All pharma CEOs need to understand that they have a responsibility beyond that to their shareholders. Maximizing profits for shareholders beyond what is needed to earn a return on R&D investment—at the expense of people who cannot afford their pharmaceuticals—is unethical. Business ethics should be taught not only in MBA school, but in all undergraduate and graduate programs.
JoAnne Epps leaves a legacy that we all can learn from
“One question every leader should be asking is, ‘How will I be remembered by my peers, colleagues, and employees?’” Leaders, think about what was said to honor and celebrate the life of Temple President JoAnne Epps. What do you want to be remembered by? There is no higher calling in life than leaving behind a meaningful legacy.
What Starbucks can learn from critical judgment mishap
A major characteristic of some customer-facing employees and corporate decision-makers is the lack of common sense and good critical judgment. This can expose your company to significant liability. People without these skills should not hold customer-facing or management positions.
Will record-breaking heat finally catalyze the GOP to respond to climate change
Will the GOP lead like they have done in the past when they voted to pass the Clean Air Act in 1970 and take lead out of gasoline in 1975? Not tackling climate change is disastrous for the economy and for families, property owners and small businesses—groups that the GOP claims they champion.
CEO of submersible exploring Titanic didn’t abide by cardinal rule that safety is paramount
A primary responsibility of all CEOs is to ensure the safety of those who place their trust in them. Risking one’s own life to advance technology is one thing. Risking the lives of others is quite another. Stockton Rush showed a callous disregard of his responsibility to his passengers.
A lesson in narrowing the political divide in our country
An email conversation with one of my readers narrowed the gap in our views because we listened to each other and acknowledged each other’s points even when we did not necessarily agree with them. We are all patriots. We need to talk to each other and not at each other about issues impacting our nation.
Will denial of a rail permit to haul liquified natural gas through Philadelphia kill the project?
LNG released during a derailment is not only highly flammable, but also can be explosive, risking a catastrophe to people, property and the environment. There are over 1,000 train derailments each year. When the risk is small, but the result of a derailment could be catastrophic, you don’t take the risk.
Florida’s DeSantis vs. Disney: How will swing voters react to Reedy Creek action?
The GOP used to be the party of limited government interference in the affairs of individuals and companies. No longer. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, a possible Republican nominee for the presidency in 2024, is playing to the GOP’s base. Is DeSantis ignoring swing voters? Time will tell.
Customer-facing employees must possess emotional intelligence
How will a front-line customer-facing employee react in a volatile situation with a customer? They will fall back on their experiences, emotional intelligence, common sense and good critical judgment to defuse the situation.
Will Norfolk Southern board hold CEO Alan Shaw accountable for avoiding derailments?
It’s up to the boards and CEOs of railroads to change their mindsets and recognize that they need to be on a mission critical journey to eliminate derailments. Practically, zero derailments will not be achieved, but that needs to be the goal.
Does Norfolk Southern consider derailment avoidance a mission critical imperative?
The Feb. 3 derailment of a Norfolk Southern freight train in the village of East Palestine, Ohio raises the question—does Norfolk Southern consider avoidance of derailments to be mission critical? The airline and auto industries approach safety as a mission critical imperative. The railroad industry should have the same mindset.
George Santos should be held to the highest standards of ethics and integrity
All lawmakers must be held to the highest standards of ethics and integrity. I like the standard to which Warren Buffett held the employees of Salomon Brothers when he served as interim CEO: “Lose money for the firm, and I will be understanding. Lose a shred of reputation for the firm, and I will be ruthless.”