Ethics Event
Enshrining strong morals in the bedrock of an organization is an essential objective for many leaders. Even the world’s largest and most established companies encounter ethical dilemmas and handling them poorly can create scandals that cost billions in fines while demolishing brands and reputations. In many cases, those behaving unethically at work even risk prosecution. Businesses today must navigate a minefield of evolving ethical hazards, from intrusive surveillance to cyber-security lapses, geopolitical fractures, and bias in AI-based tools. As the commercial environment develops rapidly, so do the moral questions that confront workers as they make everyday decisions.
Amid such a daunting array of pressures, ethical decision-making is a balancing act that is critical for both leaders and frontline employees to master. Fostering a culture of transparency and trust is important, at a time when consumers and the public put companies under increasing scrutiny.
Yet what does ethical leadership look like? How can business leaders, regulators and professional accountancy bodies work together to ensure ethics are upheld consistently at all levels of an organization? Who in a company is most responsible for setting the ethical tone? And how do different generations—from boomers to Gen Z—vary in their approaches to the ethical quandaries they face at work?
Against the above backdrop, the GAA sponsored a panel discussion in Brussels in May 2023 where the following questions were discussed:
- How can workplaces create an environment of accountability?
- How can leaders balance competing pressures and make the right decisions?
- What frameworks, mechanisms and policies work best to hold businesses to account?
- How can good corporate citizenship be used to attract, retain, and motivate ethical employees?
- How far should business leaders be held responsible for the actions of their staff?
- Do firms need to reframe ethical discussions for younger generations now entering the workforce?
Our panelists were:
Thomas Lee-Devlin (Moderator)
Global Business Correspondent, The Economist
Barry Melancon
Chair, Global Accounting Alliance and CEO, AICPA & CIMA
Emily O’Reilly
European Ombudsman, European Union
Audrey Morin
Compliance Director, Schneider Electric
Elia Yi Armstrong
Ethics Office Director, United Nations
Amanda Belcher
Senior Vice President, Edelman Global Advisory
The audience included business leaders and senior professionals working within: Business ethics; Policy; Regulatory bodies; Finance and accounting; Law; and Academia.
Read the event summary.
Watch the full panel discussion below.
Watch the recap of the discussion below.
Our Head Office
The Global Accounting Alliance
1345 Avenue of the Americas, 27th Floor
New York, NY 10105
USA
