Podcasts about ethics institute

The world has entered a new space age. This moment presents a myriad of novel ethical questions and governance challenges that require collaboration across sectors and the creation of new pathways for multilateral cooperation. In response, Northeastern University's Ethics Institute partnered with Carnegie Council to host a special convening on the future of international space governance, diplomacy, security, and sustainability. For more, please go to: https://carnegiecouncil.co/unlocking-cooperation-space-diplomacy

This edWeb podcast is sponsored by The Ethics Institute at Kent Place School.You can access the webinar recording here.The digital world is our world. The rapid growth of AI technologies presents both opportunities and challenges that must be addressed ethically and responsibly. It's important to emphasize AI's role in enhancing human decision making without replacing human judgment. It is critical that educators show students how to leverage AI in safe, productive ways.With this in mind, should educators adapt and find ways to increasingly incorporate generative AI in the classroom? How do schools educate students about this ever-growing technology, its language models, prompt engineering, and the possible positive uses? Should an “Introduction to AI” course be incorporated into curricula? If so, what would be its content? We explore these emerging questions during this session.This edWeb podcast is of interest to K-12 teachers, librarians, school leaders, district leaders, and education technology leaders.The Ethics Institute at Kent PlacePromoting the process and practice of ethical decision-making in primary and secondary schools.Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Learn more about viewing live edWeb presentations and on-demand recordings, earning CE certificates, and using accessibility features.

The award winning, Compliance into the Weeds is the only weekly podcast which takes a deep dive into a compliance related topic, literally going into the weeds to more fully explore a subject. Looking for some hard-hitting insights on compliance? Look no further than Compliance into the Weeds! In this episode Tom Fox and Matt Kelly take a deep dive into the speech by Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri at the Society of Corporate Compliance and Ethics 23rd Annual Compliance & Ethics Institute.  Argentieri, revealed substantial updates to the department's Evaluation guidelines for effective compliance programs, focusing on whistleblower protections and the effectiveness of reporting mechanisms. Matt, reporting live from Dallas, discussed the implications of these updates, especially regarding the DOJ's increased scrutiny on companies speak-up cultures and the protection of whistleblowers. Tom and Matt explored the practical steps compliance officers need to take to meet these new DOJ expectations, including ensuring anonymous reporting mechanisms are well-publicized and effectively utilized, fostering a culture that encourages reporting without fear of retaliation, and aligning company policies with the latest external whistleblower protection laws. They also touched on the potential challenges of balancing AI risks with these new guidelines and the broader impact on compliance programs.  Key Highlights ·      Key focus on enhancing whistleblower protections. ·      Compliance officers must ensure that reporting mechanisms are well-publicized. ·      Importance of aligning internal policies with external whistleblower protection laws to ensure comprehensive employee training. ·      The balancing the challenges of AI risks with the need to adhere to new DOJ guidelines. ·      The practical steps for compliance professionals to align their programs with DOJ's evolving expectations. Resources Matt in Radical Compliance Tom in the FCPA Compliance and Ethics Blog Tom   Instagram Facebook YouTube Twitter LinkedIn Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Viterbo director of the Ethics Institute, Dr. Rick Kyte, joined to discuss his book called, "Finding Your Third Place." While the Olympics just wrapped up, this conversation we quickly learned wasn't about any bronze metal, it was more about where both children and adults find space when they're not home and not at work. In some communities, that space is dwindling. It's also a space that's gone virtual, as well, and Kyte didn't see that as a positive. The book can be found at Pearl Street Books in downtown La Crosse.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dr Liezl Groenewald, CEO elect  at The Ethics Institute weighs in on the debate around the inclusion of a rape convict in the Dutch Olympics team.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

By Adam Turteltaub Data analytics is a pretty darn big deal in compliance and ethics these days, with rising expectations for compliance programs to be able to demonstrate their effectiveness using hard data. The word “data” even appears a dozen times is the US Department of Justice Criminal Division's Evaluation of Corporate Compliance Programs document. Walter Appleby, formerly VP, Compliance & Ethics at Georgia-Pacific and Rosie Williams, Director, Compliance & Ethics there will be addressing “Harnessing the Power of Data:  Unleashing Compliance Excellence” at the SCCE 23rd Annual Compliance & Ethics Institute, which will be held September 22-25 in Grapevine, TX. In this podcast they explain that better use of data carries a number of benefits including a stronger risk assessment and management program, better informed decision making, and more effective use of compliance resources. Data analytics begins with collecting together the data you have and determining its quality. As the old adage says: bad data in, bad data out. Sources of data can include your helpline, training statistics, HR and even legal. You will also need to determine which metrics best reflect the performance of the compliance program. Here, the risk assessment is helpful, but so too is taking the time to listen to and think through the needs of your customers in the business unit. Next, determine the proper recipe for integrating the various data resources so you and leadership can gain insights into gaps and deficiencies. This likely includes taking the time to think graphically to determine how best to visualize the data in ways management finds useful. Listen in to learn more about how to use data to pinpoint issues, identify opportunities and assess the effectiveness of your program. And, don't forget to catch their session at the 23rd Annual Compliance & Ethics Institute.

By Adam Turteltaub “What else should the board be asking?” It's a good question in general and the tile of a session at the SCCE Compliance & Ethics Institute, which will be held September 22-25, 2024 in Grapevine, TX. In this podcast, the leaders of that session, Deborah Spanic, Chief Ethics & Compliance Officer of Clarios, and David Gebler (LinkedIn), Principal of Leading with Ethics, share that there are three fundamental questions the board should be asking about the compliance program: Is the compliance program well designed and aligned with risk? Is the program being applied earnestly and in good faith with adequate resources? Does the compliance program work in practice? From there a host of other questions fall out including those focused on culture and on the connection between the compliance program and the enterprise's overarching strategy. Making sure the board is asking the right questions, and getting the answers it needs, requires a strong relationship with the compliance team. In Deborah's case that includes being a standing agenda item for the audit committee each quarter and having a one-on-one conversation each mid-cycle with the audit committee chair. Listen in to learn more, and then be sure to join their session in Grapevine at the  Compliance & Ethics Institute.

By Adam Turteltaub It's not for nothing that there's a year in the title of this blog post and podcast. Social media risks change frequently, explains Kortney Nordrum, VP, Regulatory Counsel & Chief Compliance Officer at Deluxe. She is the author of the chapter “Social Media Compliance” in The Complete Compliance and Ethics Manual and will be leading the session Social Media:  Old News and New Risks at the 23rd Annual Compliance & Ethics Institute. These days the range of those risks is substantial. TikTok poses a notable challenge, since it accesses most everything on the user's phone, which means work email and files may be exposed. At the same time the FTC and NLRB have been very aggressive in their enforcement. The FTC has been scrutinizing endorsements – and a “like” may count as one – by employees of their employer's products and services. Meantime, the NLRB has made it clear that it believes employees have wide, although not complete, latitude about what they say about their workplace online. And, if that wasn't enough, the marketing and social media teams need to be trained (and monitored) for what they are saying and doing in the company's name. What should you do? She recommends training with concrete examples, teaching people some common sense, and keeping lines of communication open. To learn more, listen in and then don't miss her session at the 23rd Annual Compliance & Ethics Institute.

By Adam Turteltaub Michelle Nichols (LinkedIn) from the compliance team at Farmer Mac definitely wins the prize for the most unexpected title for a session at the 2024 SCCE Compliance & Ethics Institute: “How Dating in My 50s Made Me a Better Compliance Officer.” As she explains in this podcast, the realization that people bring their past relationship experiences to potential new relationships shed light on a challenge compliance teams need to address starting with the onboarding process. While HR typically handles that process, laying out what the company's policies and expectations are, that doesn't fully address things. Simply stating that an employee gets x days of vacation may mean one thing to a person who came from a company where people took their vacations and another to someone coming from an organization where not taking vacation was a badge of honor. Likewise, the new employee may bring unwanted baggage with him or her when assessing their new employer's culture and commitment to compliance. Listen in to learn more and learn what this means for both compliance teams and managers, and be sure to attend her session at the 2024 SCCE Compliance & Ethics Institute.

By Adam Turteltaub Risk assessment and management is at the core of compliance and front and center on the agenda at the SCCE 23rd Annual Compliance & Ethics Institute, which takes place September 22-25 in Grapevine, TX (and virtually, too).  Elizabeth Simon, Vice President of Compliance & Risk at Progress Residential will be contributing to the discussion with her session, “Enter at Your Own Risk: Optimizing Your Enterprise Risk Assessment”. In this podcast she provides a preview of her session and shares that compliance plays a unique role in enterprise risk management since it touches so many risk areas, from culture to operations to finance. This, in turn, requires that the compliance team become a part of the broader risk assessment process to know where the potential challenges are. It also requires that the compliance team bring its experience and solutions to the table and to the board to demonstrate it's value to the enterprise and its risk assessment. Listen in to learn more, and then join us in Texas for the 23rd Annual Compliance & Ethics Institute.

Taylor Swift achieved her billionaire status because of her talent, work ethic, and support from her fans. But some question whether any individual should be able to accumulate so much wealth. Those arguing they should point to philosopher Robert Nozick, who says if someone acquires wealth through just means, they are entitled to it. Those arguing “no” say that luck and systemic advantages often play a role, sometimes involving exploitation, and that billionaires have an outsized influence on policy. Now we debate: Does Taylor Swift Deserve Her Billion Dollar Fortune?  Arguing Yes: Jessica Flanigan, Political Philosopher and Chair in Ethics and Democratic Values at the University of Richmond  Arguing No: Ingrid Robeyns, Chair in Ethics of Institutions at Utrecht University's Ethics Institute; Author of "Limitarianism: The Case Against Extreme Wealth"  Emmy award-winning journalist John Donvan moderates  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

By Adam Turteltaub Some people have a gift for invisibly attending a conference, and no one knows that they were even there. That's great for a conference of spies, but most people at compliance conferences like to meet at least some of the other attendees. For many, though, connecting with strangers is difficult, whether they know no one or they are shy about going beyond their usual circle of contacts. So what do you do if you are one of them? To find out we spoke with Richard Bistrong (LinkedIn), newsletter author and CEO Of Frontline Antibribery, who will be moderating a general session at the 2024 SCCE European Compliance & Ethics Institute in Amsterdam. If you spot someone standing alone and looking a bit lost, he recommends you think like a host and invite them to join you. Even if you're already talking with friends, he advises being a croissant and not a bagel: be sure there is an opening for others. Make the effort to catch them up with the conversation – “we were just discussing helplines”—and ask them to share their thoughts. If you hesitate to join conversations because you don't feel you are good at small talk, think of a few questions in advance to use as ice breakers. They don't have to be traditional compliance-related questions. You could ask people about what excited them the most in the last year. Richard often uses Vertellis cards to start or help conversations. For those at the conference with a friend or colleague, use the other person as your wingman or wingwoman. Tell them who you are interested in meeting and have them serve as a second set of eyes and ears. Also, don't forget about the SCCE & HCCA staff as a source of connection. See if they know someone it would be good for you to talk with. Listen in to learn more, including how to follow up properly after the conference is over. Then, be sure to say hello to Richard (and offer him a croissant) in Amsterdam at the 2024 SCCE European Compliance & Ethics Institute, March 18-20.

By Adam Turteltaub Clara Becerra Campos, Senior Compliance Analyst-Europe for TD SYNNEX, and Dr. Tobias Kruis, Head of Corporate Compliance, Giesecke+Devrient, will be addressing the new EU whistleblowing requirements at the 2024 SCCE European Compliance & Ethics Institute, which takes place in Amsterdam March 18-20. In this podcast, they delve into the challenges posed by the directive, which significantly expands the number of EU-based and non-EU-based companies that must comply. The directive not only provides protections for whistleblowers, they explain. It also establishes procedures and deadlines for handling reports. As significantly, it leaves the door open to variations among EU member states, which complicates the picture considerably. So what should you do? If your organization does not have a whistleblower line already in place they recommend you: Implement an internal reporting channel Be sure it's aligned with legal and data privacy Consider who will manage the system and conduct the investigations Ensure confidentiality Communicate with your workforce For those with a helpline already they recommend starting with a gap analysis to determine if your existing efforts are meeting the new requirements. Listen in to learn more, then join them in Amsterdam at the 2024 SCCE European Compliance & Ethics Institute.

