In this episode, we speak with Guido Palazzo, professor of business ethics at the University of Lausanne and his book, The Dark Pattern: The Hidden Dynamics of Corporate Scandals, which identifies nine toxic elements—a so-called “dark pattern”—that lead to corporate scandals. And, it offers nine actionable lessons—or a “bright pattern”—for building morally resilient organizations.

2:04: Identifying the "dark pattern" that unites the worst corporate scandals

4:41: Addressing the systemic cultural issues that get companies in trouble

7:06: Handling the psychological impact that scandals have on employees

10:05: Rejecting the dark pattern for a bright pattern of integrity

The Dark Pattern: The Hidden Dynamics of Corporate Scandals is available now wherever fine books are sold.

To learn more about Guido, please visit www.guidopalazzo.com.

For a wide range of free reports, articles, and videos on business integrity, speak-up culture, manager training, and more, visit the Ethisphere Resource Center at www.ethisphere.com/resources.

To appear on the Ethicast, drop us a line at www.ethisphere.com/ethicast.

Thanks for joining us! Until next time, remember: Strong ethics is good business.

In today's episode, we sit down with Andrew Jacobs, Chief Compliance Officer of Avangrid Networks. Andrew recently published a paper entitled, "Why Compliance Training Fails," and in it he outlines the major pitfalls that compliance programs are facing with their training. He looks into studies on human behavior and real life studies that parallel some of the issues organizations face with the failure to comply. He also gives great guidance on ways compliance practicioners can evolve their compliance training to greater effectivness. It was a wonderful, inspiring conversation, and we hope you enjoy it!

1:45 - The groundwork for this paper
2:53 - Guidance for practitioners as they work to make their compliance training more effective
5:42 - A look into some of the current research
11:48 - How we can create a "cultural norm" within our organizations
16:45 - Encouragement for compliance professionals

For more resources on effective compliance training, ethical culture, and more, visit www.ethisphere.com/resources

To read Andrew's paper, click here

You've got questions, we've got answers! In this episode, Erica Salmon Byrne answers another question from the membership of the Business Ethics Leadership Alliance about the global trends shaping ABAC regulation: How should companies prepare for the new UK/France/Swiss ABAC alliance? 

In this episode, BELA Chair Erica Salmon Byrne answers another question from the membership of the Business Ethics Leadership Alliance (BELA) to the benefit of E&C practitioners everywhere. And this time, it's about regulation: What does a good antitrust program look like?

Ethisphere's Ethics Quotient (EQ) questionnaire is a comprehensive evaluation of an applicant’s ethics and compliance program, culture, and governance practices, and it forms the core of the applications process for the World’s Most Ethical Companies recognition. On June 30, Ethisphere will release the revised EQ, giving prospective applicants a month to review its changes and prepare for the applications process. In this episode Ethisphere Director, Data & Services, Neal Thurston explains the updating process and what it means for you.

An embezzlement case of epic proportions shines a bright light on the importance of internal controls and speak-up culture, as federal prosecutors seek a sentence of 18 years for the former Detroit Riverfront Conservancy CFO William Smith for embezzling $44.3 million from the nonprofit over 10 years. Ethisphere Chief Strategy Officer, Erica Salmon Byrne, offers some much-neededethics and compliance context on what we can learn from this oversight failure, and how to prevent it at your organization.

Ethisphere Resource Center: https://www.ethisphere.com/resources

News link: https://www.clickondetroit.com/news/local/2025/04/14/how-former-detroit-riverfront-cfo-embezzled-40-million-undetected-for-over-a-decade/

News link: https://www.axios.com/local/detroit/2024/08/23/detroit-riverfront-conservancy-searches-for-new-auditor

News link: https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/300125283/202433209349321323/full

As a leading developer, manufacturer, and marketer in the highly regulated medical products industry, Convatec invests a considerable amount of time and energy into its Compliance Week program as a keystone event to advancing compliance across the organization, and further Convatec's culture of integrity. Convatec Deputy Chief Compliance Officer Chris Corallo explains how his team executes it.

Our latest question from the Business Ethics Leadership Alliance (BELA) membership asks, what are ethics and compliance best practices when it comes to managing an organization's "material risk-takers?" BELA Chair Erica Salmon Byrne has the answer.

For guest access to BELA: https://ethisphere.com/bela

Ethisphere Resource Center: https://ethisphere.com/resources

In this episode, Matt Silverman, author of The Champions Network: A Blueprint to Expand Your Influence and Spread Big Ideas in Any Organization, shares best practices for how you can start, develop, and grow an ethics and compliance champions network where you work. Champions networks are a proven way to broaden the reach of ethics and compliance programs and embed compliance into an organization’s culture.

Get The Champions Network: A Blueprint to Expand Your Influence and Spread Big Ideas in Any Organization on Amazon: https://tinyurl.com/u8ej5w3c

Ethisphere Resource Center: https://ethisphere.com/resources

Be a guest on the Ethicast: https://ethisphere.com/ethicast