Ethical Leadership: The past, present and future

Abstract

On 24 March 2010, Keith T. Darcy, Executive Director, Ethics and Compliance Officer Association, made a presentation at the First Annual Ethical Leadership Conference presented by The Institute for Ethical Leadership, Rutgers Business School, and The International Journal of Disclosure and Governance. Mr Darcy traces the trajectory of the recent financial meltdown from the lingering effects of the Enron era through the disappearance of Lehman Brothers and Bernie Madoff's US$65 billion fraud. He discusses the role of ethical leadership, the need for strong ethical culture, the importance of trust and the ethical challenges facing our future leaders. Mr Darcy concludes with the need for strong leaders who are willing to share their stories and have the courage to live their values. His speech is transcribed below in its entirety.