By Adam Turteltaub At the 2024 SCCE European Compliance & Ethics Institute, Segev Shani, Chief Compliance & Regulatory Officer at Neopharm Group will be leading the session “Corporate Use of Third-Party Artificial Intelligence (AI) Tools.” In this podcast he shares that a great deal of risk comes from the headlong pursuit of AI technology. Businesses believe that if they are not using Ai that they will be left behind, but the adoption rate is not being matched with a complete understanding of what AI is. To manage this issue, he recommends creating an AI governance model that balances the risks and rewards. It can help employees and managers understand the risks, including inaccuracy, bias and both misuse and improper use of intellectual property. And, of course, there can be substantial privacy risks as well. Listen in as he discusses proper governance, the need for training and the importance of integrating AI governance into business processes. Then plan on joining us in Amsterdam, 18-20 March, at the 2024 SCCE European Compliance & Ethics Institute.

By Adam Turteltaub Matt Kelly (LinkedIn), Editor and CEO at Radical Compliance is a close watcher of all things compliance, and in this podcast he shares his take on both the top stories of 2023 and what he sees in the cards for 2024. FCPA On the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act front, he noted a change in enforcement. While the volume of resolutions declined on the DOJ side, the SEC has remained very active. Perhaps most notably, the Albermarle case had an interesting twist. The way the company did business was changed dramatically as a part of the settlement, he reports, with a restructuring of its overseas sales and the end of the use of third parties. He speculates this may be the start of a new trend in which monetary penalties are accompanied by required changes to the way companies do business. Also of note in FCPA was the announcement by Lisa Monaco at the SCCE Compliance & Ethics Institute of a leniency policy in mergers and acquisitions. Because of the relatively short timeline for finding and disclosing problems, there is a strong incentive for organizations to involve the compliance team early and deeply in these transactions. SEC Cybersecurity Rules The July SEC rules on disclosures of cyber incidents require firms to disclose an incident within four days. Companies will need to describe the nature, timing and material consequences. That will increase the importance of thorough and prompt cyber materiality assessments, as well as both quantitative and qualitative impacts. Greenhouse Gas Disclosures The SEC's proposed rule on greenhouse gas disclosures is now the longest and most commented rule in history. It also has not been finalized while, in the meantime, both California and Europe have passed their own laws. The rule is likely to be very complex and impose a significant burden on companies. Healthcare The biggest news he saw in 2023 was the new General Compliance Program Guidance issued by the Office of Inspector General at HHS. The document makes it clear that it expects a fully independent compliance program. As the document states: The compliance officer should: report either to the CEO with direct and independent access to the board or to the board directly; have sufficient stature within the entity to interact as an equal of other senior leaders of the entity; demonstrate unimpeachable integrity, good judgment, assertiveness, an approachable demeanor, and the ability to elicit the respect and trust of entity employees; and have sufficient funding, resources, and staff to operate a compliance program capable of identifying, preventing, mitigating, and remediating the entity's compliance risks. The Future Looking to the future he asks if others will be as supportive as the OIG at HHS. He also points to other things to watch such as the Foreign Extortion Prevention Act, the PCAOB's extremely controversial NOCLAR proposal and SEC v. Govil, which could eliminate disgorgement in many cases. Listen in to learn more about what has and may happen in the world of compliance.

Come join us for a story or two and tap the shoulder of the storyteller in you. Sarah Hadden and Hemma Lomax were simply enchanted by a presentation by Michelle Beistle and Ashley Dubriwny on the art of story building at the SCCE Compliance and Ethics Institute in Chicago earlier this year and couldn't wait to share this experience with the GWIC community. Michelle and Ashley literally wake up every day to save the planet in their roles as compliance professionals at The Nature Conservancy (TNC). They have a magnificent talent not only for spinning together an engaging story that awakens the senses, and achieves impact, connection and relevance, but also for helping others to recognize that we all have it in us to create inspiring and poignant stories. With the help of some simple building blocks and concrete steps, Michelle and Ashley show us that all humans are innately capable of using everyday experiences to build relevant and engaging stories and to share powerful and memorable messages. Inspiration is everywhere. You won't want to miss this masterclass opportunity to unlock the power of story building for your compliance program and beyond. Michelle Beistle joined TNC in April 2019 as the Chief Ethics & Compliance. She is responsible for implementing and managing TNC's global Ethics program. Michelle leads a global team who work to promote and foster a culture of integrity across the organization. Michelle is an experienced leader known for collaboration, problem-solving and strategic business acumen. She is a Certified International Compliance and Ethics Professional (CCEP-I), has years of experience creating and sustaining ethical cultures, and speaks frequently on ethics. Ashley Dubriwny is the Director of Ethics & Compliance for North America and Micronesia at the Nature Conservancy. Her areas of professional focus include global communications, Code of Conduct, and partnership building with staff and leaders. Ashley has been part of the Conservancy's North America Staff Enrichment Planning team since 2014 and is a High Impact Conversations Coach. Ashley has 20+ years of human resources experience with specialized training in performance management, leadership development, and coaching. She holds an M.Ed. in Curriculum Design and Adult Instruction and a graduate certificate in Leadership from eCornell. The Great Women in Compliance Podcast is on the Compliance Podcast Network with a selection of other Compliance related offerings. GWIC is also sponsored by Corporate Compliance Insights, where we have a page where you can hear every episode. If you are enjoying this episode, please rate it and/or provide a review.   Corporate Compliance Insights is a much-appreciated sponsor and supporter of GWIC, including affiliate organization CCI Press publishing the related book; “Sending the Elevator Back Down, What We've Learned from Great Women in Compliance” (CCI Press, 2020). If you enjoyed the book, the GWIC team would be very grateful if you would consider rating it on Goodreads and Amazon and leaving a short review.  Don't forget to send the elevator back down by passing on your copy to someone who you think might enjoy reading it when you're done, or if you can't bear parting with your copy, consider it as a holiday or appreciation gift for someone in Compliance who deserves a treat. If you enjoyed the book, the GWIC team would be very grateful if you would consider rating it on Goodreads and Amazon and leaving a short review.  Don't forget to send the elevator back down by passing on your copy to someone who you think might enjoy reading it when you're done, or if you can't bear parting with your copy, consider it as a holiday or appreciation gift for someone in Compliance who deserves a treat. You can subscribe to the Great Women in Compliance podcast on any podcast player by searching for it and we welcome new subscribers to our podcast. Join the Great Women in Compliance community on LinkedIn here. 

By Adam Turteltaub On October 4, 2023 at the SCCE Compliance & Ethics Institute in Chicago, US Deputy Attorney General Lia A. Monaco spoke live from Washington to the attendees and used this opportunity to announce a new Safe Harbor Policy for voluntary self-disclosures made in the context of the merger and acquisition process. Under the policy, acquiring companies that promptly disclose criminal misconduct voluntarily within the six-month safe harbor period, cooperate with investigators and engage in remediation, restitution and disgorgement will receive the presumption of a declination. She also explained that, absent aggravating factors at the acquired company, it will not impact the acquiring company's ability to receive a declination. She also shared how the Department of Justice has been fighting corporate crime including: The expansion of corporate enforcement efforts in the national security realm New tools DOJ is using to penalize corporate misconduct and provide invectives for good corporate citizenship Areas where they see further opportunity for innovation and expansion Listen in to learn more and hear her underscore the importance of compliance programs, proper corporate incentive plans, and the DOJ's expectation that the compliance team will have a seat at the deal table.

