Navigating the Grey: Business Ethics in a Divided World
CPD Hours: 4 |
Ethics Hours: 4
Overview:
Moral leadership—and the idea of simply doing the “right” thing in business—has long been framed as straightforward: act professionally, follow the code of conduct, and all will be well. That may have sufficed in a simpler era. But in today’s rapidly evolving environment, where stakeholder expectations are polarized and reputations can unravel overnight, ethical leadership demands a more nuanced and personal skillset.
In this newly developed course, business ethicist and TEDx speaker Morgan Hamel makes a compelling case for why traditional ethics training is no longer enough. Drawing on a vivid real-world example from her time as CEO of the ethical fashion company The Garment Inc., Morgan makes a strong case that the ethical environment has changed, and we can’t navigate it like we used to.
You will explore the limits and tensions inherent in values-based decision-making and build key ethical leadership capacities, including moral humility and a commitment to viewpoint diversity. These are essential tools for navigating the gray zones of stakeholder tension, reputational risk, and public scrutiny.
Through guided discussion and hands-on exercises, you will also unpack key principles from behavioral ethics and cognitive science—such as the dangers of moral overconfidence and the “daffodil effect,” where a misalignment between intention and action quietly undermines trust. This interactive course equips accounting professionals with the insight, language, and leadership mindset needed to make sound ethical decisions when the path forward isn’t black and white.
Course Content:
In this course, you will gain knowledge about the following topics:
- Reframing Ethics for a Polarized Era: Explores how traditional approaches to ethics fall short in today’s environment of divided stakeholder expectations and reputational risk, using real-world leadership examples to illustrate the shift
- Developing Ethical Leadership Capacities: Builds skills like moral humility, ethical reasoning, and viewpoint diversity to help leaders make sound decisions amidst complexity, conflict, and ambiguity
- Applying Behavioral Ethics in Practice: Introduces concepts from behavioral science—such as moral overconfidence and intention-action gaps—and provides tools to recognize blind spots and strengthen trust in high-stakes decisions
Learning Objectives:
Upon completing this course, you should be able to:
- Strengthen ethical reasoning and real-world judgment under pressure
- Spot blind spots, bias, and early warning signs of reputational risk
- Navigate stakeholder tensions with integrity and moral humility
- Build trust and credibility in polarized, high-visibility environments
Whether you're navigating controversial decisions, managing reputational risk, or simply trying to lead with integrity in the age of “shares and likes,” this course offers a timely, practical, and eye-opening toolkit for today’s ethical leaders.
Who Will Benefit:
This course is for executives, managers, and professionals navigating values-driven tension and polarization.
More Information
| Competency | Ethics |
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