2008 Woodie Awards
Panel of four discuss leadership and ethics
Katherine J. White
Issue date: 9/26/07 Section: News
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By KATHERINE J. WHITE
kwhite@bc.cc.ca.us
Sports editor
One must become human before becoming a leader.
That is the Confucian take on becoming a leader as expounded by Bakersfield College philosophy instructor Michael McNellis during the panel discussion on ethics and leadership Sept. 20 in BC's Fireside Room. The presentation of four different perspectives on ethics and leadership was provided by the Norman Levan Center for the Humanities. Jack Hernandez, retired BC professor and director for the Levan Center, served as moderator.
"This is a timely and timeless subject," commented Hernandez about ethics and leadership in life and in the work place during his introduction to the speakers.
Sheryl Barbich, business consultant and interim executive director of the Bakersfield College Foundation was the first to speak, and her speech delineated the falsification of documents, lying to customers, diverting funds, outrageous CEO compensations, the alteration of documents, and other manifestations of deceit found in the business arena.
Before beginning, Barbich remarked, "I'm used to being in charge; this is a little too egalitarian for me," which was a reference to the panel format.
Barbich cited many recent examples of corporate dishonesty including Worldcom, whose executives were accused of falsifying reports. Barbich also mentioned the transgressions of Enron as well as whispering the local company name "Crisp and Cole" into the lectern microphone to general laughter.
Barbich cited short-term thinking as the root of company evil. Barbich stated that long-term thinking executives and employees are less likely to be dishonest, and that long-term thinking is in complete contention with the short-term goal of immediate gratification of self at the expense of the company. Long-term thinking is essential for a business to maintain a respectable reputation, Barbich said.
"The short-term view can create meltdowns," Barbich said.
Barbich lamented the past common tendency of businesses to focus upon profits rather than upon ethics as well as the impervious nature of executives at the very top of the corporate ladder who live in an ivory tower and cannot abide by disclosure of information that does not conform to their unrealistic perceptions. Barbich cited a business scholar from USC's Marshall School who said that those in close proximity with a company's customers are privy to all the information that a company needs to succeed. Barbich believes that every company should have an ethics code, and that the behavior of those at the top of their company will dictate the behaviors of their employees.
kwhite@bc.cc.ca.us
Sports editor
One must become human before becoming a leader.
That is the Confucian take on becoming a leader as expounded by Bakersfield College philosophy instructor Michael McNellis during the panel discussion on ethics and leadership Sept. 20 in BC's Fireside Room. The presentation of four different perspectives on ethics and leadership was provided by the Norman Levan Center for the Humanities. Jack Hernandez, retired BC professor and director for the Levan Center, served as moderator.
"This is a timely and timeless subject," commented Hernandez about ethics and leadership in life and in the work place during his introduction to the speakers.
Sheryl Barbich, business consultant and interim executive director of the Bakersfield College Foundation was the first to speak, and her speech delineated the falsification of documents, lying to customers, diverting funds, outrageous CEO compensations, the alteration of documents, and other manifestations of deceit found in the business arena.
Before beginning, Barbich remarked, "I'm used to being in charge; this is a little too egalitarian for me," which was a reference to the panel format.
Barbich cited many recent examples of corporate dishonesty including Worldcom, whose executives were accused of falsifying reports. Barbich also mentioned the transgressions of Enron as well as whispering the local company name "Crisp and Cole" into the lectern microphone to general laughter.
Barbich cited short-term thinking as the root of company evil. Barbich stated that long-term thinking executives and employees are less likely to be dishonest, and that long-term thinking is in complete contention with the short-term goal of immediate gratification of self at the expense of the company. Long-term thinking is essential for a business to maintain a respectable reputation, Barbich said.
"The short-term view can create meltdowns," Barbich said.
Barbich lamented the past common tendency of businesses to focus upon profits rather than upon ethics as well as the impervious nature of executives at the very top of the corporate ladder who live in an ivory tower and cannot abide by disclosure of information that does not conform to their unrealistic perceptions. Barbich cited a business scholar from USC's Marshall School who said that those in close proximity with a company's customers are privy to all the information that a company needs to succeed. Barbich believes that every company should have an ethics code, and that the behavior of those at the top of their company will dictate the behaviors of their employees.
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