c-suite person here...my job is "influence to empower" my team and others - to unlock opportunity for the company I represent.

My advice would be: Stay honest with yourself. To influence IS to manipulate.

Playing squeamish is a slippery slope into avoiding accountability for your actions.

In other words - don't judge the tools - judge your motives and the outcome.

Accept there is always a trade and balance.

If you can be honest about your motives and actions with yourself your friends and colleagues - chances are that you can achieve your goals with ethics and empathy intact.

If you can't, then it's time to take a look at yourself - not the tools.

Good luck