Episode 110: Countless studies have shown that there has been a steep drop in adult friendships over the past decade, and this decline is more serious that it might first sound. Research shows that being lonely can have negative effects on public health, and has been compared to smoking 15 cigarettes a day. Hosts Richard Kyte and Scott Rada discuss what's behind this trend and what can be done to reverse it. Links to stories discussed during the podcast: How to find authentic connections in a digital world, by Richard Kyte Americans more than ever have no friends. Here are 5 steps to make more friends, by Elizabeth Gilbert, Big Think How having five friends boosts the adolescent brain — and educational performance, by Barbara Jacquelyn Sahakian and Christine Langley, The Conversation Ditching a friend who is not like you can deepen social inequality, by Mark C. Paschucki and Anthony Palk, The Conversation About the hosts: Scott Rada is social media manager with Lee Enterprises, and Richard Kyte is the director of the D.B. Reinhart Institute for Ethics in Leadership at Viterbo University in La Crosse, Wis. His forthcoming book, "Finding Your Third Place," will be published by Fulcrum Books. Episode transcript Note: The following transcript was created by Headliner and may contain misspellings and other inaccuracies as it was generated automatically: There has been a steep drop in adult friendships over the past decade Scott Rada: Hello, and welcome to episode 110 of The Ethical Life, a place where each week we talk about the intersection of ethics and modern life. I'm Scott Rodda, social media manager for Lee Enterprises. And as always, I'm joined by Rick Kyte, who is the head of the Ethics Institute at the  Viterbo  University in La Crosse, Wisconsin. Hello, Rick. Richard Kyte: Hi, Scott. Scott Rada: Countless studies have shown that there has been a steep drop in adult friendships over the past decade, and this decline is more serious than it might first sound. Research shows that being lonely can have negative effects on public health, and one study even compared it to smoking 15 cigarettes a day. Rick, this trend has been going on for the past ten years or so, but it seems to have been made worse by the isolation required at, the start of the pandemic. How optimistic are you that we can find a way to fix and turn this around? Richard Kyte: My optimism stems from hearing so many people talk now about the importance of social connection. We're finally paying real attention to something that's actually been kind of an ongoing problem. We've tracked a real decline in number of friendships over the last 30 years. We got pretty good data on this. And so you can use something called the Google Ngram viewer to look at word usage from 1800 to the present day. If you compare two words, friend and self, what you find is, like, in 1800, the word friend occurred roughly twice as often as the word self in print. Scott Rada: I have a prediction, but go ahead. Richard Kyte: Today, the word self appears about three times as much as the word friend. Scott Rada: Yeah. Richard Kyte: And they cross paths around 1900. This isn't a new thing, and it seems to be a result of industrialization. As we become more prosperous, we become more independent, but we're at a point now where we're starting to really see the effects of not just loneliness, but all the things that happen. When you have more social fragmentation, you have increased polarization, you have real lack of trust in kind of businesses and government, all kinds of institutions. you have more conspiracy theories. All these things that we're seeing that are kind of, like, at the root of our great social dissatisfaction seem to be due to our loss of friendship. You say the start of the pandemic made people think about isolation more Scott Rada: And I started off by saying that there was obviously a dip in a lot of connectedness at the start of the pandemic, and you also expressed some optimism, saying that people are talking about this more. I wonder if those can maybe be stitched together a little bit is at least for a lot of people. I think the isolation and the disconnectedness people felt, in the worst months of the pandemic really almost made them appreciate more when you could get back out and could reconnect with friends and go on a trip or just be out among people. And do you think that sort of in some ways made people think and talk about this more. The pandemic that is, I know for. Richard Kyte: A fact it made people think and talked about, it more because people were talking about their isolation, they didn't like it, and they were talking about the effects. The problem is it also changed a lot of habits. Yeah, right. And it ended up closing a lot of businesses that were public gathering places. Primary way in which people make friends today is in the workplace Richard Kyte: What comes to our attention is really important, what we talk about, but also our daily habits and kind of what sociologists refer to as social infrastructure. Like, what are the patterns of life that we've developed that allow us to have connections and interaction? And in a way, the pandemic disrupted a lot of these usual patterns. For example, a primary way in which people make friends today is in the workplace. Richard Kyte: We have a lot more people working from home. Yeah. Scott Rada: When you say in the workplace, you mean like in the office or in the factory or in the retail environment where they work, not across zoom phone calls. Richard Kyte: Yeah. People really don't establish meaningful relationships, in that way. Meaningful relationships kind of develop when you share information about yourself. And so, like on a zoom call for work, you're sticking to an agenda. You're not just visiting. Right. But usually find times in the workplace. There's times and places to do that. And so we've done things to our society not really intentionally, but just what has happened that make it harder for us to make social acquaintances. Here's the real problem. We have fewer daily interactions with strangers. Right. So if you think of your life as these circles, there's all these people you don't know, then there's a pretty big circle of acquaintances. People you know, you recognize, you recognize, they recognize you, you know their names, that sort of thing. They're in that acquaintance. Then you have this other area of friends, or kind of loose friends. You spend a little bit of time, you have some things in common, but they aren't really close. Then you have circle of close friends or good friends, and then your best friends. Right. So it's these concentric circles. Or we're changing all the things that allow us to have a lot of people in that acquaintanceship circle, like acquaintances or companions, that sort of thing. That outermost circle of friendship that is shrinking for just about everybody. Scott Rada: And that's sort of the conversion funnel, in some ways, of getting those people from the outer rings into the center ring. Richard Kyte: Right, absolutely. Because the only people that make it into that center ring are the people that you find a lot in common with. So you really want to because you have shared interests or something else. You spend a lot of time and then you kind of get past the shared interest inwards. You're really sharing really kind of intimate information about yourself. You're sharing stories and your history and everything else. We can talk about that later, like how really close friendships develop. But the key thing is you need a lot of people in those outer circles just to find, like, who of all those 100, 200, 300 people, do you really want to do some activities with and spend a little more time with? Scott Rada: In most cases, and I think probably for both of us, when you're young and you're in school, that's really the time, because you're around a bunch of people about your age, and that's where it's really easy to make friends. It's also when friendship becomes maybe the most important thing in your life. Right. Because I don't know of many high school kids who would say their family or their schoolwork is more important than their friend group. I'm sure there's exceptions, but I bet if you surveyed and broke it up into those three chunks, most high schoolers would say their friend group is the most important. Yeah, and I'm not sure that's the right order at that time. And maybe it is and maybe it's not. But we certainly quickly reorder things over the next 510 years of our lives. And I just find that interesting and kind of too bad. Richard Kyte: Like, this is one way in which you can describe friendship. Friendship. I think C. S. Lewis said this. Friends are people who go on a journey together. Like during that time, say, in, say, middle school, high school, and then into college, it's really up. And for most people, up until about age 25, when your life really kind of settles down into some kind of predictable patterns. Scott Rada: Yeah, right. Richard Kyte: You're pretty fluid. That means you're meeting a lot of different people, but you're also going through a transformative period of your life where you're becoming the person who you're going to be. Now, friends are people that go through that with you. That is, your very closest. Friends are people that go through something transformative with you so that you kind of become who you are going to be together. And that's why with old friends, you can pick up the phone with somebody you haven't talked to for a year. And if you've been through those transformative periods of your life with them, you don't have to go through the process of getting reacquainted. Whereas if it's like a high, school classmate that you really didn't spend much time with, and you kind of meet somebody out there, like you meet them at a bar or restaurant or something like that, you have no idea what's going on with their life. And it's like meeting a stranger. You know their name, but you have to get reacquainted. Right. We even have a word for it. Scott Rada: Old friends. Richard Kyte: You don't you know who they are because they're kind of part of you. This period up to about 25, so we find some really interesting things about it. So, like, young people who have a pretty large circle, that outer circle, that acquaintance, they're going to end up probably having more close friends later in life because they had kind of more raw material to drop. Scott Rada: Yeah. Richard Kyte: And also we find some evidence that people who go to college, especially people who go to college and stay in dorms, like that sort of thing, they tend to have more friends later in life because they have a longer period of time where they're in that transitional period of their life where they're making friends. And it's something that we often forget about. What is the purpose of college? It's not just job preparation. It's kind of this process of maturing in life. And so extending that period out building. Scott Rada: Your social fitness in a way. Richard Kyte: Right. that's why I love things that we sometimes talk about. Should we bring back the Civilian Conservation Corps, something like that, from the New Deal, M or what? Like things like, AmeriCorps different projects that you can serve in. These end up being really important, not for the work, only for the work they do, but also for the way in which they develop our relationships well. Scott Rada: And I want to pause on that for a second. And I've never served in the military, but I know people who have. And it seems like that is one place where you can really form those strong bonds, especially when you're young. And it seems like and again, thank goodness we don't have this much at the moment, but people who have served in wartime even build those closer bonds. You hear stories about, Well, I serve. You'll hear 80 year old men talking about somebody they're still in touch with, who they served in Korea with, or wherever it might be. Because those clearly very dangerous and life altering experiences, when you share that with a person or two, that's a connection that really is strong, I would imagine. Richard Kyte: So we call these formative experiences, and the word is a really good one because they form your personality, they form your character. And when you go through a formative experience with somebody else, they form your character together. So Augustine says, like a friend has been called, half my soul. There's something like you kind of share a soul. You share something that's quite deep together because you've been through an experience together. 12% of Americans report having no friends, according to a recent study Scott Rada: And I think it's also worth pointing out, and we'll link to some of these stories on our website, but as we talk about sort of the problems as we see it, a recent study in 2021 said that 12% of Americans report having no friends. That's, compared to just 3%, back in the 1990s. But what stood out for me is that these numbers are even worse for men who tend to have more friends early in life but experience a steeper decline. Do you have a sense as to why that might be? Richard Kyte: I think a lot of it has to do with less, social interaction for men, because I don't think that this is true in all cultures, but in American culture, certainly our history has been, that men are less likely to join social groups and spend, like, what we call sociable time or leisure time with others. They'll spend time especially, like, say, in high school, in organized sports. But there's not that many men who are doing the kind of sports activities, the way that they used to. Scott Rada: Like a softball league, softball league, bowling. Richard Kyte: Golf, those sorts of things. It turns out men are much more likely to make friends in those kinds of active social pursuits. Women are much more likely to form themselves into different kinds of social groups in which most of what they do is talk. Well, it's the talking in which we really get close, where we share things about ourselves and share stories. many men need some kind of like a sporting activity or some other pursuit in order to engage in the talk. Women, just for whatever reason, seem much more able to just get together and start talking right away. Scott Rada: I heard somebody talk about this issue once, and I don't know what their source was. And maybe this was you that said this. I don't remember but saying that there was a study that the best way for women to again, we're generalizing here, but the best way for women to talk and get to know each other is when they're facing each other over coffee or just talking about whatever is going on in their lives, but they're facing each other. For men, it's often side by side activities, whether they're golfing or out for a walk or out for a more active thing. And I guess studies have shown that that is, a better way for men to communicate with other men. And I found that interesting. Richard Kyte: So you certainly see that you see this with especially fathers and sons, have a hard time talking. That's a notoriously fraught relationship between fathers and sons, say, in high school, as the sons are getting more independence. But they can often have a talk when they're driving somewhere in a car where they're side by side. I think with men is face to face is too confrontational. It's competitive. Whereas when you're side by side, you're in a cooperative mode and take some of that competitiveness out of it. By the way, we're sitting face, to face right now. Scott Rada: We are. Although, yeah, maybe we should do a podcast side to side. That would be interesting. Although I guess we've done a couple of zoom ones. And that is a different experience too, I suppose. Richard Kyte: Yeah. But I think we want a little competitiveness here. There we go. Over the years, adults have spent fewer time with their friends Scott Rada: you mentioned the father son thing, and one thing that in some of the reading, I did for the show that really jumped out at me talking about these trends where over the years, adults spend fewer time with their friends. And there's lots of reasons, sometimes because of work demands, sometimes demands around the house. But what really jumped out at me is that adults parents spend much, much more time with their kids than they did just a few generations ago. And again, as I've talked on the show, I don't have children. But just from the people I know and just from observing out in the world, that just seems true to me, that you see kids with their parents so much more. Is that a good thing in that it makes those relationships stronger? And if it's at the cost of other friendships, then so be it. Or is that maybe not a great thing? Because you're sort of stifling your own growth because the kids won't be in the house forever, and also, you're not letting the kids sort of figure out who they are, away from the watchful gaze of a parent. Richard Kyte: Yeah, I think it's not good for all those reasons. We know that there's been a real decline, especially for young kids, in unstructured playtime, and they really need that. That's really good for them. And we're not giving them enough of it in our culture because the parents are too involved in structuring their time and oftentimes being with them and supervising, and then it's not good for the adults. Because what happens is this is a pretty common phenomenon at the time when kids social life is increasing. They get old enough, they're going out and doing more things. The parents who are, like, spending a lot of time with those kids have to give up their own friend relationships. It turns out, like a lot of parents of middle school and high school kids, most of their adult social interaction is with parents of other kids the same age. At sporting events or clubs or wherever it happens to be, that's who they're hanging out with. Then their kids go off, they graduate, they go off somewhere, and they've got no friendship circle. They're alone with each other. Right. so that's a really common phenomenon. That wasn't such a common thing. Like, when I grew up, my parents, they had their own friends, and they might interact a little bit with the parents of my friends, but they weren't in their social circle. And now you were finding adults completely change their social circle after they have kids, and then when their kids are. Scott Rada: Gone one other piece I read that said and obviously we kind of painted a little bit of a dire scenario here, but it's not at all true to say that people don't have friends. Most adults do have friends, and maybe not as many as they'd like. Richard Kyte: But in 1990, the same survey you quoted, 33% of adults reported having ten or more friends, ten or more good friends in 1990. And today, I think the number is 13%. Scott Rada: Yeah. So it's dropped significantly. Richard Kyte: Significantly. Scott Rada: But I guess the question, though, is that I read somewhere that said there is a benefit to when you have friends to make sure they're not all like you, that they may come from different backgrounds, may come from different socioeconomic parts of your community who may have a bunch of