Hello Kathleen and others,
My good friend, Bill O'Rourke, is a phenomenal speaker on business ethics. Bill is a retired executive from Alcoa. His career included diverse roles including serving as the inaugural president of Alcoa Russia (a $1 billion business). Bill was also in charge of environment health and safety at Alcoa when they became the safest company in the world (he has also been President of Sustainable Pittsburgh). He has spent the past few years speaking to groups all over the world (he's been a guest speaker for me for the past 18 years, and he has spoken at probably two dozen universities in the past three years). All students and executives love and are inspired by him. At a very large prestigious conference of executives last year at Deer Valley Resort in Park City, he was the highest rated speaker in their history (which includes many years and includes dozens of speakers a year - Fastow spoke at the same conference the same year as Bill and was rated far lower than Bill).
Bill loves to speak to young people, and he has phenomenal stories to share. He recognizes that universities generally don't have large budgets to bring in speakers so he generally agrees to come for travel expenses. He appreciates it when schools also provide a plane ticket for his wife so that she can join him, but that is not required. Below I've shared remarks from professors who have had him come in. Bill likes it when I promote him to my colleagues because he really enjoys the interaction with students. You can contact Bill directly at Bill.ORourke@meritleadership.com. Some of you have heard Bill speak at annual conferences of SBE, IABS, and APPE.
Full disclosure: Bill is the co-author of my new book The Business Ethics Field Guide. He is the co-author because I wanted to include all of his amazing stories, which was his contribution to the book.
Best.
Brad
Comments about Bill O'Rourke as a Business Ethics Speaker
"Bill O'Rourke is a rare and wonderful resource for all of us who wish to encourage more skillful values-driven leadership in business. He speaks from experiences forged in real world cauldrons and his stories are examples of clear-eyed, skillful implementation, driven by unwavering commitment, rather than mere "feel good" exhortations to moral courage. He has lived what he speaks of and he is committed to actually teaching others how to do the same, rather than celebrating his own achievements. His ability to bring ethical and lawful and humane management practices to some of the most challenging global business environments provides a source book for those who want to do the same." Professor Mary Gentile, Babson College; Director, Giving Voice to Values
"Bill O'Rourke is the consummate straight-shooter. His presentations to my students have been electrifying. He brings a practical, no-nonsense approach to the classroom, deeply rooted in his experiences at Alcoa. He engages students with stories and with thorny dilemmas. And then, just when the students are starting to get mired in rationalizations, he cuts right to the heart of the issue and reveals how leaders of integrity act." Professor Jeff Thompson, Brigham Young University
"Bill O'Rourke is an experienced business leader and a gifted storyteller. He brings professional responsibility challenges and ethical dilemmas in business alive for audience of all ages and experiences. Bill delivered the annual Leighton Lecture on Ethics and Leadership for the Center for Professional Responsibility in Business and Society at the University of Illinois College of business, and his content is referred to often by students, instructors, and alums. His willingness to share real challenges and practical solutions demonstrate that solving ethical and professional responsibility challenges is part of every business leader's day-to-day role." Professor Gretchen Winter, University of Illinois
"I met Bill O'Rourke several years ago at a conference for professors on best practices for teaching business ethics. On a 2-day program featuring many award-winning ethics professors from leading business schools, Bill's presentation was a highlight and an inspiration. His earnest and enthusiastic exploration of real-world ethical scenarios drawn from his three decades of executive leadership in both the U.S. and abroad was dynamic in its combination of "in the trenches" reality and theoretical reflection. Whether the audience is students or executives - or business ethics professors - Bill's voice of experience commands respects and stirs the type of ethical introspection the business community needs now more than ever." Professor Josh Perry, Indiana University
"Rare is the executive whose professional life fully integrates such fine personal values. What Bill O'Rourke knows about being an executive and ethical leadership can't be described or prescribed. But anyone lucky enough to hear him speak will have the opportunity to imbibe what it means to make courageous decisions." Ann B. Graham, Business Writer
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Bradley R. Agle, PhD
George W. Romney Endowed Professor
Professor of Ethics and Leadership
Romney Institute of Public Management
Marriott School of Management
Fellow, Chair of the Ethics Initiative
Wheatley Institution
Brigham Young University
Provo, UT 84602
801-362-8194
President, International Association for Business and Society
Author, The Business Ethics Field Guide
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Hi all, I am asking for thoughts about potential guest speakers for Marquette students, business, communication, law students, who could speak to students, about the importance of integrity in the workplace. Last year, Andrew Fastow spoke, he did resonate with the students, so some one can discuss ethical dilemmas that they have faced, and either made the right decision and/or wrong decision, but learned from it. Thanks in advance for your suggestions (there is not a huge budget for this, but a budget), Kathy Rehbein
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