5 Proven Ethics and Compliance Best Practices from Industry Leaders
In today’s rapidly evolving business environment, maintaining a strong ethical foundation is more important than ever. The ethics and compliance community continually seeks new ways to uphold integrity, ensure compliance, and foster a culture of trust within organizations. At the forefront of this movement is the Business Ethics Leadership Alliance (BELA), a global community where leading companies come together to share best practices, strategies, and tools that effectively advance ethics and compliance programs. In this blog post, we highlight five actionable ethics and compliance best practices from BELA members that can help you enhance your organization’s ethical standards and compliance strategies.
VP & Chief Ethics and Compliance Officer,
Allianz Life
1. Transforming Speak-Up Culture with Active Listening at Allianz Life
At Allianz Life, fostering a culture where employees feel safe and encouraged to speak up about ethical concerns is a top priority. Steve Koslow, Vice President & Chief Ethics and Compliance Officer at Allianz Life, recognized that while many employees believe in the importance of raising concerns, only about half actually do so. To address this, Allianz Life shifted the focus from simply urging employees to “speak up” to creating a culture centered around “being heard.” This approach empowers employees by ensuring that their voices are not just encouraged but truly valued and listened to by management.
By implementing this “Hear Me” culture, Allianz Life has redefined the power dynamic within the organization. Employees are now more confident in sharing their concerns, knowing that management is committed to listening and taking action. This approach not only strengthens the overall ethics program but also builds a more transparent and trust-filled workplace.
To hear Steve Koslow discuss this transformation in detail, watch the full interview: How Active Listening Creates a Better Speak-Up Culture
Lead, Ethics, Prudential Singapore
2. Bringing Ethics to Life with Mascots at Prudential Assurance Singapore
Ethics and integrity are often discussed in philosophical terms, but at Prudential Assurance Singapore, these concepts have been brought to life in a tangible and engaging way. Ei Ching, Lead, Ethics at Prudential Singapore, wanted to make ethics an integral and visible part of the company’s culture. The solution? A company-wide design competition that led to the creation of three ethics mascots: Ethel the elephant, Trustee the dolphin, and Shortcut the crab.
These mascots serve as daily reminders of the importance of ethical behavior in the workplace. Ethel represents integrity and the courage to do what is right, even when no one is watching. Trustee symbolizes the importance of trust and teamwork, thriving in environments where ethical behavior is a shared goal. Shortcut, while playful, represents the temptation to take unethical shortcuts, but also the importance of learning from mistakes. Together, these mascots promote an ethical culture within Prudential Singapore, making the company’s values more relatable and engaging for employees.
For a closer look at how Prudential Singapore brought these mascots to life, watch the full episode: A Closer Look at Prudential Assurance Singapore’s Ethics Advisers Program
VP and General Counsel-Compliance,
Ingredion
3. Enhancing Investigations with Continuous Training at Ingredion
Effective investigations are critical to maintaining an ethical workplace, and Ingredion has implemented a comprehensive approach to ensure their investigations are both empowering and effective. Kimberly White, VP and General Counsel-Compliance at Ingredion highlights the importance of selecting the right investigators, providing them with continuous training, and ensuring that objectivity and confidentiality are maintained throughout the process.
Ingredion’s approach goes beyond just having a policy against retaliation; they actively monitor their environment to ensure that employees feel safe when reporting concerns. The company conducts regular training sessions for their investigators, focusing on skills such as interviewing, report writing, and document review. These sessions are not just a one-time event but are part of a continuous learning process, ensuring that investigators are always equipped to handle new challenges.
By demystifying the investigation process and providing clear communication about what employees can expect when they report an issue, Ingredion has created an environment where employees feel supported and confident in the integrity of the investigation process.
To learn more about Ingredion’s approach to investigations, dive into the full discussion:How to Conduct Investigations that Empower and Engage
SVP, Global Ethics and Compliance,
Eaton
4. Leveraging Storytelling as an Ethics Superpower at Eaton
At Eaton, storytelling has become a powerful tool for reinforcing ethical behavior across the organization. Joe Rodgers, SVP, Global Ethics and Compliance, leads Eaton’s “Integrity in Action” program, which encourages leaders to share their personal experiences with ethics and integrity. By asking leaders questions about who influenced them as ethical leaders, how they handle ethical gray areas, and what tone at the top means to them, Eaton creates a platform where ethical behavior is openly discussed and celebrated.
These stories are then shared across the organization, including on Eaton’s onboarding site, ensuring that new employees are introduced to the company’s ethical values from day one. By making ethics a central part of the conversation, Eaton helps employees understand the importance of integrity and empowers them to act ethically in their own roles.
Explore how Eaton uses storytelling to promote ethics by watching the full episode: Storytelling Is Your Ethics Superpower
KKR
Feedzai
5. Integrating Compliance and ESG at KKR and Feedzai
In the fast-paced world of technology, staying ahead in compliance and ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) initiatives is crucial for long-term success. Mark Howard from KKR and Ligia Gutierrez Setubal from Feedzai emphasize the importance of embedding compliance and ESG into the company’s overall strategy. By making these elements a core part of decision-making processes, KKR and Feedzai ensure that they remain aligned with regulatory requirements and maintain a strong ethical foundation.
These companies monitor compliance through various mechanisms, engage with stakeholders, and provide regular training to ensure everyone is on the same page. By integrating compliance and ESG into the company’s DNA, KKR and Feedzai not only reduce risks but also build a sustainable business model that supports long-term growth and success.
For more insights on how KKR and Feedzai are leading the way in compliance and ESG, watch the full discussion: ESG & Compliance Are Part of the Portfolio
Join the BELA Community and Elevate Your Ethics and Compliance Program
The Business Ethics Leadership Alliance (BELA) offers an exclusive network where leading and emerging compliance programs share best practices, tools, and strategies to advance their compliance efforts. By joining BELA, you can connect with other professionals in the ethics and compliance community and gain access to a wealth of resources that will help you enhance your organization’s ethical standards.
Request guest access to the BELA member resource hub today:Visit here
For more valuable resources on speak-up culture, investigations, training, and more, be sure to visit the Ethisphere Resource Center at Ethisphere.com/resources.