kids and you have no kids or whatever the case might be. And I think it is easy, just like you said, to sort of, find people around you who you have things in common with. And you even said earlier that you sort of have this when you were talking about the circles, a group, an outside group of people, and you sort of maybe identify folks you have something in common with, and you have some common, interests, and they sort of march their way toward the center of that circle. Richard Kyte: Is. Scott Rada: It good, though, sometimes to try to and maybe this is too intentional, but to try to identify people who are in that outer circle but you think might add a different or interesting perspective to your life than you may not have otherwise. And to try to, even though it might take a little more, build a, connection there. Richard Kyte: If you joined some groups of, people that are involved in different kinds of activities, I'm talking, like, oftentimes churches, service organizations, like the Big Three, Rotary, Kiwanis and Lions, bowling leagues, right? any kind of groups in which you have large numbers of people participating, then spending time together, you are going to meet people very different from yourself and people with very different backgrounds, very different interests. This is the important thing about joining something, is that when you join, you spend repeated time, sometimes over a period of years, with people, and you get to know them beyond the superficiality, which makes you think, like, yeah, I don't really have much in common with this person. I'm not going to pursue that kind of relationship. But if you join a group where you're sitting down or you're engaged in activities with a group of people every week, for, say, a couple of years, two or three years, you're going to slowly realize that there are people that you really like, that you share some deeper connection with beyond kind of the superficial differences. And if you hadn't spent those years with them, you would have never discovered that. And this is, in some ways, the real key to friendship. It's not so much like what it brings to you. So I've been researching friendship quite a bit for this book that I'm writing on Third Places, because I think this is the main function of third places in communities is, they are where we meet people different from ourselves that we're introduced to them. So then we form deeper relationships. And when we form these different relationships with people quite different from different economic backgrounds, different cultural backgrounds, different political kind of, alliances or sympathies. We start to feel like actually, it seems like I'm living in a world with all these people, all these strangers, all these people are very different, but it's just that I haven't spent enough time with them. I could potentially become friends with anybody. And the 18th and 19th, century Scottish philosophers like Adam Smith, David Hume, Francis Hutchison, they talked a lot about sympathy as being the grounding of, ethics, also the grounding of politics like sympathy. The other word they used for it was fellow feeling, from which we get the word fellowship. Right. It's spending time with others, you find that you're able to take kind of imaginatively experience, what the other people do, what they experience, what they're going through, and that becomes really lively in your mind. And so that you are literally pained when something bad happens to a friend. Right. Even just hearing bad news about something that happened to a friend, you will feel pain as a result, or joy. Scott Rada: If something good happens. Richard Kyte: Joy if something good happens. You don't have to see them experiencing that emotion to have that emotion yourself, because you have what they called fellow feeling. When you have this within a whole community or within a nation that we share something like fellow feeling, that is the basis to be able to collaborate, to work together. And right now, our politics is just contaminated by the idea that we define ourself by our differences. And there's no way to move together to any sort of, agreement or compromise any understanding of working towards the common good. But if we have a sense that, yeah, not only do we have something in common, we actually feel what we have in common together, and that's deeper than our superficial, then then we're going to have a really healthy democracy. Replika allows customers to custom design their own virtual companion Scott Rada: Rick, I know this is an issue like you mentioned you're writing quite a bit about, and you were doing some research over the past few days, and it led you down kind of a strange path. Maybe you could tell folks about that a bit. Richard Kyte: I came across a website called Replika, which, is a, site that uses AI or artificial intelligence to allow customers to custom design their own virtual companion, and give it all kinds of characteristics exactly what they would imagine a good companion would be. And so, inevitably, what people do, they design somebody who is happy and helpful and pleased to talk to them. Available 24 hours a day whenever they need somebody to listen, who is never disagreeable, never puts their own demands and their own interests upon the person. Right. I was amazed to find how many testimonials there are, in some ways, got a really moving testimonials of how great it's been to create this kind of virtual dream companion that people have. And I find it really kind of eerie. Scott Rada: I think I know the answer, but I'll, of course, ask because so. Richard Kyte: I think what's happening is we're using AI to create something that wasn't possible before without AI, because, like with Chat GPT, we can create these bots, these chat bots that simulate real people. So well, you can't really tell the difference, like when you're texting with one of these chat bots in real person. And so they're taking advantage of that technology to really fool us. So people develop these real, quite profound, deep, sincere emotional connections with these chat bots. Right. They name them. There's even a report that was in the Daily Mail of a woman who married the chat bot that she created after falling in love with it over a period of a couple of years. Right. And I don't think it's a joke. I think that was really sincere. And what she said in one of the interviews is, well, I love this person that she created. He doesn't come with any baggage. Right? Well, people come with baggage. Scott Rada: Okay, well, but isn't that the problem in a way? Because you just got done saying it sounds like when you kind of create this character and I'm guessing again, I've not done this, but I'm guessing you can say, I want this person to be kind, or I want this person to be intelligent or witty or whatever these things is. I mean, unless you're just doing it as sort of a joke, you're not going to go and say, I want to create some dumb, racist idiot who, says inappropriate things all the time. I mean, nobody's going to do that. And not that we'd want to be friends with someone who is, but at the same time, none of our friends, no matter how close and good they are, are perfect people. And in some ways, dealing with those people's imperfections is part of what being like human is all about. And isn't that sort of also part of the problem here is that you're creating this idealized character that might even make it more difficult than to go into the real world and encounter people who are far, far from perfect because of how much time you've spent with someone who is just the way you'd like him or her to be. Richard Kyte: yeah, that's it exactly. And when we're talking about the real world being full of these imperfect people that we wouldn't really choose to be friends with, well, we're one of them. Yeah. Right. And the real benefit of friendship is, I find, like, none of these websites talk about this in a way disturbingly. Very few of the articles that I've been reading that are in the popular press and that you can find on various websites that talk about the benefits of friends and all the, like, how to make friends. They never talk about. What I think is the most important part about it is that they make demands upon us. we become useful to somebody. We become meaningful to another person. And this is really the key to loneliness, is not just that we're alone. It's that we feel that nobody needs us, right? And so who needs us? Only imperfect people. Perfect people don't need us. The gods don't need us. It's like imperfect human beings that need a friend. And that's why I need friends, because I'm imperfect, too. And it's the mutuality of friendship that takes us out of a, very kind of narrow conception of the self. So if I could have said, like, at age 22, this is my ideal life, this is the kind of person I want to be and all of that, I would be a much more kind of shallow, superficial, impoverished person than I am today. Scott Rada: Probably richer, maybe. Richard Kyte: Yeah. Right. Yeah. But I wouldn't, because all the people I've met in my life have changed who I am. and they've kind of, in some ways, forced me to grow. And this is what, like George McDonald says, it's the love of neighbor that takes us out of the dungeon of the right, because the self is a dungeon. Websites like Replika and Project December and some of these others, what they do is create a really attractive dungeon, and then we pay them to be able to go into it and to furnish it their dungeon the way we want it. But we're still entering a dungeon. That virtual companion that doesn't help me grow, doesn't get me out of myself, out of the narrow self that I am, into something larger. We end each show by tackling an ethical dilemma Scott Rada: We end each show by tackling an ethical dilemma. And Rick, what is your question for me? Richard Kyte: Well, Scott, let's say that you have your eye on a motorcycle. It's not a brand new one, but it's a late model motorcycle. It's going to cost you a little money. you know that your partner is not going to be very keen on this idea. For one thing, it's going to be kind of dangerous. The other thing is, it's a real big expense. And generally in the past, you and your partner have always talked over big expenses together. But you're worried if you bring up that you want to take out a loan to buy this motorcycle, which is something you really want to do, it's just going to cause an argument. but it's your money. You and your partner, you both have your own jobs. You keep separate checking accounts. And so what do you do in a case like this? Do you just go ahead and buy the motorcycle and then realize, okay, there might be some hurt feelings, but you'll get over it? And that's a lot easier than creating a big argument to begin with and then going ahead and buying the motorcycle anyway. Scott Rada: So a couple of things. I'll try to answer this dilemma as best I'm able, but, I will admit and. I think this is probably because I spent a long time working in newspaper newsrooms and reading about motorcycle crashes so often. But I would never want to get a motorcycle because I personally view them as extremely dangerous. And, I think I have probably spent in my life 2 hours on a motorcycle, and that might be the last 2 hours I ever spent on a motorcycle is my guess. So it's hard for me to exactly fit into this scenario. And also, you bring up a point, too, is that buying a motorcycle is in this case, a financial decision. But it's also like the risky part of this too, right? Because you are it's more dangerous than going out and spending that same money and buying a piece of fine art that hangs on your wall, which has virtually no risk. But to, put myself in that position, I think there's two things from everything I've read, that couples argue about the most, and it's either kids or money. I'm lucky, and I guess Travis and I are lucky that, first of all, we don't have kids, so it's hard to argue about that. But we don't really argue about money. We were pretty good about that. And I think part of it is because we do obviously have some shared expenses, but we do, have some autonomy for each other to sort of spend money how we're able. And luckily, we're in a position where not every nickel we scrape together has to go to a bill or the house payment or something like that. So maybe here's the closest to a real life situation, as we've talked about on the show, that, I'm a big baseball fan. And, as we're recording this, we're just days away from the baseball playoffs starting. And I sort of made the decision and I had enough flexibility with work that I'm going to take much of a week off and go to Minneapolis and watch the Twins hopefully win a, playoff game, which they haven't done since I think, like 22,002 or something awful like that. Richard Kyte: So you're planning to go to multiple games in the multiple games? Win one, yeah, hopefully they'll win one. Scott Rada: And obviously there's an expense involved in that, not only for the tickets, which are more busier playoffs, but you have to get lodging and all that. And we talked it over and I said I told him how much it was. And it's like, hey. And he's like, yeah, that's your thing. Richard Kyte: Unluckily. Scott Rada: I don't have tons of expensive Hobies, so it's fine. And I'm actually to go to our conversation, or our topic earlier in the episode, I'm actually going to the game with a friend of mine from high school. And we went to dozens of games back when we were in high school. And we have reconnected and have gone to a handful of games since. Richard Kyte: So let me interrupt. Would it be different if you were thinking, I'm going to go to Las Vegas and gamble for a week, would that be a different kind of, mean? Scott Rada: I guess it know, unless you're going to spend the whole thing on the penny. Mean yeah, I think that probably so. But again, I think what your question is about is how much autonomy should financial autonomy should people have in their private relationships and how should you talk about it? How should you talk about it? Yeah, I think you talk about it in advance. And I think if I were to suddenly decide that a motorcycle, was the best thing for me, that I would try to make my case. But I think we'd make that decision together not only for the money part, but also for the other part. So I think yeah, but I guess I come at this with sort of a, bias, because I don't necessarily have a problem talking about these sort of things. So, to me, this would be an easy conversation to have, because maybe this is going to sound ridiculous, but I've really never come across something like this where it has been a, huge, significant purchase that I want to make that I know is going to be, unpopular. But if that were to come up, obviously, I think what's the old saw is easier to ask for forgiveness than permission. In this case, probably is not a good way to go. Richard Kyte: Yeah, I think that's probably right. When my wife and I were much younger and money was much tighter, even small purchases, sometimes we had to really talk them over because, we had to pool everything just to make ends meet, those conversations. We had to make sure that we had every conversation right to maintain our relationship really well. Now, as we're older and the kids are gone and so forth, I find that we have a little more autonomy. But the big purchases, still need to be discussed. Scott Rada: Yeah, there's been studies on every single thing in this world. So I'm sure there's been a study on this, but I would be curious to know. My guess, it probably tracks a little bit by age and generation, but in married couples, how many of them have separate bank accounts? And it's like, I remember I'm thinking of my grandparents. Not only did they have just but one bank account, my grandmother signed her checks, Mrs. And then my grandfather's name. I mean, that was just that generation. And I think certainly there's not many 25 year old women signing their checks mrs and then their husband's name, that's sort of gone out of favor. And that's probably a good thing. But I think there is more autonomy when it comes to finances. Again, assuming that, again, not every nickel has to go to meet your basic needs. And I don't know, I sense that that's generally probably a good thing. But yeah, you don't want to show unless you're just ridiculously wealthy, showing up and saying, oh, I bought a new car, I hope that's okay. Or I bought a new motorcycle or a boat or whatever it might be. That seems to not show a lot of respect. Richard Kyte: You mentioned boats. this was a running joke. In our house, we at one point had lots of boats, like most of old junkie boats. Right. Small like that became an issue one time when a friend gave me an old canoe and then I show up with yet another boat and put it inside the house. Scott Rada: But that's a storage issue at some point. Richard Kyte: Actually, it was much more of a storage issue than an expense issue because. Scott Rada: I think I've been in your garage. You don't have a lot of high end boats. Richard Kyte: None. Yeah, so this only came up because I was at a yard sale recently and this guy had this motorcycle for sale. it was about a 20 year old bike, but it had really low miles. It was in great shape. I was thinking, oh, that'd be really cool. I really have no serious interest in buying motorcycle. And for one is the accident rate is just too high. And I think that would put a strain on a relationship, like starting a hobby. That was really it just, it went through my head, like, what would that conversation be like saying, hey, Cindy, here's what I'm thinking. And I was thinking like, that would be a tough. Scott Rada: So I'm just curious. I think I can probably count the number of times I've been on a motorcycle on one hand. And it probably is like a total of 2 hours. How about for you? Richard Kyte: Yeah, probably. So when I was in high school, dirt bikes. That's not like street bikes. Very only twice that I can remember. And they were like, once on our friends and once on our relatives. and a long time ago. I ridden a motorcycle for decades. Scott Rada: Yeah, sort of the same here. and I think at least for me, it's going to be, like I said, a long time till I rhyme. What? Again? Richard Kyte: I'm pretty sure I'm going to die of something else. Scott Rada: Well, hopefully that's a long time from now. And assuming it is a long time from now, we have a whole lot more podcasts to record. Richard Kyte: How many more do we have to record? Scott Rada: Oh gosh, I would feel really awkward starting the show. Scott Rada: Welcome to episode 4367 of The Ethical Life. That would be a lot to say, so we'll stop before that. Richard Kyte: Okay. Scott Rada: Somewhere between 111 and 4367. Richard Kyte: Yeah. Okay. Scott Rada: So there's a lot more to come. So make sure, good listener, that you subscribe to The Ethical Life on Apple podcasts, Google podcasts, or Spotify. And be sure to check out Rick's column about ethics. And that can be found on all Lee newspaper websites. For Rick Kite. I am Scott Rata. Thank you for joining us.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

