Accountability Under Fire: How society is demanding more from business and what great leaders are doing about it
Society now has a seat in the boardroom – what does that mean for leaders?

The age of transparency is giving society (including employees) a ring-side seat in the business world. There is low trust and high scrutiny of business leaders – yet little support on what it means to be accountable to society. Where are the boundaries of accountability today? And what changes do leaders need to make?

This isn't a book about how to look good or delegate doing good. It’s about how great business leaders own and navigate that challenging shift. If you believe the role of business in society goes beyond shareholder value, if you want to lead a company that understands its role in strengthening society, then this is for you.

Kate Adams has spent 25 years helping businesses to design and deliver on their accountability to society, and helping non-profits deliver social impact through partnership with business. She has consulted with some of the world’s biggest corporations, and held senior leadership positions in non-profits such as Comic Relief. She is a Non-Executive Director at ParalympicsGB and co-host of the podcast ‘Seat for Society’.

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Accountability Under Fire: How society is demanding more from business and what great leaders are doing about it
Society now has a seat in the boardroom – what does that mean for leaders?

The age of transparency is giving society (including employees) a ring-side seat in the business world. There is low trust and high scrutiny of business leaders – yet little support on what it means to be accountable to society. Where are the boundaries of accountability today? And what changes do leaders need to make?

This isn't a book about how to look good or delegate doing good. It’s about how great business leaders own and navigate that challenging shift. If you believe the role of business in society goes beyond shareholder value, if you want to lead a company that understands its role in strengthening society, then this is for you.

Kate Adams has spent 25 years helping businesses to design and deliver on their accountability to society, and helping non-profits deliver social impact through partnership with business. She has consulted with some of the world’s biggest corporations, and held senior leadership positions in non-profits such as Comic Relief. She is a Non-Executive Director at ParalympicsGB and co-host of the podcast ‘Seat for Society’.

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Accountability Under Fire: How society is demanding more from business and what great leaders are doing about it

Accountability Under Fire: How society is demanding more from business and what great leaders are doing about it

by Kate Adams
Accountability Under Fire: How society is demanding more from business and what great leaders are doing about it

Accountability Under Fire: How society is demanding more from business and what great leaders are doing about it

by Kate Adams

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Overview

Society now has a seat in the boardroom – what does that mean for leaders?

The age of transparency is giving society (including employees) a ring-side seat in the business world. There is low trust and high scrutiny of business leaders – yet little support on what it means to be accountable to society. Where are the boundaries of accountability today? And what changes do leaders need to make?

This isn't a book about how to look good or delegate doing good. It’s about how great business leaders own and navigate that challenging shift. If you believe the role of business in society goes beyond shareholder value, if you want to lead a company that understands its role in strengthening society, then this is for you.

Kate Adams has spent 25 years helping businesses to design and deliver on their accountability to society, and helping non-profits deliver social impact through partnership with business. She has consulted with some of the world’s biggest corporations, and held senior leadership positions in non-profits such as Comic Relief. She is a Non-Executive Director at ParalympicsGB and co-host of the podcast ‘Seat for Society’.


Product Details

ISBN-13: 9781788607971
Publisher: Practical Inspiration Publishing
Publication date: 05/26/2026
Pages: 220
Product dimensions: 5.50(w) x 8.50(h) x 0.69(d)

About the Author

Kate Adams has a rare insider perspective on leadership across both the commercial and non-profit worlds. She has consulted with some of the world’s biggest corporations, and held senior leadership positions in non-profits such as Comic Relief. She is currently a Non-Executive Director at ParalympicsGB and co-host of the podcast ‘Seat for Society’.

Table of Contents

Poem on Accountability

Introduction

Part 1: A shifting landscape for business leaders

Traditional expectations of business accountability Why society is now demanding more Are these reasonable asks of leaders?

Part 2: Modelling accountability to society

Lessons from business: successes and failures Learning from military, government and civil society The role of the Board

Part 3: A tool-kit for society-conscious business leaders

It starts with you as a leader: tools to raise self awareness and personal insights Accountability mapping: tools to identify impact and boundaries Creating an accountable culture: tools to embed values, behaviours, and build trust

Conclusion: Just good leadership

Further Reading

Acknowledgements

Notes

About the author

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