A CEO’s words on ethics and integrity matter. The CEO sets the tone, signals the company’s integrity priorities, and determines how employees understand the company’s culture. A CEO’s public speeches, online statements, and inspiring declarations signal leadership’s commitment to integrity. While CEOs are essential, they do not exist in a vacuum, they are one part of an integrity system.

The implications for the fight against corruption stemming from potential FCPA enforcement changes were examined meticulously in these pages. To situate these changes within the broader framework of business ethics, I spoke recently with Alison Taylor, Clinical Associate Professor at NYU Stern School of Business, former Executive Director of Ethical Systems, and author of 2024’s acclaimed Higher Ground: How Business Can Do the Right Thing in a Turbulent World.