Richard Bowen

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October 5, 2022 By Richard Bowen

Speaking at the University of North Texas

Image of Richard M. Bowen at the front of the room with students filling the long, curved stadium seating tables.
Richard M. Bowen speaks to a full room of accounting students at the University of North Texas

I had the wonderful experience of addressing all the students enrolled in the highly esteemed Accounting Scholars Program at the University of North Texas. The students accepted into this coveted program will receive both their B.S. and M.S. degrees in accounting, with these graduates then being heavily recruited by the finance and accounting industries.

The ethics students develop now will affect their actions in the workforce. As Professor Madhuri Bandla emphasized to the students, ethics and integrity are absolutely essential to the accounting profession. Sharing my experience and the actions I have witnessed is my way of helping those essential features become part of a young accountant’s education.

In my address, “Through the Eyes of a Whistleblower,” we discussed how breakdowns in ethics had enabled massive frauds in banking and the financial services industry as well as government coverups, thus ensuring that no one would ever be held accountable for these horrible crimes. These widespread frauds caused the 2008 financial crisis, resulting in ruining the lives of many millions of people who lost their homes, pension funds, and livelihood. The Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission even asked me to change my testimony before presenting it.

Image of Richard M. Bowen speaking to a group of accounting students at the University of North Texas.
Richard M. Bowen speaks to Accounting Scholars Program students at the University of North Texas

We discussed how vitally important it is that they work for ethical companies and to ask questions when they see questionable behavior, because that gives the company an opportunity to have a meaningful dialogue with the individual and perhaps address the situation observed.

But I warned the students that if they ask questions about a situation and then get the feeling that perhaps they should not have said anything, then they should quietly start looking for another job with another company. They should get the heck out of there!

And we discussed real examples of employees who raised issues that were not addressed, but nonetheless stayed with the company, and who suffered painful consequences. It is always a pleasure to speak to college students about the importance of ethical behavior in all settings, in personal, corporate and government. These young scholars are truly the future of our country and are our only hope to reverse the downward slide of ethics in our country.

Wishing you a warm and happy Thanksgiving
Resisting Corporate and Government Corruption

Tagged With: business ethics, Ethics, University of North Texas

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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.

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What People Are Saying About Richard M. Bowen

William D. Cohan"Richard Bowen is one of my heroes. His is a story of human fortitude at its best and Wall Street at its worst."

~ William D. Cohan, NY Times Best Selling Author
2017-06-30T10:08:59-05:00
"Richard Bowen is one of my heroes. His is a story of human fortitude at its best and Wall Street at its worst." ~ William D. Cohan, NY Times Best Selling Author
https://richardmbowen.com/testimonials/2556/

Eileen McDonnell"Richard Bowen reinforced my motto that "there is no right way to do a wrong thing.” Long after his presentation, the conversation has continued about personal responsibility and the courage to challenge things that appear to be wrong. We encourage this dialog and rely on it to help make our business stronger."

~ Eileen McDonnell, Chairman, CEO, & President, Penn Mutual
2015-02-13T19:51:19-06:00
"Richard Bowen reinforced my motto that "there is no right way to do a wrong thing.” Long after his presentation, the conversation has continued about personal responsibility and the courage to challenge things that appear to be wrong. We encourage this dialog and rely on it to help make our business stronger." ~ Eileen McDonnell, Chairman, CEO, & President, Penn Mutual
https://richardmbowen.com/testimonials/711/

Ben Stein"Richard Bowen, you are a star and a hero."

~ Ben Stein, Economist and Political Commentator
2015-02-13T19:50:26-06:00
"Richard Bowen, you are a star and a hero." ~ Ben Stein, Economist and Political Commentator
https://richardmbowen.com/testimonials/712/

Jim Farrell"Richard's speech at the April Financial Executives International dinner was informative, interesting, riveting, and fast moving.  The feedback from members was overwhelming positive, and Richard received one of the few standing ovations given by our membership."

~ Jim Farrell, Program Chairman, Dallas Chapter, Financial Executives International
2014-12-28T19:48:17-06:00
"Richard's speech at the April Financial Executives International dinner was informative, interesting, riveting, and fast moving.  The feedback from members was overwhelming positive, and Richard received one of the few standing ovations given by our membership." ~ Jim Farrell, Program Chairman, Dallas Chapter, Financial Executives International
https://richardmbowen.com/testimonials/532/

Dennis McCuistion"Richard Bowen has been there, done that, and has the scars to prove it, and his message of corruption at the highest levels of industry and government needs to be heard. I only wish that more bankers had the courage that Bowen exhibits. He is not only one of the most talented bankers I have ever met, he has more integrity than all the bankers on Wall Street put together. If his former employer had listened to him taxpayers would not have had to bail out Citi for the third time in the last 30 years."

~ Dennis McCuistion, Host of the McCuistion TV program
2014-12-28T19:48:06-06:00
"Richard Bowen has been there, done that, and has the scars to prove it, and his message of corruption at the highest levels of industry and government needs to be heard. I only wish that more bankers had the courage that Bowen exhibits. He is not only one of the most talented bankers I have ever met, he has more integrity than all the bankers on Wall Street put together. If his former employer had listened to him taxpayers would not have had to bail out Citi for the third time in the last 30 years." ~ Dennis McCuistion, Host of the McCuistion TV program
https://richardmbowen.com/testimonials/533/

Betty Garrett"Richard Bowen is a dynamic, entertaining speaker and story-teller - a CPA with a great personality!"

~ Betty Garrett, Garrett Speakers International
2014-12-28T19:47:50-06:00
"Richard Bowen is a dynamic, entertaining speaker and story-teller - a CPA with a great personality!" ~ Betty Garrett, Garrett Speakers International
https://richardmbowen.com/testimonials/531/

fred-timmons"I believe Richard Bowen is the only keynote speaker to ever receive a standing ovation from the Texas Society of CPA’s at any of its annual conferences."

~ Fred Timmons, Chairman of The Texas Society of CPA's
2014-12-28T19:47:22-06:00
"I believe Richard Bowen is the only keynote speaker to ever receive a standing ovation from the Texas Society of CPA’s at any of its annual conferences." ~ Fred Timmons, Chairman of The Texas Society of CPA's
https://richardmbowen.com/testimonials/530/

Presentation Topics

Playing for High Stakes: The Principles and Practice of Ethical Leadership

Dark Citi: The Story of a Whistleblower

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Now an ethical leadership speaker, Richard Bowen was Citigroup's Business Chief Underwriter during the housing bubble.

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