Welcome to Ethical Insights – The Bernstein Center's online space for informative and timely content related to the Center's focus areas, including values-based leadership, ethical business practices, corporate social responsibility, governance, organizational culture, and the future of work.
Leadership and Ethics News
Insightful articles, expert opinions, and post-event round-ups highlighting the latest learnings on ethical leadership, social impact, belonging and inclusion, and the future of work across multiple professions and industries.
Business and Society, Ethics and Leadership, Social Impact
Leadership and Ethics News
Columbia Business School Professor Helps Corrections Officers Harness Stress for Well-Being
Professor Modupe Akinola shares stress management techniques with staff at a California State Prison.
Distinguished Speaker Series, Ethics and Leadership, On Campus
Leadership and Ethics News
Clara Wu Tsai, New York’s Champion
Clara Wu Tsai, Owner of the New York Liberty and Brooklyn Nets, received the 2025 Botwinick Prize for her empowered leadership, transformative investment in women’s sports, and advocacy of science and social justice.
Leadership and Strategy
Bizcast: Delta CEO Ed Bastian Shares Insights on Leadership, Ethics
Hear the winner of the 2024 Botwinick Prize in Business Ethics describe his values-based approach to leadership.
The Student Voice
Business and Society, Ethics and Leadership, The Workplace
The Student Voice
When the Right Choice Isn't Easy: Why Ethics Is Not Optional in Business
Student Leadership and Ethics Board member Theodore Davidson ’26 makes a case for why Executive Ethics should be in the EMBA core. He argues ethical leadership isn’t a “nice to have” skill, but a discipline to be practiced long before the hardest decisions arrive.
Business and Society, Ethics and Leadership
The Student Voice
Ethics and Professional Complicity: Reflecting on my Fellowship at Auschwitz
Adam Shen '26 shares insights and revelations from his time in Germany and Poland with the Fellowships at Auschwitz for the Study of Professional Ethics (FASPE).
Leadership, The Workplace
The Student Voice
Vital Connections for Workplace Success: The Power of Intentional Mentorship
Student Leadership and Ethics Board member Danielle Shapiro ’24 discusses how to be an intentional mentor and mentee in the hybrid workspace.
Leadership Digital Collection
TED Business Podcast
The question that saved my company from bankruptcy | Sharon Price John
Everything successful starts with heart — even the most pragmatic business plan, says Sharon Price John, CEO of Build-A-Bear. She shares how she led a purpose-centered approach to save the beloved teddy bear company from bankruptcy and get it back to global profitability, all by asking one powerful question. Then Modupe reflects on why focusing only on data and numbers aren't enough and how to reintroduce emotion and storytelling to help define change.
The Flourishing Future of Women's Sports | Kate Johnson
January 26, 2026
Women's sports are surging in popularity around the world, with record-breaking viewership, attendance and revenue growth. And yet, social media algorithms still skew towards covering men's sports. Olympic rower Kate Johnson, who now leads global marketing strategy for sports and entertainment at Google, unpacks why this is still happening — and what it will take to level the playing field for women’s sports. Later, Modupe makes the case for why you should watch more women's sports.
Why We Need to Know Our Lives Matter | Jennifer Wallace
December 8, 2025
It’s not enough to do important work — we need to know it truly matters, says journalist Jennifer Wallace. Drawing on her research into firefighters, caregivers and more, she shows how simple acts of acknowledgment and connection can fuel our sense of purpose in a world that too often undervalues recognition. After the talk, Modupe shares how you can practice gratitude.