The J. Burden Show Woke Capitalism w/ Sean J. Griffith: The J. Burden Show Ep. 406
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Jan 13, 2026 In this discussion, Sean J. Griffith, a corporate law professor at Fordham, dives into the complexities of 'woke' corporatism. He explores why corporate wokeness persists, despite its apparent insincerity, and how managerialism drives the ESG movement. Griffith critiques Elon Musk's challenge to traditional managerial structures and examines the growing role of managerialism in our daily lives. The conversation also touches on the ideological divide between universities and corporations, and the potential for conservative challenges to shift the managerial landscape.
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Why Woke Persists In Corporations
- Woke corporate practices persist even when managers claim insincerity and nonideological motives.
- Sean J. Griffith explains this persistence by framing wokeism as a form of managerialism that justifies managerial roles.
Woke As A Perpetual Managerial Project
- Wokeism functions as a 'forever project' that gives managers perpetual measurable goals and job justification.
- That makes DEI and related roles ideal for managerial expansion and internal patronage networks.
Pivot To Diversity Before Collapse
- J. Burden recounts a past corporate pivot to diversity as a last-ditch maneuver before a company's collapse.
- He uses this to illustrate how DEI is treated as a marker of 'successful' corporate practice even when ineffective.
