Each time a man stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope, and crossing each other from a million different centers of energy and daring, those ripples build a current which can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance.”
Speaking out against an employer can be intimidating. Today’s tech companies are backed by PR teams, armies of lawyers, and seemingly bottomless funds, which they can use to silence whistleblowers and protect their reputations. This may prompt the question, “Is it worth it to blow the whistle on a powerful employer?”
If you have had this thought, you are not alone. The so-called Goliath syndrome is rooted in the perception that a corporation’s size and resources protect it from individuals who may have damning evidence to publicize. The individual voice feels insignificant compared to a corporate monolith. This is where using the media as a resource becomes a key step in the process of coming forward as a whistleblower.
“We are used to the media controlling the narrative. When I say that the media plays a part, it plays a huge part.” Amazon whistleblower Chris Smalls
By working with the media to tell their stories and amplify their voices, many whistleblowers are given the means to speak directly to their Goliath, and in doing so, to create change both at the companies they work for and in the culture at large.
“A story that starts small can turn into a movement when it resonates with people.” Lioness President Amber Scorah
