RESILIENCE | A Radical Force for Lasting Change

Hugues Sygney Jr.
4 days ago
4 min read

Author: Hugues Sygney Jr.

RESILIENCE IN UNCERTAIN TIMES

The world is in flux. Geopolitical tensions rise, economies shift, and the climate crisis deepens. In such an era of uncertainty, the call for hope as a radical force is understandable—it is a necessary fuel. Yet, as a racial equity expert and intrapreneur, I invite us to consider another equally powerful and urgent force: resilience.

Hope gives us direction. It is a vision, a lighthouse in the distance. But resilience is what allows us to act on that vision. It is the ability to not only imagine a better future but to endure, adapt, and rebuild in the face of systemic adversity. It is active, lived, and hard-earned. If we are to usher in an inclusive, equitable, and regenerative economy, resilience must be one of the radical forces that guide our path forward.

THE ROLE OF RESILIENCE IN SYSTEMIC CHANGE

The League of Intrapreneurs has always been about challenging the status quo from within—about leveraging internal influence to transform institutions. This work is not easy. It demands persistence, the courage to navigate resistance, and the ability to rebuild after failure. Hope can inspire us, but resilience carries us through the hard work of change.

From my experience working with businesses that seek to balance profit with purpose, I have witnessed firsthand how resilience—alongside hope—drives lasting transformation. B Corps, mission-driven enterprises, and intrapreneurs pushing equity and climate action know this well: systemic change is never immediate. It is a long game requiring stamina, iterative learning, and the willingness to push forward when the odds seem insurmountable.

“Resilience is not only the ability to imagine a better future, but to endure, adapt, and rebuild in the face of systemic adversity.

RESILIENCE AS A LIVED REALITY

Resilience speaks directly to those historically marginalized by systems of power. For communities facing racial, economic, and environmental injustices, resilience is not an abstract concept—it is a lived reality. It is the skill of surviving, thriving, and reclaiming agency in spaces not designed for one’s success. Businesses that truly want to be radical in this moment must recognize that the resilience of these communities is not just something to admire but something to actively support and learn from.

For communities facing racial, economic, and environmental injustices, resilience is not an abstract concept—it’s a lived reality.It is the skill of surviving, thriving, and reclaiming agency in spaces not designed for one’s success. Businesses that truly want to be radical in this moment must recognize that the resilience of these communities is not just something to admire but something to actively support and learn from.

WHY RESILIENCE MATTERS FOR BUSINESS

Resilience is not just a moral imperative—it is a business one. Organizations that cultivate resilience within their workforce and operations are better positioned to navigate disruption and drive innovation. Here’s why:

1 | Adaptive Leadership

The most effective leaders today are those who can pivot in real time, making decisions amidst uncertainty. Businesses that invest in resilience training—equipping leaders with the tools to navigate complexity—are the ones that will survive future crises.

2 | Systemic Equity

Resilient businesses recognize that equity is not a one-time initiative but an ongoing commitment. True intrapreneurship requires the resilience to challenge existing power structures and implement policies that create lasting, inclusive change.

3 | Sustainable Impact

Businesses committed to environmental and social justice must build resilience into their supply chains, governance structures, and company cultures. Resilience is what enables these efforts to last.

Systemic change is never immediate. It’s a long game requiring stamina, iterative learning, and the willingness to push forward when the odds seem insurmountable.”

BUILDING CULTURES OF RESILIENCE

So how do we cultivate resilience in our organizations? Here are three critical shifts businesses must make:

1 | Normalize Failure and Learning

Too often, businesses see failure as a liability rather than a necessary part of growth. To build resilience, companies must create cultures where employees feel safe to take risks, challenge norms, and iterate solutions. This is particularly vital for intrapreneurs pushing equity and climate agendas within corporate structures.

2 | Invest in Marginalized Communities

Businesses must move beyond performative allyship and actively invest in the resilience of marginalized communities. This means funding BIPOC-led initiatives, ensuring equitable hiring and retention policies, and supporting regenerative economic models that prioritize long-term community well-being over short-term profits.

3 | Commit to Long-term Systems Change Resilience is not about quick fixes—it is about sustained commitment. Companies serious about systemic change must embed racial equity and climate resilience into their core strategies, not just as Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives but as fundamental business imperatives.

THE RADICALISM OF RESILIENCE

Hope opens the door. But resilience is what helps us walk through it, especially when the path is steep, slow, or uncertain. It is what propels us through setbacks, what fuels the long fight, and what turns vision into action.

For intrapreneurs, the real radicalism of our time lies not only in dreaming of a better world but in having the resilience to build it—over time, through failure, and in community. The League of Intrapreneurs has always been about turning bold ideas into tangible change. If we are to meet this moment with the power it demands, let’s make resilience a central part of how we lead, how we build, and how we endure.

To build resilience, companies must create cultures where employees feel safe to take risks, challenge norms, and iterate solutions.

Hugues Sygney Jr. is the Senior Racial Equity Program Manager at B Lab U.S. & Canada, an international restorative practices trainer and global advocate for racial justice, bridging corporate leadership with impacted communities to drive systemic change.