What’s the deal with being a shareholder these days?

I’ve been thinking about diving into some new stocks, but I keep hearing mixed opinions about what it really means to be a shareholder. Like, beyond just owning a piece of a company, what are the actual benefits? Do you feel that owning shares gives you a say in company decisions, or is it more about the potential for profit down the road?

I’ve also noticed that some places like to talk about shareholder value a lot, but do those discussions ever trickle down to us regular folks? If you’ve got experience with this, I’d love to hear your thoughts on what it’s really like to be a shareholder. Any insights on what to watch for or any red flags to avoid? Thanks!