It is time for corporate America to become 'the third pillar' of

"It is time for corporate America to become 'the third pillar' of social change in our society, complementing the first two pillars of government and philanthropy. We need the entire private sector to begin committing itself not just to making profits, but to fulfilling higher and larger purposes by contributing to building a better world." – Simon Mainwaring

In these eloquent and stirring words, Simon Mainwaring, a visionary thinker in the realm of social branding and corporate ethics, calls upon the modern world to awaken to its moral duty. He speaks as one who sees beyond profit and production, beyond balance sheets and markets, and beholds the greater tapestry of civilization. When he names corporate America as the “third pillar” of social change, he elevates business from a mere engine of commerce to a partner in humanity’s moral progress. For too long, he suggests, the work of compassion and reform has rested on two foundations—the government, which enacts justice through law, and philanthropy, which serves through charity. But Mainwaring reminds us that there is a third power, vast and often idle—the private sector, whose reach, resources, and influence can shape the destiny of the world.

The origin of this quote lies in Mainwaring’s lifelong mission to align business with conscience. As the founder of We First Branding and a leading advocate for purpose-driven capitalism, he has long urged corporations to see themselves not as isolated entities, but as living participants in a global community. His words emerged in a time when profit had often been worshipped as an end in itself—when greed and short-term gain too often obscured long-term human good. Mainwaring’s challenge is thus both radical and ancient: to restore ethics to enterprise, and to remind the captains of industry that the measure of success is not wealth alone, but the good one leaves behind.

This call echoes the lessons of history. When the industrial revolution dawned, humanity gained machines but risked losing its soul. It was only through reformers—men and women of conscience—that factories learned to honor both productivity and dignity. In the twentieth century, we saw again how business could either destroy or uplift. Consider the example of Milton Hershey, the chocolate magnate who, rather than hoarding his fortune, built an entire town for his workers—complete with schools, parks, and homes. His enterprise was not just an industry, but a community, reflecting the belief that profit and compassion are not opposites, but partners. Hershey’s legacy endures because he built not only wealth, but human flourishing.

Mainwaring’s insight is thus not merely about economics—it is about the moral architecture of society. He calls upon businesses to act not as detached profit-seekers, but as guardians of the common good. In a world beset by inequality, climate change, and social fragmentation, governments and charities alone cannot heal the wounds. Corporations, with their vast resources and global influence, must now awaken as moral actors. When companies choose to invest in sustainability, fair wages, and education, they are not sacrificing profit—they are securing the foundation of civilization itself. The future belongs to those who understand that the well-being of humanity is the ultimate marketplace.

His words also carry a quiet warning: that wealth without purpose becomes corruption, and power without conscience becomes tyranny. Mainwaring reminds us that commerce divorced from compassion breeds collapse. The ancients knew this truth well. In the decline of Rome, as greed replaced duty and profit outweighed honor, the empire crumbled from within. Likewise, in our own age, if business forgets its higher calling, it too will lose its legitimacy. The pursuit of gain must be bound to the pursuit of goodness, or both will perish together.

The lesson of this quote is not meant for corporations alone—it speaks to every individual who labors, leads, or creates. Each of us, in our own work, becomes part of one of the pillars that uphold the world. Mainwaring’s call is a summons to moral participation—to ask, “How does my work make life better for others?” The smallest act of ethical purpose ripples outward like light in darkness. When individuals choose integrity, when companies choose responsibility, when nations choose compassion, the three pillars—government, philanthropy, and enterprise—stand united, bearing the weight of a just and noble world.

Thus, let Mainwaring’s words be remembered as both a challenge and a covenant. The time has come for business to rediscover its soul—to see profit not as a god, but as a tool for service. The marketplace, when guided by virtue, can become a force for healing rather than harm. And when the engines of enterprise align with the conscience of humanity, then, at last, the three pillars will rise together—strong, enduring, and radiant with the hope of a better world.