I recently delivered the 2024 J. Craig Smith Business Ethics Lecture at the University of Alabama’s Culverhouse College of Business. Speaking about corporate ethics to this group of future business leaders was an honor. While I was there, I also gave talks to two business classes, which gave me closer interaction with the students on campus. Initially, I was contracted to give the annual ethics lecture in 2020, but it was canceled due to the COVID-19 lockdown. I was happy to go this year.
The Culverhouse College of Business at the University of Alabama is famous for bringing in accomplished speakers with unique personal perspectives on the ethical challenges inherent in business to give the famous annual lecture. This is a huge step toward ensuring a more ethical corporate future. When schools bring in speakers with experience, students have the opportunity to hear first-hand what it takes to do the right thing. And, they hear aboutwhat can happen even when retaliation is technically illegal. I touched on both of these points.
In my talk, we discussed the absolute importance of students maintaining their personal integrity as they progress through their careers and the importance of not condoning nor becoming involved in any way in behavior which might be considered “unethical.” And we discussed that if they find themselves in a company where they observe unethical behavior, even if they are not knowingly personally involved in it, unless they are willing to speak up, then they should quietly start looking for another job and to leave the company. Finally, we discussed examples of individuals who saw bad behavior and did not speak up, but stayed with the company. They all inevitably had bad things happen.
While giving the lecture on April 15, I also got to present awards to outstanding students in the college who consistently exemplify the values of integrity and compassion that J. Craig Smith built in his business career and personal life. The students receiving this annual award exhibit strong character, clear signs of rigorous ethical thinking, and a commitment to advancing the quality of life in the wider community, especially for those less fortunate. It is tradition that the guest giving the ethics lecture (me) awards the J. Craig Smith Integrity Award to that year’s recipients, which I presented to Micah Hodes and Sam Guerrero. I wish them both heartfelt congratulations and my personal thanks for their dedication to living within their ethical standards as they embark on their careers.
Richard Bowen is widely known as the Citigroup whistleblower. As Business Chief Underwriter for Citigroup during the housing bubble financial crisis meltdown, he repeatedly warned Citi executive management and the board about fraudulent behavior within the organization. The company certified poor mortgages as quality mortgages and sold them to Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and other investors.
