This study examines the emerging role of Chief Philosophy Officers (CPOs) in organizations, focusing on their impact on sensemaking processes during challenging times. As businesses face rapid technological changes, environmental challenges, and ethical dilemmas, the integration of philosophy into management has gained prominence. Through a qualitative analysis, including interviews with 13 CPOs and reviews of relevant literature and non-academic sources, we identify 10 unique mechanisms characterizing CPOs’ contributions. These mechanisms align with three core sensemaking phases: scanning, interpretation, and enactment. Specifically, CPOs facilitate diagnosis and problem-setting, organizational preparation, and activation of new actions and independent thinking, promoting thoughtful decision-making. By leveraging philosophical inquiry and hermeneutic models, CPOs enable firms to better understand and navigate complexities, fostering a values-driven, reflective approach to strategy. This work offers practical insights into how CPOs guide organizations in reframing challenges, encouraging critical thinking, and achieving deeper understanding in dynamic environments.
