industries, businesses across the country are slowly re-opening. Teams are reuniting and operations are resuming. But reopening against the backdrop of layoffs, new worker safety guidelines, and often inadequate inclusion and diversity programs is complex. Navigating these challenges requires an immense amount of communication from leadership teams. As employees reassess their new environment and their place in the organization, the CEO’s physical presence is more important than ever.

Creating Value through Spin-offs

May 29, 2020

The current pandemic and resulting economic crisis have placed a premium on capital. After almost a decade of economic tailwinds, uncertainty stemming from the novel Coronavirus severely limited access to capital earlier this year. The Federal Reserve intervened to boost the liquidity in the corporate bond market and corporations responded by issuing over a trillion dollars in bonds, far surpassing last year’s rate.

COVID-19: It’s time we go back to work. And it’s time we send our kids back to school.

May 8, 2020

I recognize during this unprecedented time how emotion-evoking those two statements may be. I also know I am not the first to write them. And, before I go any further, let me state unequivocally the following: Every life is precious. I repeat: every life is precious.