April 30, 2026

Tech Reckoning with Sarah Federman

24 minutes

How can organizations confront their histories of harm before being forced to reckon with them?

In this episode, Kate O’Neill is joined by Sarah Federman as they explore the crucial difference between deferred and acknowledged harm, and what real accountability can look like—especially amid today’s AI boom.

Topics covered:

Reckoning work vs. apologies, CSR, and ESG

Corporate accountability for historical harm

Inaction versus action in organizational ethics

Power asymmetry in AI data center expansion

Community impact and responsible leadership

The pattern of corporate reckoning across eras

Acceleration of accountability in the digital age

Building an ethical frame within organizations

First moves toward genuine corporate reckoning

Maintaining hope while working in harm and accountability

Connect with Sarah Federman
Website
LinkedIn
Instagram
Sarah’s new book: Corporate Reckoning: How Businesses Can Address Historical Wrongs

Episode Chapters:

00:04 Introduction and Host Welcome
00:35 Guest Introduction: Sarah Federman
01:47 Defining Reckoning Work
03:00 The Interval Between Harm and Reckoning
04:15 The Personal Connection to Reckoning
05:27 Deferred Harm and Corporate Inaction
06:57 Action, Inaction, and Neutrality
08:20 AI Data Centers, Power Asymmetry, and Community Impact
10:45 Protest, Creativity, and Avoiding Lazy Solutions
12:18 Patterns of Reckoning Across Industries
13:03 Ethical Acceleration and Real-Time Accountability
15:13 Emergent Accountability Mechanisms
16:05 Practical Steps for Responsible Tech Leadership
18:22 Institutional Change vs. Performing Change
21:11 History, Hope, and The Long Arc of Accountability
22:54 Book Details and Where to Connect
23:59 Closing and Credits

...more