THE ETHICS ADVANTAGE
Integrity Is Our Why

by TOM BUBECK

_{SPRING 2025 | THE ETHICS ADVANTAGE}

Integrity Is Our Why

by TOM BUBECK | Chief Executive Officer, Ethisphere

A question I often ask myself is, “Why am I here?” And I don’t mean the big meaning of life. I mean, why am I here, focused on why I’m spending my most valuable asset—time?

In fact, when I’ve interviewed people throughout my career, I have often been explicit in saying to the candidates, “Let me tell you why I am in this room.” Then I ask them, “Why are you in this room?”

When I try to boil that question down to just one word for myself and for Ethisphere, it comes down to integrity. Ethisphere’s mission statement is to “Build a better world by advancing business integrity.”

I have to imagine that for many (if not all of you, integrity plays no small part in why you too are in this actual room or virtual room. I did a rough (and probably unscientific) review of companies that are represented here today and more than 90% have some version of integrity as one of their core values. It matters to you. It matters to your companies.

Integrity matters in business. Not just because it is morally right, and not just because a lack of integrity can lead to fines, penalties, jail time, and

other adverse legal consequences. Integrity matters because integrity is good business.

You may have heard us talk about the Ethics Premium. If you haven’t, the Ethics Premium derives from how publicly held World’s Most Ethical Companies honorees perform against “the market.” Our data shows that companies that have robust ethics and compliance programs outperform the market. This year’s Ethics Premium shows that this year’s World’s Most Ethical Companies honorees have outperformed the market by over 7%. In some years that outperformance has exceeded 20%.

Earlier in the Global Ethics Summit, we heard from ethics and compliance legend Larry Thompson, former deputy Attorney General and author of Quiet Counsel, as he spoke of the importance of a culture of integrity within an organization and the corrosive effects when it doesn’t exist.

Many stakeholders value integrity, as supported by multiple surveys. Employees want to work for organizations that are committed to their values. Consumers expect businesses to be transparent and fair. Shareholders invest more when they trust that a corporation is profitable and predictable and that includes acting with integrity, having good governance, and complying with the law.

All of this reminds me of a quote of Warren Buffet that has such broad applicability beyond the specific topic he is referring to: “In looking for people to hire, you look for three qualities: integrity, intelligence, and energy. And if they don’t have the first, the other two will kill you.”

I wonder what Buffet would think about hiring someone who lacks integrity and intelligence but has a lot of energy. Alas, that is another topic altogether.

All that said, the work you do can be hard. Headwinds may be stronger. But that is when you are needed the most! It’s when your organizations need you the most and when we as ordinary people need you the most.

Just look around this room. You are not alone. You have a supporter in every seat. You are surrounded by people with Integrity, Intelligence, and Energy. Lean into that. One of Ethisphere’s greatest privileges is to help facilitate this community of ethics and compliance professionals. We are so very grateful for that. ■