By Adam Turteltaub You're all signed up for the Compliance & Ethics Institute or another SCCE or HCCA conference. Now, how do you make the most out of your time there? Kristy Grant-Hart CEO of Spark Compliance Consulting and a former compliance officer, herself, shares in this podcast several excellent tips for making your conference time truly valuable. Her recommendations: Plan out which sessions you want to attend before you arrive. It makes for a much more strategic and less stressful approach than picking sessions hurriedly at the breaks. Pick the sessions based on both the topic and the speakers you want to listen to and meet. Map out time to do work and answer email. It's a lot easier to sit and listen to a session when you have a defined times to work and a defined time to be fully present at the conference. Start your networking before you go. Announce on LinkedIn that you'll be there and try to connect with others who will be attending. Take advantage of vendor receptions and dinners to meet more people. When you connect onsite, also connect on LinkedIn right then and there. If you promise you'll send someone a follow up email, do it that night before you forget. Don't be afraid to approach people you don't know. They're probably there to meet new people, too. Put your follow-ups for once you're back in the office into a list that you can easily find. Listen in to hear more great ideas for getting the most out of your time at the conference.

By Adam Turteltaub One of the more well-attended sessions at the SCCE 22nd Annual Compliance & Ethics Institute, promises to be “ESG and DEI: How to Position for Stakeholder Success”. The session will be lead by Adrian Taylor, Director of Diversity, Premier Health; Ahmed Salim, Chief Compliance Officer, iRhythym; and Nakis Urfi, Product Compliance Officer, Babylon Health. ESG and DEI are two of the hottest issues in compliance, and in this podcast preview of their session they start by taking on a controversial topic: Should DEI and ESG be combined? Traditionally, DEI has been its own discipline. Many now argue it should considered a part of the S (Social) in ESG, while others feel that doing so would diminish the emphasis on DEI. Ideally, DEI should not be affected by being included in ESG, they say. If handled correctly, it can maintain its focus and management commitment and even strengthen ESG efforts. When the two are aligned they create a more sustainable business model that balances people, profit and planet. Together they can also help foster engagement with stakeholders, improve culture, encourage greater accountability, and help the company's reputation. To be successful, Nakis, Ahmed and Adrian argue, organizations need to manage four key challenges of ESG ratings: A limited focus on DEI Having accurate, valid data A lack of standardization Subjectivity All of these can lead to ratings that are more judgement scores than a true measure of an organization's commitment to DEI and ESG. Listen in to learn more, including how to identify data that is truly useful for measuring your organization's DEI and ESG success. Then, don't miss their session at the SCCE 22nd Annual Compliance & Ethics Institute.

By Adam Turteltaub In a perfect world, whenever employees face a difficult decision or outright compliance issue, the right policy would automatically pop up in front of them. While that is not likely to happen soon, Jannica Houben, Vice President, Global Legal Transformation and Travis Waugh, Director, Training, both at TD SYNNEX can envision a word in which Outlook could spot issues as they are typed, flag them for the employee and give guidance and pointers to where to call for help. Until then, there are still many things compliance teams can do using off the shelf software to automate compliance processes. It's a topic they explore in the podcast and in greater depth in their Session “Interactive Policies: Using Technology to Enhance Decision-Making” at the 2023 SCCE Compliance & Ethics Institute. So how do you create this automated future? They recommend beginning by thinking not about what tool you want, but what benefits you want the tool to deliver. Think about the value you want to provide and what would make employees' lives easier. In addition, expect an iterative process: you won't get everything right the first time. Once you have that in mind, you can begin the pursuit of the tool itself. At TD SYNNEX the compliance team tried to create the path of least resistance for employees to compliance, including developing an adaptive policy guidance tool. Using BRYTER, which requires no coding, they developed a tool which asks a series of questions to determine what the issue is, gives advice and routes a form to the employee's manager. The manager can then add notes and recommendations. The tool has a dashboard that can track the whole process. It also can help identify gaps and what the organizations risks are, what policies need to be created and when more training is required. This program has freed up time for the compliance team, enabling it to invest in relationships and add more value. Getting started is surprisingly easy, they report. Listen in for more inspiration, and then don't miss their session at the 2023 SCCE Compliance & Ethics Institute.

By Adam Turteltaub While many would say that you couldn't pay them enough to take a job in compliance, managers often feel as if compliance officers are being paid too much. So how do you get what you deserve? In this podcast, and at the 2023 SCCE Compliance & Ethics Institute, Amii Barnard-Bahn, Partner, Kaplan & Walker and Melanie Sponholz, Chief Compliance Officer, Waud Capital Partners, take on this touchy subject. Before asking for more money, they advise doing your homework. Take the time to talk to peers and recruiters to see what the market rate is. Also, know your employer's compensation system. Do they tend to pay at the top, bottom or middle of the range. You can also check the SCCE or HCCA compensation survey and sites like Glassdoor and Indeed. When you do meet with your manager or leadership, go in knowing that this is a difficult conversation for them as well as for you. Do your best to keep things professional. Focus on why the increase in compensation is beneficial for them and not just for you. Spell out what contributions you have and will be making. Above all, be realistic and don't go in angry. Want to know more? Listen in to learn how to make the conversation successful, what to do if it isn't, and how to ask for more compensation or a changed title when your role is expanded. And, don't forget to attend their session at the 2023 Compliance & Ethics Institute.

This edWeb podcast is sponsored by The Ethics Institute at Kent Place School.The webinar recording can be accessed here.Join us for part two of the edWebinar series Artificial Intelligence in Schools: Allow or Prohibit? Ethical Considerations for Educators. We answer the questions posed by audience members from part one, where we discussed the challenges educators face with the ever-increasing use of artificial intelligence in schools. We have new expert presenters who provide examples of how we can ethically integrate AI into our schools. They answer many questions, including:How are new AI tools different from other “world-changing” technologies of the past, like computers or the calculator?What are some thoughtful examples of policies you have around AI/ChatGPT use for teachers, staff, and students?How should we be using these tools ethically? What is the best way to teach students how to use these technologies responsibly?This session is designed to continue to build your awareness of the ethical issues raised by AI use in schools and empower you to ask questions in order to make well-informed and ethical policies for the adults and students in your school communities.This edWeb podcast is of interest to K-12 teachers, librarians, school and district leaders, and education technology leaders.View the recording or listen to the podcast of part one: Artificial Intelligence in Schools: Allow or Prohibit? Ethical Considerations for EducatorsThe Ethics Institute at Kent Place Promoting the process and practice of ethical decision-making in primary and secondary schools.Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Learn more about viewing live edWeb presentations and on-demand recordings, earning CE certificates, and using accessibility features.

Welcome to the Great Women in Compliance Podcast, hosted by Mary Shirley and Lisa Fine.   Today's Great Women in Compliance episode is a crossover one with LRN's Principled Podcast. Meredith Hunt, Ethics and Compliance Specialist at LRN, makes her podcast debut hosting, #GWIC Co-host, Mary Shirley. Change is hard; we fight to hold on, yet we fight to let go, and deciding which direction to go in can have a huge impact for not only your journey, but of those around you. Meredith interviews Mary about some critical coaching questions to ask yourself when at a crossroads that are particularly helpful if you're questioning whether you should stay or go from the status quo.    They also discuss favorite ways to send the elevator back down to those around them and share tips for leveling up your Compliance program, including a spoiler idea from Mary's soon-to-be released book on innovative and trail blazing ways to level up your Compliance program, called Living Your Best Compliance Life. Look out for the e-book soon and the later hard copy launch, coinciding with the Society of Corporate Compliance and Ethics Compliance and Ethics Institute.  You can find the a written transcript of the episode and more information at the Principled Podcast here: https://blog.lrn.com/how-ethics-and-compliance-professionals-can-send-the-elevator-back-down You can find the Great Women in Compliance Podcast on the Compliance Podcast Network where you can find several other resources and podcasts to keep you up to date in the Ethics and Compliance world. You can also find the GWIC podcast on Corporate Compliance Insights where you can learn more about the podcast, stream prior episodes and catch up on Mary's monthly column "Living Your Best Compliance Life.”  Corporate Compliance Insights is a much-appreciated sponsor and supporter of GWIC, including affiliate organization CCI Press publishing the related book; “Sending the Elevator Back Down, What We've Learned from Great Women in Compliance” (CCI Press, 2020). If you enjoyed the book, the GWIC team would be very grateful if you would consider rating it on Goodreads and Amazon and leaving a short review.  Don't forget to send the elevator back down by passing on your copy to someone who you think might enjoy reading it when you're done, or if you can't bear parting with your copy, consider it as a holiday or appreciation gift for someone in Compliance who deserves a treat. If you enjoyed the book, the GWIC team would be very grateful if you would consider rating it on Goodreads and Amazon and leaving a short review.  Don't forget to send the elevator back down by passing on your copy to someone who you think might enjoy reading it when you're done, or if you can't bear parting with your copy, consider it as a holiday or appreciation gift for someone in Compliance who deserves a treat. You can subscribe to the Great Women in Compliance podcast on any podcast player by searching for it and we welcome new subscribers to our podcast. Join the Great Women in Compliance community on LinkedIn here. 

This edWeb podcast is sponsored by The Ethics Institute at Kent Place School.The webinar recording can be accessed here.With the arrival of ChatGPT on our students' laptops and in our classrooms, educators are grappling with the ever-increasing use of artificial intelligence in schools. Whether writing an essay or lab report, conducting research, working through a math problem, or building a presentation, students now have access to learning aids that challenge the very definitions of “learning,” “original work,” and “plagiarism.” What boundaries do we set? Does “zero tolerance” toward AI's use by students make sense if we are preparing them for the future world that they will live in?Learning is not the only place where AI is found in school settings. How are we, the adults, modeling the usage of AI to our students? Facial recognition software and monitoring systems that track student internet usage are just two examples of interventions done in the name of “school safety.” There are three clear learning objectives in this edWeb podcast:A technology specialist helps you to understand the use, purpose, and indications for artificial intelligence tools in educationAn ethicist enables you to delineate the ethical considerations and implications for the use of AIA head of school explains how an ethical decision-making process can enable you to develop an actual school policyThis session helps build your awareness of the ethical issues raised by AI use in schools and empowers you to ask questions in order to make well-informed and ethical policies for the adults and students in your school communities.This recorded edWeb podcast is of interest to K-12 teachers, librarians, school and district leaders, and education technology leaders.The Ethics Institute at Kent Place Promoting the process and practice of ethical decision-making in primary and secondary schools.Learn more about viewing live edWeb presentations and on-demand recordings, earning CE certificates, and using accessibility features.

