In this episode of The Better Way?, Zach and Hui sit down with Dr. Leann Pereira to explore the psychology behind compliance training—why meaningful learning isn’t about entertainment, quizzes, or catchy trends, but about context, behavior, and relevance. Leann breaks down how bias shows up in everyday managerial decisions, why learning transfer requires realism over edutainment, and how organizations often underestimate the complexity of human behavior at work.

They also dive into the power of data to reveal cultural blind spots, challenge leaders’ assumptions, and surface the micro‑cultures that shape the employee experience. Leann explains how analytics from mandatory training become a diagnostic tool for identifying hotspots, predicting risk, and tailoring development—not relying on silver‑bullet solutions or buzzword‑heavy fads. It’s a clear-eyed, evidence‑based look at how real behavior change happens and what it takes to build healthier workplaces. Plus, the return of The Better Way? questionnaire!

Investigations can be rigid, legalistic exercises—but as Zach and Hui remind us, they’re fundamentally human. In this episode, they unpack the viral “Coldplay Kiss Cam” incident as a case study in why rushing to judgment is so dangerous, especially in ethics and compliance. From the purpose of investigations to the importance of withholding conclusions until the facts are in, they explore how curiosity, open‑mindedness, and fairness shape better outcomes for people and organizations alike.

They also break down the practical craft of investigations: who should conduct them, how to triage and scope matters, how to interview effectively, and why planning, documentation, and root cause analysis matter. Whether you're building an investigations program or sharpening your own investigative skills, this episode offers grounded, experience‑driven insights and investigate “better ways."

Critical thinking sounds simple—but in practice, it’s one of the most overlooked skills in compliance and culture work. In this episode of The Better Way?, Zach and Hui dive deep into what critical thinking really means: objective analysis, bias awareness, and evidence-based decision-making. They explore why curiosity is the foundation of critical thinking and why assumptions, incomplete information, and invalid metrics often lead organizations astray.

Through real-world examples—from FOFO (fear of finding out) to confirmation bias and groupthink—they reveal how these traps show up in compliance programs and what leaders can do to avoid them. The conversation closes with a practical framework for applying critical thinking every day: separating facts from perceptions, questioning assumptions, and seeking diverse perspectives. If you’re looking for strategies to improve decision-making, this episode is your roadmap. Oh, and Happy New Year!

It’s the last episode of the year, and Zach Coseglia and Hui Chen are taking a step back to reflect on what made 2025 so memorable. From a new presidential administration and major regulatory and enforcement changes to questions about the rule of law and the future of DEI— they talk through what these shifts mean for businesses and compliance professionals trying to stay grounded in an increasingly unpredictable world.

They also dive into the year’s other big headline: artificial intelligence. How much are people really using it at work? Do they trust it? And what does “AI-powered” actually mean? They’ll share some surprising data, practical insights, and a few laughs as they explore how companies can move beyond the hype to use technology in smarter, more meaningful ways. Plus, they highlight some of the most rewarding work they’ve done this year—helping organizations listen better and solve problems faster. It’s a thoughtful, honest wrap-up of a year full of change.

In this episode of The Better Way?, Zach and Hui unpack the complexities of corruption with Professors Oguzhan Dincer and Michael Johnston, authors of Corruption in America: A Fifty-Ring Circus. They explore why corruption is not a simple crime—but instead, a deeply entrenched phenomenon with long-term consequences for democracy, development, and institutional trust.

You’ll hear why defining corruption is harder than you think, how campaign finance and lobbying create a race to the bottom, and what our guests' five-year survey of political reporters uncovered about corruption right here at home. Plus, practical advice for those who want to fight back—not just by checking compliance boxes, but by demanding accountability and informed participation. By the end, you’ll see corruption not as a distant problem, but as a challenge we all have a stake in solving.

Root cause analysis isn’t just a box to check—it’s the difference between fixing symptoms and solving real problems. In this episode, Zach and Hui unpack why so many organizations stop short of the true root causes, settling for easy answers like “more training” or “rogue employee.” They explore how curiosity, context, and critical thinking can transform investigations from blame games into learning opportunities.

From the five whys to fishbone diagrams, they share practical methods for digging deeper and highlight why cultural and systemic factors often lurk beneath the surface of compliance failures. Along the way, they connect lessons from NASA’s Challenger disaster and Deepwater Horizon to everyday compliance challenges, showing how disciplined analysis and data-driven insights can prevent repeat mistakes and build stronger, smarter programs.

What do Icelandic elves, Chilean political ads, and Uruguayan tea rituals have to do with ethics and compliance? More than you’d think. In this episode of The Better Way?, Zach and Hui take you on a global journey—literally—sharing travel stories that spark fresh insights into culture, data, and the human side of corporate integrity.

From folklore that reveals workplace truths to a cruise ship complaint that becomes a case study in speaking up, this episode is packed with unexpected connections, sharp observations, and a whole lot of curiosity. Whether you're a compliance pro or just love a good travel tale, this one might make you rethink how we measure, motivate, and manage culture and compliance.

It’s human nature to be curious about what other people are doing. But is it helpful. And is benchmarking just a modern day, corporate version of our naturally human instinct to "keep up with the Joneses?” 

In this episode of The Better Way?, Zach and Hui dive deep into the widely used, yet often over-valued, practice of culture and compliance benchmarking. They define it, explore why organizations do it, and acknowledge its potential to inspire (and maybe even help you find “better ways”). 

But they also caution against over-reliance, arguing that benchmarking-based comparisons usually lack the context necessary to be truly meaningful. Understanding what others are doing can be helpful to charting your own course; but when things go wrong, there is rarely strength in numbers. And who the heck are the Joneses anyway?

In this episode of The Better Way?, Zach and Hui welcome investigative journalist Anna (A) Bianca Roach for a conversation about the intersection of corporate strategy, ethics, and global risk—and the evolving priorities for today’s corporate boards. Drawing from experience reporting for Agenda, a Financial Times publication, A shares insights into what keeps boards up at night: from tariffs and supply chain complexity to the murky waters of AI oversight and education.

A, Hui, and Zach explore the nuanced reality behind corporate DEI and climate commitments, where public silence doesn’t always mean inaction—and how short-term shifts in public transparency may have long-term effects on public trust. The conversation closes with reflections on immigration policy, the environmental cost of AI, and the importance of asking “dumb” questions . . . because sometimes, that’s where the smartest answers begin. A also also reflects on their journey from multilingual childhood in Switzerland to a career in journalism shaped by curiosity and interest in cross-border collaboration.

It’s easy to measure output. How many trainings. How many policies. How many messages. All "the things" we did to protect the company and shape a culture of ethics and integrity. But did any of those things work? And what does it even mean for something to “work"? In this episode of The Better Way?, Zach and Hui focus on the distinction between output and outcome—and advocate for a mindset of experimentation and verification. 

Drawing parallels to healthcare and public safety, they emphasize that true effectiveness involves behavioral change, risk reduction, and cultural alignment. But they also acknowledge that this is hard—so much harder than tallying up output. From FOFO (fear of finding out) to data access challenges, they unpack (some of) the reasons why compliance often falls into the output trap. And in the end, they call for a fundamental shift in mindset: one that starts with defining your desired outcomes, collecting meaningful data, and being brave enough to test whether what we’re doing is working.