The Big Questions: Business, Politics & the Moral Fallouts

Recently I've been obsessed with watching what a CEO can "make" or "break" nowadays.

Not just any CEO—Elon Musk.

It's not a secret I am a big fan:

• Huge vision

• Attacks problems head-on

• Built a brand very few can match—maybe Steve Jobs, Bill Gates, Beckham-level

• As a father, I even admired how he stood up for what he felt was unfair treatment of his son

But over the last year, I can't shake the feeling he's playing with fire.

His companies are suffering from:

• Political alignment noise

• Market reactions

• Brand perception shifts

• Tesla cars being attacked or burned—unthinkable not long ago

He gained when Trump won. Dogecoin spiked. Narratives shifted in his favour.

He got positive reaction when he said he'd step back, focus on business and growth. Then... he stepped into the fight again.

Few weekends ago I was in Berlin at the Mall of Berlin. Tesla had its Optimus robot on display, one of the most exciting pieces of tech today.

You'd expect people taking photos, kids pointing, everyone fascinated.

Instead? Protests. Banners. "Boycott Tesla." Real anger.

Not because of the product. Because of the man behind it. Elon Musk.

Take this from someone who's been a fan for a long time. I've admired his vision, execution, ability to push boundaries.

But this time, I think he made a big mistake.

The moment business leaders step deep into partisan politics, the brand becomes a target.

A peaceful landscape inviting exploration and growth.

Tesla didn't suddenly become a bad product. The battery didn't get worse. The car didn't lose its tech edge.

But the story around it changed, from revolutionary to divisive.

Musk's alignment with certain political narratives, intentional or not—is playing with fire.

Look at Tesla cars being attacked in the streets or burned in some places. Would you have believed that a year ago?

History is full of examples:

• Henry Ford's political views and sympathies left a stain

• Media tycoons who went too far into politics damaged their own empires

• Even Trump himself—would you buy an apartment in Trump Tower today just for the brand?

  
  

I respect any leader's right to have a political opinion. But when your actions put shareholders, employees, and long-term trust at risk... that's not noble. That's a gamble.

The sooner he steps back from this game and focuses on the mission—the better for Tesla, for his teams, and for the legacy he could still build.

We don't yet know how this story will end:

Is he writing a new chapter of courageous business leadership, where a CEO uses his influence to speak his mind and act on his values—and somehow wins?

Or is he writing a cautionary tale of a great leader who sacrificed his companies' long-term health for a political and personal battle?

I respect his right to stand for what he believes. But when you're responsible for thousands of employees and billions of shareholder value, your "moves" are not just personal.

Leadership at that level means your values, your ego, and your power are all very expensive toys to play with.