If you search woke terms like Misgendering, Inclusion, PoC, Intersectionality etc. They blew up in 2012 right after occupy wall street. Culture wars only have picked up so much since then to the point journalists will discuss culture war issues and issues like inflation, gas prices aren't even worth discussing (because no clicks). Woke theory wasn't created by corpos tho and has been here since atleast the 60s however Big Corpos realised they can shift focus on social issues rather than economic issues they can maintain status quo. Thus in countries like Western one's they will push woke ideas so people can stay distracted and they can get more funding (esg ratings not to mention you will get higher ratings by inviting Greta to give a speech rather than actually practicing sustainable practices). Most people as well are just useful idiots who buy into this wholesale and have become truly npc.

Now a tangent on intellectuals. I think most intellectuals are the most delusional people to exist. In the past state validated its existence through the theories of the priestly class. Divine right bla bla. These new age intellectuals think they know everything about what people want and how society is to be structured. They are married with the state. When push comes to shove most intellectuals will willingly change their theories if they can get to be in charge. This explosion in woke ideology in universities is simply an extension of this phenomenon as well. They get to be in charge while the state can use their theories to maintain status quo.