Welcome back to Late Edition: Crime Beat Chronicles. We're currently working on the next set of episodes that will look at the 1990 death of 20-year-old Susan Nesersmith in Wildwood, New Jersey.  Until then, please go back and listen to past seasons if you have not already. Lee Enterprises produces other podcasts such as The Ethical Life, a program that focuses on the intersection of ethics and modern life. The show is hosted by Scott Rada, Lee Enterprises social media manager, and Richard Kyte, director of the Ethics Institute at Viterbo University in La Crosse, Wisconsin. A recent episode of The Ethical Life is of particular interest to listeners of Late Edition: Crime Beat Chronicles as it looks at the appeal of true-crime programs. True crime is one Hollywood's most successful genres. Recently, Netflix aired a 10-part series about Jeffery Dahmer, the Milwaukee serial killer, and it was a huge hit. But the sister of one of Dahmer's victim's said it's sad that the producers are making money off of the tragic events that happened more than three decades ago. Richard Kyte and Scott Rada discuss why true crime is so popular and why such disturbing stories have a strong appeal. A link to the episode “What is so appealing about true-crime shows?” is available here. Listen now and subscribe to The Ethical Life: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | RSS Feed | Omny StudioSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

By Adam Turteltaub As environmental expectations keeps rising and Environmental Social and Governance (ESG) metrics gain more importance to investors, some organizations will be tempted to greenwash, which is best described as making an environmental footprint look far better than it actually is. That's a serious risk and one that will be addressed by Elena Durante, ESG Risk Audit Manager, ING Corporate Audit Services, Risk & Finance, at the SCCE European Compliance & Ethics Institute, which takes place in Amsterdam March 20-22. As she explains in this podcast, at its roots greenwashing is about misleading information supplied to investors and customers, taking advantage of the fact that these outsiders cannot fully tell if what the organization is saying is true. While greenwashing is still relatively unregulated, she tells us, that has started to change.  In the EU there have been an increasing number of efforts to combat it. Plus, there is severe reputational damage to companies caught greenwashing. Compliance teams need to be on the lookout at their organizations to ensure the integrity of their organizations' environmental statements. That starts with ensuring that what regulations that currently exist are followed. It also means keeping an eye out for new regulations. Compliance should also be working to develop and implement ESG protocols within the organization. These should identify clear rules and policies to ensure sufficient checks and balances are in place. A training element will also be needed to help the business people understand that environmental statements need to accurately reflect the  organization's actual activities, not just its aspirations. Listen in and then keep an eye out for greenwashing in your organization.

By Adam Turteltaub Ethical leadership is about much more than being both ethical and a leader. It is also about the actions you take to encourage ethical behavior all around you. It's the subject of this podcast and a talk that will be given in March at the SCCE European Compliance & Ethics Institute by Steven Pegg, Senior Ethics Officer, Europe, Middle East & Africa for Lockheed Martin. Ethical leadership comes with many challenges. Aggressive goals can cause executives to focus just on the task at hand and be tempted to cut corners. Studies have shown that positions of power can have an affect on behavior over time, leading to a loss of empathy, acts of disrespect, feelings of entitlement, selfish behavior and a tendency to think that the rules don't apply to them. These factors can create a toxic culture not surprisingly. Smaller offices also face the challenge of developing a subculture that can be inimical to ethical conduct. Lacking the controls of larger locations, unethical behavior may be left unchecked. There is one other challenge to ethical leadership: a hesitance to talk about ethics. Some leaders, even virtuous ones, are uncomfortable discussing ethical issues. To overcome these challenges ethical leaders need to develop several skills. These include: Setting the tone. People model what their leaders do. If a leader is comfortable telling stories and discussing ethical issues, it's far more likely the rest of the workforce will be as well. Act as a positive role model. They must be accountable for their actions and both talk the talk and walk the walk. They also must respond fairly to both positive and negative feedback. Know their limits. When leaders have exhausted their own skill sets, they need to be willing to reach out to others for guidance. How can executives exercise ethical leadership in a hybrid environment? Steven recommends being creative. Use technology when it is helpful, but look also to face-to-face, in-person interactions as well. Setting up regular check-ins with the team can be particularly useful. At those meetings, encourage people to share their ideas on all the issues. It will make them feel more comfortable raising their hand, knowing they are in a safe environment. Also, remember that different cultures around the globe have their own unique ways of seeing things and behaving. Take the time to understand those differences and communicate sensitively. Finally, he discusses what to do when an employee comes forward with a concern. His central advice: listen, listen, listen. Listen in for more and then be sure to join him at the 2023 SCCE European Compliance & Ethics Institute.

This edWeb podcast is sponsored by The Ethics Institute at Kent Place School.The webinar recording can be accessed here.How do you create an ethical climate in your school? What's the best way to develop ethical leadership skills in all students, from the youngest children in primary school to the oldest students in high school? The Ethics Institute at Kent Place School has created a practice and process for ethical decision making that can transform your entire school community! Utilizing a values-based approach to ethical dilemmas and ethical issues, students learn how to THINK broadly and deeply about issues that are relevant in the classroom, the playground, the advisory group, each subject-area discipline, and their world. Most importantly, they utilize a practice of ethical decision making based on the values that they discover are unique to their authentic selves. In this edWeb podcast, listeners meet and listen to the experiences of three Kent Place School students who represent the Primary, Middle, and Upper Schools as they share the ways that ethics has shaped their thinking and influenced the decisions that they make in every aspect of their lives. Moderated by the founding director of The Ethics Institute at Kent Place School, students give concrete examples of practicing ethical decision making and answer questions about how ethics has impacted their thinking. All listeners are sure to leave this session with concrete ways to bring ethics into their classrooms and to help create an ethical climate in their schools. This edWeb podcast is of interest to K-12 teachers, librarians, and school and district leaders.The Ethics Institute at Kent Place Promoting the process and practice of ethical decision-making in primary and secondary schools.

Welcome to the Great Women in Compliance Podcast, co-hosted by Lisa Fine and Mary Shirley. The 2022 Society of Corporate Compliance and Ethics, Compliance and Ethics Institute took place last week in Phoenix, Arizona.  There was a mix of both in person and virtual attendees with a person presence significantly bolstered compared with the 2021 crowd, the first in person ECI since the pandemic hit.  In 2023 it really felt like things were back and the Great Women in Compliance podcast hosts, Lisa Fine and Mary Shirley, debrief listeners with a roundup of highlights and musings from the conference, as well as handing out a few prized GWICies.  Lisa and Mary both critically analyze some aspects of the conference and sessions, as well as take their usual lighthearted and informal approach to discussing what they thought went well, where there were areas of opportunity, surprises and how they each dealt with unforeseen challenges – from the beginning of the conference and throughout – including Lisa's hangry misfortune and Mary nearly causing an international incident at a piano bar.  Join us for this special joint episode and re-live the conference for those that attended and cure your FOMO for those who were unable to make it.  The Great Women in Compliance Podcast is on the Compliance Podcast Network with a selection of other Compliance related offerings to listen in to.  If you are enjoying this episode, please rate it on your preferred podcast player to help other likeminded Ethics and Compliance professionals find it.  If you have a moment to leave a review at the same time, Mary and Lisa would be so grateful.  You can also find the GWIC podcast on Corporate Compliance Insights where Lisa and Mary have a landing page with additional information about them and the story of the podcast.  Corporate Compliance Insights is a much appreciated sponsor and supporter of GWIC, including affiliate organization CCI Press publishing the related book; “Sending the Elevator Back Down, What We've Learned from Great Women in Compliance” (CCI Press, 2020).  If you enjoyed the book, the GWIC team would be very grateful if you would consider rating it on Goodreads and Amazon and leaving a short review.  Don't forget to send the elevator back down by passing on your copy to someone who you think might enjoy reading it when you're done, or if you can't bear parting with your copy, consider it as a holiday or appreciation gift for someone in Compliance who deserves a treat. You can subscribe to the Great Women in Compliance podcast on any podcast player by searching for it and we welcome new subscribers to our podcast. Join the Great Women in Compliance community on LinkedIn here. 

Welcome to the Great Women in Compliance Podcast, co-hosted by Lisa Fine and Mary Shirley.  For the next two weeks, the GWIC team are presenting a collab with ComplianceLine: GWIC X The Ethics Experts!  Mary and Lisa start their throwback Wednesday sessions by harking all the way back to the early days of COVID19, where Mary's episode was recorded while she was in the New Zealand coronavirus lockdown. Gio Gallo interviewed Mary about her leadership style – especially focused on giving (junior) staff substantive, meaningful work and wings to fly while setting out a safety net, how not to slip into complacency in your Compliance program by being reassured of historical achievements and understanding that there is no lowest common denominator.  Learn how you can use surveys to tap into your most vulnerable areas you don't even know you have.  Check out Lisa's interview on the Ethics Experts, here on the Great Women in Compliance Podcast on 19 October!  On 26 October, Mary and Lisa will return to their regular programming with a joint episode on learnings, insights and observations from the Society of Corporate Compliance and Ethics Compliance and Ethics Institute.  Want to be a part of the fun?  Introduce yourself to Lisa and Mary at the conference – you'll be able to spot them by their GWIC tote bags that Lisa kindly procured for the duo. The Great Women in Compliance podcast is excited to look at topics like this one, and we are always open to suggestions for guests. The Great Women in Compliance Podcast is on the Compliance Podcast Network with a selection of other Compliance related offerings.  If you are enjoying this episode, please rate it on your preferred podcast player to help other likeminded Ethics and Compliance professionals find it.  If you have a moment to leave a review at the same time, Mary and Lisa would be so grateful.  You can also find the GWIC podcast on Corporate Compliance Insights where Lisa and Mary have a landing page with additional information about them and the story of the podcast.  Corporate Compliance Insights is a much-appreciated sponsor and supporter of GWIC, including affiliate organization CCI Press publishing the related book; “Sending the Elevator Back Down, What We've Learned from Great Women in Compliance” (CCI Press, 2020). If you enjoyed the book, the GWIC team would be very grateful if you would consider rating it on Goodreads and Amazon and leaving a short review. You can subscribe to the Great Women in Compliance podcast on any podcast player by searching for it and we welcome new subscribers to our podcast. Join the Great Women in Compliance community on LinkedIn here. 

By Adam Turteltaub Good communication is a two-way street, with both sides sharing their perspectives. Yet, observes Laura Valdespino (LinkedIn), Chief Compliance Officer, Booking Holdings Financial Services USA, too often it is one way, with compliance doing the talking. In this podcast, and in her in-person and virtual session at the 2022 Compliance & Ethics Institute, Laura outlines practices for creating a good dialogue with the workforce. It starts, she explains, by committing to listening. Engage with them, she advises, and look to creating opportunities for interactions through Q&A sessions or coffee and donuts. Once you are there with the workforce be sure to listen with unbiased ears to what people say they want and need from compliance. Be sure to also customize your message to the audience. Salespeople, manufacturing, IT and all the other parts of your organization will have different needs and will be listening for different information. Take the time to understand what motivates them. It helps build trust. How you communicate is also important. Learn what the frequency of communication that works best for your workforce is. Be sure to avoid lecturing, legalese and focusing on what they can't do. Instead keep the communication focused on the right way to achieve business goals and what we all need to do. Listen in to learn more, and be sure to attend her session at the live or virtual 2022 Compliance & Ethics Institute.

By Adam Turteltaub Getting employees to come forward and raise issue can be difficult. There is often genuine fear of retaliation, and many don't trust that the company will do anything. It's a topic that Cindy Morrison CCEP (LinkedIn), Director, Global Ethics and Compliance, Post Holdings, Inc. will be addressing at the 2022 SCCE Compliance & Ethics Institute and tackles in the latest Compliance Perspectives podcast. Her own journey of discovery in this area was jolted by an assessment revealing that employees did not think the company had a speak-up culture. The key to creating one, she realized, is encouraging respectful dialogue. A true, two-way discussion is necessary to help build the trust that is so essential. Employees want to be heard, and if the company isn't listening to them, they are never going to feel safe. Showing that the organization is listening begins with making the effort to know the employees, a difficult challenge in this remote-working world where employees tend to change jobs frequently. Still, it must be done and managers need to practice active listening and adapting communications style to the listener. It also means demonstrating that when employees speak up, actions are taken: bad actors get disciplined or fired, policies are changed or publicly reinforced. In addition, it is essential to remember that each facility may have its own distinct culture. That may stem from the history of the facility and who has worked there, or the ethnic makeup of the employees. It's also important to remember that not all facilities in the same country will share a common culture. As she notes, their operation in Minnesota is 70% Somali. Finally, she underscores the importance of constant education. Make sure the workforce knows all the ways it can raise issues and what to do if they feel they are being retaliated against. Listen in to learn more, and then join us at the 2022 SCCE Compliance & Ethics Institute.

