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Leadership Now Project
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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The Leadership Now Project (LNP) is a nonprofit membership group for business leaders who seek to "protect and renew American democracy."[1] For 2023–2024, the group stated that its goals were to educate business professionals about democracy, reform elections, and, as a 501(c)4 organization, support "moderate candidates" in U.S. elections.[2]
 | The topic of this article may not meet Wikipedia's notability guidelines for companies and organizations. (September 2024) |
The New York Times described LNP as a "coalition of 400 politically active current and retired executives".[3] The Associated Press described LNP as a "group of business executives, academics and thought leaders."[4] Bloomberg described LNP as a "group of business leaders who had organized to counter what they saw as threats to democracy during the last Trump administration."[5]
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History
The Leadership Now Project was founded in 2017 by Daniella Ballou-Aares as President, Vicky Hausman (now with Forward Majority) as Treasurer, and Katherine Cousins as Secretary.[6] Ballou-Aares is the CEO of LNP.[7][8][9]
The New York Times described Ballou-Aares as a "business executive who was a senior State Department adviser during the Obama administration."[3]
In 2018, LNP's revenues were $445,000 and by 2021 its revenues were $2.4 million.[10][11]
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Members
Members of LNP include
- Eddie Fishman, the managing director of the investment management firm D.E. Shaw & Company
- John Pepper, a former CEO of Procter & Gamble
- Paul Tagliabue, a former commissioner of the National Football League (NFL)
- Jeni Britton, the founder of Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams
- Thomas W. Florsheim Jr., CEO of the Weyco Group[3][12][13]
Activities
Prior to the 2020 election, the Project arranged for more than 50 business leaders to issue a statement about election integrity.[14]
In 2024, LNP submitted an amicus brief to oppose immunity from prosecution for President Donald Trump.[15][16] It also supported an anti-gerrymandering ballot initiative in Ohio.[17]
In June 2024, LNP issued a pledge, signed by business leaders, that it asked to be signed by presidential candidates. The six commitments of the pledge include the "peaceful transition of power, in victory or defeat."[18][19]
In 2024, Melinda Gates participated in LNP's Annual Meeting in New York.[20][21]
The group has also attracted criticism, such as its lack of practical action for the leaders' companies to reduce "income and wealth inequality" and improve job security.[22]
2024 US Presidential election
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In the run-up to the 2024 U.S. presidential elections and after the first Presidential debate organized by CNN in Atlanta, Ballou-Aares of LNP explained on CNN's Quest Means Business about why LNP believes Joe Biden should withdraw from the race.[23] Ballou-Aares told Michelle Fleury of the BBC how more than 80% of the membership of LNP believed going public about asking President Joe Biden to pass the torch was the right thing to do.[24]
LNP issued a statement asking President Biden to step aside and not run for re-election,[3] with a private letter from 168 business professionals.[12][13]
In the statement, LNP described the possibility of a second Trump term “an existential threat to American democracy”.[3] The statement noted that at the first presidential debate in Atlanta, Mr. Biden “failed to effectively make the case against Trump, and we now fear the risk of a devastating loss in November.”[3]
In September 2024, LNP endorsed Harris-Walz.[25][26]
In October 2024, The Financial Times quoted Ballou-Aares of LNP in its article titled Kamala Harris’s Wall Street charm offensive begins to pay off as saying: "People had been staying out, giving to congressional campaigns and preparing for the worst . . . they are now engaged."[27]
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References
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