Policy Priorities vs. Business Realities: What Executives Need to Know

By: Denise Brien

New research from Purple Strategies and POLITICO’s Insiders Survey provides guidance for corporate leaders looking to anticipate policy opportunities and vulnerabilities, better engage key stakeholders, and manage reputation equity in the months ahead.

Straight to the Point:

What We See: Insiders expect the new administration to prioritize immigration and border security, while key business concerns like healthcare access and workforce modernization will be sidelined.

What It Means: As federal policy remains unpredictable, businesses face growing pressure to fill the gaps—both in shaping regulations and meeting public expectations.

What to Do About It: Companies must navigate shifting regulations while demonstrating leadership on economic and workforce issues to safeguard their license to operate and build trust with all stakeholders.

What We See:

The Purple Strategies and POLITICO Survey findings indicate that Insiders overwhelmingly identified immigration reform and border security as the most important and most likely priorities for the new administration. However, other critical business concerns—healthcare access and affordability, higher education affordability, and workforce modernization—are seen as important but unlikely to get attention in the first year.

The survey suggests several additional areas where business interests and government priorities may diverge:

• Trade & Tariffs: Nearly all insiders (85%) agree tariffs would harm the U.S. economy, yet protectionist policies remain a political wildcard.
• Energy Policy: 75% of insiders favor a balanced oil and gas approach rather than maximizing production—potentially clashing with energy sector strategies.
• AI & Tech Regulation: 70% of insiders support stricter AI regulation, even at the expense of U.S. tech companies’ global growth.

What It Means:

The current environment presents both challenges and opportunities for businesses navigating policy shifts, stakeholder expectations, and reputational risks. With federal action uncertain and public scrutiny on the rise, corporate leaders must proactively shape their engagement strategies, balance business needs with regulatory realities, and establish their role as trusted problem-solvers. Here’s what this evolving landscape means for companies:

• People Expect More from Companies: The shifting policy landscape doesn’t just have the potential to create gaps in governance—it is also likely to drive (or renew) expectations around how businesses engage with society. When federal action on key issues is unlikely, the public often looks to companies to help shape solutions—not necessarily by taking stances on divisive political issues, but by clearly communicating their values and demonstrating their contributions in ways that align with stakeholder priorities. The survey highlights areas—for example, workforce modernization, access to affordable education and healthcare, and environmental and social issues—where companies may need to step up their own initiatives and reframe their messaging and engagement strategies to maintain trust and credibility.
• Policy Misalignment Poses Business Risks: The administration’s policy direction—whether on tariffs and trade, energy policy, tech regulation, or DEI—won’t always align with business needs, creating challenges for corporate leaders who must maintain strong relationships with policymakers and regulators while also protecting their firm’s reputation with all stakeholders. This may also mean looking for ways to offer the Trump administration a visible success in one of his priority areas in order to advance your businesses’ broader policy goals.
• Messaging for a Divided Political Climate: In today’s polarized environment, how companies communicate can be just as important as what they communicate. Businesses should ensure their messaging resonates across ideological divides, particularly with MAGA audiences, who may view traditional corporate language as coded for progressive priorities. This doesn’t require changing policy positions but rather framing priorities—like economic growth, innovation, and national competitiveness—in ways that align with values such as patriotism, job creation, and American strength. Additionally, organizations should assess whether certain terms or phrases that previously appealed to left-leaning audiences might now trigger backlash, ensuring that language choices don’t inadvertently alienate key stakeholders or put a target on the company’s reputation.

What To Do About It:

Public Affairs leaders must navigate the tension between policy expectations and business realities. This requires proactive engagement, messaging alignment, and risk mitigation strategies tailored to policymakers, investors, and the public.

• Turn Uncertainty into Competitive Advantage. The current level of political uncertainty naturally breeds hesitation, companies must avoid being paralyzed or focusing solely on risk mitigation. Those that can anticipate change and adapt quickly are best poised to turn disruption into opportunity.
• Navigate Political and Regulatory Tensions. Businesses must manage relationships with policymakers while shaping regulations that balance economic growth with public trust. Advancing their own policy agenda may require aligning with some administration priorities and facilitating transactional wins in key areas of interest. Securing progress on business priorities often depends on ensuring the administration achieves some of its own objectives as well.
• Own the Narrative. Companies that proactively shape conversations, rather than simply reacting to shifting expectations, will build trust with policymakers, investors, and the public. While it is important for businesses to avoid becoming entangled in partisan debates that could alienate stakeholders, they should also recognize that language matters. This requires not just refining messaging but also strategically positioning corporate priorities in ways that resonate across the political spectrum.
• Prepare for Corporate Activism Pressures. Employees, investors, and customers will push companies to fill leadership voids, particularly in areas like workforce training, healthcare benefits, and sustainability.

The companies that lead—by engaging stakeholders, shaping the conversation, and demonstrating impact—will be best positioned to thrive in this evolving environment.

Purple Strategies helps businesses strategically manage corporate reputation, engage stakeholders, and navigate complex policy landscapes. Want to discuss how we can support your team? Let’s connect.

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About POLITICO INSIDERS:

The POLITICO Insiders Panel is an invite-only research community that brings together influential decision-makers at the intersection of government, industry, and policy. This panel includes senior leaders from Fortune 100 companies, nonprofits, trade associations, federal agencies, and Congress, providing unique insights into how policymakers and key stakeholders view the evolving political and business landscape. This survey fielded to N=460 people in December 2024 through January 2025.