Among countless severe consequences, the current international COVID-19 emergency has created a global financial crisis of a scale rarely encountered in modern history. Systemic economic and social inequalities across societies are being laid bare and exacerbated, and the precarious foundation that recent financial markets have relied upon is evident now more than ever. While business models and corporate cultures have in many ways contributed to the vulnerability of societies in responding to unprecedented situations such as the current pandemic, responsible companies are already experiencing the positive effects of putting people first.