Guest: Fatima Rawat Fatima Rawat from The Ethics Institute is an Ethics subject matter expert and part of a research team that recommends that cadre deployment was necessary when the ANC came to power in 1994  - but it no longer serves the interests democracy. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dr. Karen Rezach and Meryl Selig discuss The Ethics Institute at Kent Place School, a comprehensive bioethics curriculum for primary and secondary school students. Dr. Rezach, an ordained Episcopalian minister, promotes the teaching and practice of ethical thinking and decision making. The institute's goal is to develop effective leaders and compassionate citizens. The conversation continues with Regene Nolan, an alumna of KPS and aspiring medical student. Regene discusses how the bioethics training expanded her awareness and critical thinking skills, as well as her career plans.

Post By: Adam Turteltaub Operation Lava Jato (Carwash) had a profound effect on business in Brazil, with countless companies caught up in one way or another in the corruption scandal. State oil company Petrobras was no exception, but, as is the case with so many compliance incidents, the question quickly moved from what happened to what are you going to do about it. At the 2022 SCCE European Compliance & Ethics Institute, Salvador Dahan (LinkedIn), Executive Director, Chief Governance & Compliance at Petrobras will be addressing the company's ethical journey. He shares some of the story in this podcast. Petrobras entered into a Non-Prosecution Agreement (NPA) that included a provision that the company had to agree to collaborate with all the investigations underway, not just with the US. The company also agreed to $850 million in fines to authorities in the US and Brazil. And, of course, it was required to improve its compliance program and internal controls. How did the company go about the transformation? Leadership provided a strong tone at the top. The head of compliance was placed at the Executive Director level and made a part of any major decision in the company. In addition, there is a direct line of report to the board of directors. There is even a formal hiring and termination process for the compliance team to protect the program against retaliation. The company also embraced a three lines of defense model, with compliance playing an integral role. Petrobras is continuing along its journey, Salvador reports. They are working to restore employee confidence and helping the workforce see the company is made up of individuals with strong ethical values. Supporting this initiative has been a great deal of communication designed to show that these are real actions, not just words. Every meeting in the company now starts with a five-minute discussion about ethics, integrity and transparency. They have also established a force of more than 200 ambassadors, known as Integrity Agents, to build bridges between the compliance team and the business unit. What does he recommend for other organizations going through a crisis? Several things: Quickly recognize the situation, accept what is happening and begin collaborating Talk to employees with transparency, outlining the next steps, long-term commitments, as well as do's and don'ts. Provide a clear sense of direction. It mitigates noise and a lack of confidence. Find out your vulnerabilities, and then act as soon as possible. Get an independent opinion. An outside voice can be very helpful. Listen in for more lessons, including how to continue to strengthen your organization, even after the NPA comes to an end.

What do we talk about, when we talk about AI Ethics? Just like AI itself, definitions for AI ethics seem to abound. From algorithmic and dataset bias, to the use of AI in asymmetrical / unlawful ways, to privacy and environmental impact. All of that, and more, could potentially fall under the AI Ethics umbrella. We try to navigate this domain, and lay out some concrete definitions and actions that could help move the domain forward

Post By: Adam Turteltaub Markus Juttner, Vice President & Global Head of Compliance at E.ON doesn't focus on individual blind spots or taboos. Instead, he focuses on the organizational ones. In fact, as he argues in this podcast and will explain during his talk at 2022 SCCE European Compliance & Ethics Institute, he thinks it's a mistake to focus on the individual. Since the core task for compliance teams is to prevent, detect and respond to corporate misconduct, it calls for an organizational level of analysis. You need to understand that the organization is an entity of its own. There are four common challenges that he sees: The compliance team not being transparent to the management board: If they ask if the program is effective, you need to be honest and admit if you do not know The risk assessment only addresses what we expect to see. There may be other factors we have not thought about. A lack of transparency by the business side when reporting to compliance The habits that are normal and a part of life in the organizations All of these can have dramatic effects on the compliance program, and all reflect the culture of the organization. As a result, it is essential to take the time to determine what the culture is, as well as the many subcultures. Listen in to learn more and then join him at the 2022 SCCE European Compliance & Ethics Institute.

Post By: Adam Turteltaub Due diligence during a merger or acquisition is difficult even in the best of circumstances. There is only so much you can see and so much time to see it before the deal closes. Add the complexities of a pandemic and business in emerging markets, and the challenge increases exponentially. To determine how to conduct due diligence most effectively we turned to Krista Muszak, Global Services SOX Controls and Compliance Supervisor, Johnson & Johnson and Louis Perold, Principal, Citadel Compliance and a member of the Society of Corporate Compliance and Ethics & Health Care Compliance Association board. The two of them will be addressing the topic at the 2022 SCCE European Compliance & Ethics Institute. To ensure that compliance due diligence is conducted effectively they recommended becoming activity engaged with the business and M&A team. This will help ensure you get sufficient information on the upcoming transaction and the business rationale behind it. Be sure also to understand the transaction itself and the various stakeholders. Together these can help provide guidance on how to conduct your due diligence. From there it's important to get a handle on the ownership of the target company and key staff. Meet with them, if possible, to learn about the compliance program. When assessing the program, be sure to put data analytics to use. Helpline data is very worth reviewing: What is the volume? What issues are coming up? Are inquiries and allegations being responded to in a timely way? Take a look, too, at the risk assessment and audits to see if there is any data that indicates trends of fraud, policy violations or other misconduct. Try and make up for the lack of in-person meetings by increasing your number of touchpoints at the target company. Also, see if there are resources locally that you can turn to who can be your local arms and legs. Finally, make sure you have a handle on the range of legal and regulatory issues that you will have to manage. Anti-corruption gets a lot of attention in emerging markets, but data protection and privacy, money-laundering, human trafficking, modern slavery and a host of other risk areas are present as well. Listen in to learn more and then join us at the 2022 SCCE European Compliance & Ethics Institute.

Post By: Adam Turteltaub When a crisis hits, what do leaders and the crisis team want from the compliance team? It's a question that Jonathan Armstrong, Partner at Cordery, addresses in this podcast and will be speaking to at the 2022 SCCE European Compliance & Ethics Institute in Amsterdam. For starters he points out an oft-cited admonition: during a crisis the compliance team can't be the department of “no”. Focusing on what can't be done or on what happened in the past, for that matter, is counterproductive. The post-mortem will come later.  For now, the emphasis has to be on moving forward. The team is looking for people who will be able to find constructive solutions and alternatives. Be sure, he advises, also to focus on how compliance can reduce the chance and size of penalties. To that end, focus on remediation as early as possible. Prosecutors will, after all, be focused on what the company has done to undo the problem and keep it from reoccurring. Some of the other advice he provides in this podcast includes: Rehearse a crisis before one occurs Be a single source of truth: these are the issues we have, this is what we will have to do, and this is where we are on the journey Bring crisis tools with you: crisis plans, templated press releases, specimen internal communications Be more directive than consultative As importantly, take the time to understand the psychology and roles of leadership.  Leaders know stakeholders want to see action. Their predisposition will be to act and act quickly; if you're too slow they may be ahead of you. Recognize, too, that the board is sensitive to their own reputation as well. They will also be leaning to act quickly and decisively. Listen in to learn more about how to prepare for a crisis, manage through one and come out the other end better than you might expect. Then plan on joining us for the 2022 SCCE European Compliance & Ethics Institute.

Post By: Adam Turteltaub With the increasing attention paid to Environmental Social and Governance (ESG), questions have arisen as to what should be the relationship between compliance and ESG efforts. Some have argued for compliance to oversee ESG, while others see them as distinctly different endeavors. Robert Smith [LinkedIn], Director, Business Compliance and Ethics for Serco Group plc provides his first-hand experience and insights in this podcast and will be sharing additional thoughts at the 2022 SCCE European Compliance & Ethics Institute. ESG is not new to Serco since it had long been tracking the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) movement, which was in many ways ESG's predecessor. The more structure approach of ESG, he believes, is a natural progression. There are accounting standards and a growing body of laws and regulations. To meet the organization's ESG goals, the company has developed a clear framework with individuals responsible for ownership of the various elements of the company's ESG efforts.  Each of these owners has clear KPIs. There is a structured reporting process that pull together strands from across the organization. Robert, and compliance's role, is to ensure the integrity of the reporting, as well as to connect the dots between the various reports. They are all assessed for materiality and eventually make their way into annual reporting. Compliance is well suited to this role, he believes, both at Serco and likely elsewhere.  Compliance professionals are adept at helping create transparent structures and turning external frameworks into internal processes. In addition, with increased regulation of ESG and more and more laws addressing ESG-related issues, involvement of compliance teams is more than inevitable. Listen in to learn more about the role of compliance in ESG efforts, including how to work with other stakeholders. Then be sure to join us at the 2022 SCCE European Compliance & Ethics Institute.

Post By: Adam Turteltaub Perhaps the most intriguing title for a session at the 2021 SCCE Compliance & Ethics Institute was “Re-Thinking Employee ‘Engagement': What's on Your Compliance Program's Dating Profile.” Not often you see references to dating the compliance department. To learn more about the session and the ideas behind it we sat down with the speakers:  Asha Palmer, Chief Ethics and Compliance Officer, Convercent; Scheretta Wilson, Director, Ethics and Compliance, Endo1Partners; and Ronnie Kann, Head of Global Ethics & Compliance, Energizer. While the title is a bit fun and out there, the lessons are very practical and close to home. The central idea is that people are watching and listening to see what compliance does and how it acts. That means compliance teams need to focus on being approachable, engaging with their audience and, frankly, trying to be likable. Or, as they put it, and to borrow from the dating apps, you want them to swipe right, not left. So what does that mean in practice? For one, being a good listener. Just as someone who talks all the time is a bad date, while a good listener is usually a much better one, compliance needs to be a place where others feel comfortable speaking, raising concerns, and asking questions. Compliance also needs to adjust to who is on the other side of the table. For leadership the keys they see are securing buy in early, keeping it simple, and using their own language, such as demonstrating financial ramifications. For the rank-and-file workforce, success comes from helping them understand risk and what to look out for. It also means being approachable and present. And, when it comes to middle management, a group that is often overwhelmed with demands from above and below, be collaborative. Ask them how things are going both personally and for the business. Find out what's keeping them up at night. Talk about data, metrics, business impact and financial outcomes. It's the love language of business. Listen in to learn more, and then spend some time considering your own team's dating profile.

Post By: Adam Turteltaub Bankruptcy doesn't come up a lot at compliance conferences, but it did at the SCCE 2021 Compliance & Ethics Institute. Kasey Ingram, General Counsel & Chief Compliance Officer at ISK Americas and Rocco Debitetto, Partner at Hahn Loesser addressed the topic, which is one worth considering. There's no guarantee that any company won't end up in Chapter 11 or won't acquire another company going through it. As they explain in this podcast, while the importance of compliance doesn't change during a bankruptcy, the environment in which it operates transforms dramatically. Chapter 11 is designed to help the company breathe, reorganize, redeploy its assets and hopefully continue to operate. But while for rank and file employees it is likely business as usual (with a good amount of stress added) for management it's a frantic time. More, who and where compliance reports may be very different. The debtor in possessions appoints officers and managers to run the company, and these individuals may be different than the people the compliance team had reported to. They also are focused on, as quickly as possible, saving the company and getting it back on its feet.  Compliance is not a priority. As a result, it's important for compliance to do two things quickly. First, make sure the new management knows who the compliance team is and what it does. Second, let them know that you are not there to get in the way but to help avoid potential problems that will add greater complexity to the reorganization efforts. On a tactical level there's a need to ensure that leadership, when reviewing contracts, knows which ones are essential to running the compliance programs. Canceling the helpline contract, for example, may save money but should not be on the table. Compliance also needs to be on the lookout for empty chairs. Chapter 11 is typically a time when there is substantial turnover. Keep a vigilant eye out for departures by people who have compliance responsibilities, and be prepared to backfill the positions. What happens if your company is healthy and acquiring a company out of Chapter 11? Expect insufficient time to do the standard due diligence. The good news is that the US Department of Justice generally understands that post-acquisition due diligence may be necessary, but don't wait too long to do it. Then if you find issues, be sure they are addressed promptly. In sum, even if bankruptcy seems far away, it's worth taking the time to listen to this podcast. Even seemingly healthy companies can take a sudden downturn, or acquire another entity that is in Chapter 11.

Post By: Adam Turteltaub Social media has now become a permanent fixture of our lives, but that doesn't mean we're altogether comfortable with it.  And for compliance professionals, there is  a constant and changing range of risks, reports Kortney Nordrum, Regulatory Counsel & Chief Compliance Officer for Deluxe.  She will be leading the session “Social Media:  Old Platforms, New Risks” at the 2021 SCCE Compliance & Ethics Institute. To understand the risks, in this podcast we take a look at several different types, starting with the organization's own social media activities.  She advises that, despite the informality of social media, companies need to think through their communications like they would advertising or PR: professionally.  That means using appropriate language, checking the hashtags to make sure that they aren't being used elsewhere online where the meaning may be inappropriate, and having someone responsible for the activity.  It also means having a defined objective and a method for measuring if the social media is achieving what it is supposed to. Organizations should also engage in what she calls “social listening”:  seeing what others are saying about you online.  Visit sites such as Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Glassdoor, Yelp, Amazon and Google reviews.  Use them to understand how people are interacting with your organization and their experiences. When it comes to looking at what employees are doing online, she cautions that the National Labor Relations Act covers a wide range of employee activities and protects them.  Generally speaking, the National Labor Relations Board has found that employees have the right to complain online about compensation and work conditions. Also, exercise caution when reacting to that bikini-clad photo on Facebook.  There's probably nothing you can or should do about it. Be cautious, too, about the new platforms that have emerged.  Their data practices may be cause for concern. Finally, she recommends using social media as a means for compliance teams to connect with the business people.  It provides opportunity to engage with them both in a formal professional way, as well as informally. Listen in to learn more, and be sure to catch her session “Social Media:  Old Platforms, New Risks” at the 2021 SCCE Compliance & Ethics Institute.

Post By: Adam Turteltaub Third party anti-corruption due diligence didn't stop during the pandemic, but it was different.  And, as the world begins to, hopefully, emerge from the pandemic Ashley Coselli, Senior Ethics and Compliance Counsel, Total American Services and Daniel Wendt, Member, Miller & Chevalier suggest in this podcast that companies should now go back to their files and see where there are holes The two of them will be leading the session Managing the Most Difficult and Most Important Anti-Corruption Due Diligence Projects at the 2021 SCCE Compliance & Ethics Institute, which will be taking place September 19-22. As you look through the due diligence files you are likely to find that one of the more important pieces missing is the face-to-face interaction that can be so important when gauging the risks posed by a third party. Once travel becomes safe and practical again, it's important to get those relationship going, especially with high-risk relationships such as those with sales agents and joint venture partners. Next, determine how effective their compliance programs are, and begin to triage based on the greatest risks. But, they advise, don't try to do everything all at once. It can just be too much. Also, invest the time to fill in the knowledge gaps about ownership structure to determine if anyone from the government, a former government official, or even a close family member of one has a stake in the organization. As you fill in the blanks, make sure to document what you are doing and have done, including the business justification for using a third party. It can be dreadfully difficult during a government investigation five years from now answering why the company decided it needed a third party, how it made the selection and why there were gaps in the due diligence. But, if you have been documenting your actions all along, the challenge is much less significant. One issue to consider that doesn't involve the pandemic: Stop periodically to assess your current relationships. Sometimes a third party is brought on to handle one issue, and then over time the relationship expands greatly. Be sure to periodically ask: Is there the necessary due diligence for all the entity is doing, or just what it was initially hired to do? Listen in to learn more about this very thorny risk area, and then join us virtually or in person at the 2021 SCCE Compliance & Ethics Institute.

Post By: Adam Turteltaub Consistent discipline is difficult for organizations, especially when high performers are involved. It's even more difficult for large organizations operating in dozens of countries around the world, navigating multiple cultures. Yet, Dentsu International was not afraid to take on the challenge. In this podcast, and at their session at the 2021 SCCE Compliance & Ethics Institute, three Regional Ethics & Compliance Directors from the company -- Elaine Ong (APAC), Kalpana Kothari (EMEA) and Caveni Wong (Americas) – share what it took to put together consistent global disciplinary guidelines in a decentralized organization. The goal of the project was to impose consequence and improve accountability around the globe. A first draft was created and reviewed by the regional compliance directors, legal, HR and internal audit. Then, approval was obtained from the Global CEO and Chairman before being presented to the board. The entire process took ten months. And that was just the starting point. After that came the task of rolling it out. Critical to the next phase was the support of senior management, the board, HR and business leaders. With their support the compliance team worked with local businesses to ensure that they understood the guidelines and how to apply them. Compliance also let the business know that it would not be alone. Compliance would be supporting them along the way. Some of the other keys to success: Develop a simplified framework that is easy to understand Create case-based training to provide opportunities to practice decision making Develop supporting collateral Review employee feedback Listen in to learn more, and then plan on attending their virtual session at the 2021 SCCE Compliance & Ethics Institute

Post By: Adam Turteltaub So much attention is paid to vetting third parties, it's easy to forget that it is just the start of the process. Monitoring needs to be done on an ongoing basis as well. Ronnie Kann, head of Global Ethics & Compliance at Energizer Holdings and Trent Sandifur, partner at Taft Law will be addressing that topic in their virtual session “What Does Third-Party Compliance Monitoring Look Like in Real Life?” at the 2021 SCCE Compliance & Ethics Institute.  In this podcast they caution that it's advisable to think of monitoring not as something separate but as a part of a larger third-party due diligence program. That program includes: Keeping an eye on what's going on with the third party Understanding what the risks are Thinking about how to monitor Making any improvements necessary to ensure the risk is effectively managed How do you get the vendor on board for the monitoring process? They recommend beginning by ensuring that monitoring is included in the initial agreement. That helps both set and manage expectations. Also, work with the vendor to make sure that while getting the information you need you are not unnecessarily burdening them. Be sure also to avoid overburdening your own business people, but, at the same, time, it's essential that they recognize that they own the risk. This can help create a spirit of partnership that will help protect your organization and make the process go smoother. Finally, they close the podcast with a discussion of what to think about as the pandemic ends and business starts catching up on all the due diligence that was done only partially when the pandemic made travel impossible. They recommend taking a risk-based approach to what you were unable to do. Listen in to learn more, and be sure to join their session session “What Does Third-Party Compliance Monitoring Look Like in Real Life?” at the 2021 SCCE Compliance & Ethics Institute.

Post By: Adam Turteltaub What does the SEC expect from an internal investigation?  It's a topic that Nick Morgan, partner, Paul Hastings and Andy Dunbar, Chief Compliance Officer, Herbalife Nutrition tackle in this podcast and will be addressing at the 2021 SCCE Compliance & Ethics Institute. So what makes for a good internal investigation?  It starts before the investigation even begins with a robust whistleblower program, speak-up culture and easily accessible reporting opportunities. It also includes a disciplined investigation process.  That means someone need to be monitoring it to ensure that matters don't fall through the cracks, that they get assigned efficiently, and that all investigations are moving forward.  In addition, someone has to be designated to review the final outcome of the investigations and determine if the right people were spoken to and the right documents examined. And while the emphasis and effort will be placed on those tips that seem to have merit, It's important to remember that the vast majority of them will not.  Yet, even for those that are unsubstantiated, take the time to document what was done and how conclusions were reached. No matter if a claim does or doesn't have merit, they advise ensuring that an adequate program is in place to protect whistleblowers from retaliation.  That includes a documented anti-retaliation policy and processes available for both employees to turn to and regulators to see.  Be sure also to let whistleblowers know that the same channels they used to report wrongdoing can be used to report retaliation as well. It is also advisable for the compliance team to stay in contact with the whistleblower, even checking in a couple of months after an investigation concludes to make sure he/she is doing okay.  That can be very reassuring to the whistleblower and demonstrate that the compliance program is trustworthy. Finally, they address what the compliance team can do, should the matter escalate to the point that the organization self-report, or if the SEC or DOJ comes knocking.  These include: Reviewing hotline data to see if there were any early indications of the problem Amassing the data to demonstrate the effectiveness of the compliance program Preparing a plan to remediate Listen in to learn more, and be sure to attend their session What the SEC Expects from Your Internal Investigation:  Former SEC Enforcement Attorneys Share Their Insights at the 2021 SCCE Compliance & Ethics Institute.

Post By: Adam Turteltaub Mergers and acquisitions can be filled with landmines.  To find out what compliance teams can do to help manage the risk, and help ensure a successful transaction for the business unit, we spoke on this podcast with Fernanda Beraldi, Senior Director, Ethics and Compliance at Cummins Inc. and Ed Broecker, Partner, Foster Brown Todd.  The two of them will be leading the session Compliance Diligence in M&A:  Best Practices from LOI to Integration at the 2021 SCCE Compliance & Ethics Institute, which will be taking place in-person and virtually September 19-22, 2021. Since the earlier compliance is brought into the M&A process the better, they advise developing a close relationship with the business. The goal is to have compliance involved starting with the initial discussions, even before there is a letter of intent. When doing a compliance assessment, they recommend conducting a risk-based approach, to a point. Looking at legal and regulatory risk areas are important, but as important is looking at the corporate culture. Get a handle on whether the compliance program simply exists on paper or is woven into the way the company does business. Take the time to interview the compliance team at the target company and ask specific questions about culture, training, and receptiveness to compliance. Be alert also to one red flag that is often missed: the absence of helpline calls and cases.  While it is hard not to miss the red flag of a lot of calls from a facility or a large number of investigations, it can be easy not to notice when there are far too few calls, or none at all. That may be the very troubling sign of a culture that makes it difficult, if not impossible, for employees to raise their hands when they see something wrong. After the acquisition, they advocate for the creation of a compliance champions or ambassadors program. Having people in other departments who can be the eyes, ears, arms and legs for the compliance program can be invaluable both for what is happening and for communicating compliance messages. Listen in to learn more, and to gain even more of their expertise, be sure to join us in Las Vegas at the 2021 SCCE Compliance & Ethics Institute.

Post By: Adam Turteltaub What do the current times and the times to come mean for corporate values? To answer that question we turn in this podcast to Marjorie Doyle, Principal, Marjorie Doyle & Associates, and Art Weiss, Principal, Strategic Compliance and Ethics Advisors, SCCE & HCCA President and Chief Compliance and Ethics officer at TAMKO Building Products. These two compliance veterans, and members of the SCCE Basic Compliance & Ethics Academies faculty, will be addressing the topic in their session “Polish Your Brand! Make Your Values Apply to Current Issues” on September 19th at the 2021 SCCE Compliance & Ethics Institute. When faced with such monumental changes as we are today they advise sticking to your values but looking to see if it is time to evolve the definitions. As an example they point to the value of safety, which now should likely reflect not just preventing injuries from things such as falls, but also from COVID-19. Likewise, they argue that with remote work values remain just as important, but organizations need to recognize that the application of those values is different. Studies have long shown that company values tend to be stronger for employees in the corporate headquarters than they are for those farther away. With so many workers no longer in the office, organizations will need to work harder to keep their values front and center and a driver of corporate culture. And how can organizations bridge the very different experiences of workers who come into the office and those who don't? They advise regular communications from leadership filled with examples that reinforce the organizational culture. Those communications, and others, should also explain how the organization's values are being applied to meet the changing environment. Listen in to learn more, and be sure to join us at the 2021 SCCE Compliance & Ethics Institute.