The Ethics Experts
Elevating Ethics & Compliance and HR
Business
Management
1
Episode 227 - Jason Lesandrini
Jason Lesandrini, PhD, FACHE, LPEC, HEC-C is a distinguished ethicist and leader with over two decades of experience in clinical, research, and organizational ethics. He is the founder and principal of The Ethics Architect: an outcomes-driven consulting firm specializing in the assessment and execution of ethics programming, the creation of ethical cultures and developing ethical leaders. In addition, he leads the departments of ethics, advance care planning, spiritual health, and language access for a large health system in Georgia. As a certified Healthcare Ethics Consultant (HEC-C) and a Leadership Professional in Ethics and Compliance (LPEC), Dr. Lesandrini brings a unique blend of theoretical knowledge and practical experience to his work. He has developed innovative programs in ethical leadership, ethical climate, and organizational ethics that have significantly improved organizational culture. Connect with Jason on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-lesandrini-phd-fache-lpec-hec-c-8a75658/
62 min
2
Episode 226 - Fabiana Klajner Leschziner
In this episode of The Ethics Experts, Nick welcomes Fabiana Klajner Leschziner. Fabiana is the Embraer Chief Compliance and Governance Officer since January 2025. From June 2016 to December 2024, she was the Executive Vice President, General Counsel & Chief Compliance Officer of the Company. Prior to joining Embraer, she worked at DuPont in Brazil from September 2002 to June 2016 as Legal Director for Brazil and the Andean Region, responsible for the legal aspects of all businesses of DuPont in Brazil and Colombia, Venezuela, Peru, Ecuador and Bolivia. From June 1998 to December 2001, Fabiana was an associate at Davis Polk & Wardwell in New York. Fabiana graduated from the University of São Paulo School of Law in 1993 and has an LL.M degree from Cornell Law School, Ithaca, USA, 1998. She specialized in corporate law, corporate finance, capital markets, antitrust, international trade and compliance.
52 min
3
Episode 225 - Jacqui Pruet
In this episode of The Ethics Experts, Nick welcomes Jacqui Pruet. Jacquelyn Pruet - Driving change in challenging environments to achieve desired outcomes. Your solution to corporate content strategy, creation, program implementation, and oversight. A corporate "McGyver" that gets your organization to the moon with scotch tape, bubble gum, and a toothpick. A change management specialist, legal expert, and strategist that helps organizations achieve measurable outcomes for behavioral modification goals by creating award-winning programs which are cost effective and impactful. Connect with Jaqcui on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jacquelynsgpruet
55 min
4
Episode 224 - Elena Kohn
In this episode of The Ethics Experts, Nick welcomes Elena Kohn. After graduating from University College London and Stetson University College of Law (both with honors), Elena has been focusing her legal career in the healthcare space. She understands the challenges businesses face when navigating the ever-changing healthcare regulatory landscape. At AdventHealth, Elena is responsible for advice and counsel to several hospitals in the West Florida Division of the company in connection with healthcare legal issues, including medical staff issues, patient issues, physician contracts, practice acquisitions, Board advising, corporate matters, and federal and state laws. She has two children and loves fine-tuning her debate skills with her young daughter.For an extra challenge, she takes on her teenage son – and sometimes wins. Connect with Elena on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elenakohn/
51 min
5
Episode 223 - Anitha Vittal
In this episode of The Ethics Experts, Nick welcomes Anitha Vittal. Anitha is recognised as a global ethics, risk, compliance and internal audit leader with proven experience and expertise in establishing Centres of Excellence at GCCs across industry verticals. A passionate professional, she has over 23 years of service in leading and developing high performing teams across India, Europe and US markets. Her engagements include - internal audit, risk management, compliance, business process and financial compliance, data privacy, SoX, GRC program management, digitisation.
47 min
6
Episode 222 - Pat Poitevin
In this episode of The Ethics Experts, Nick welcomes Pat Poitevin. Mr. Pat Poitevin is an internationally recognized expert in anti-corruption, corporate ethics, and compliance. He is the co-founder and executive director of the Canadian Centre of Excellence for Anti-Corruption (CCEAC). He is also co-founder & CEO of the boutique advisory firm Active Compliance and Ethics Group (ACEG). Mr. Poitevin is a 35-year veteran of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and retired in October 2017, where he was the RCMP's anti-corruption and compliance expert. He has also been an investigator and expert on drugs, organized crime, and financial crime. He is in demand as a speaker, university lecturer, and trainer at the international level and has extensive experience in program development and capacity building. Mr. Poitevin has been advising and helping public and private organizations to improve their ethics, compliance, and anti-corruption measures. Mr. Poitevin has also worked on research, consultative, and advisory projects with the G20, UNODC, and the IMF. He was a member of the Canadian Project Committee (PC278) involved in the development of the ISO 37001 Anti-bribery and ISO 37002 Whistleblowing Management systems standard as well ISO 42001 AI Management systems. He is a member of the Transparency International Expert Network, ACFE, IAFCI, AACI, and several other professional associations. He also has the CACM and TASA professional designations. He is a member of Transparency International Canada and a Certified Anti-Corruption Manager (CMAC-USA). Connect with Pat on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/patpoitevin/
64 min
7
Episode 221 - Elizabeth Wilks-Wood
In this episode of The Ethics Experts, Nick welcomes Elizabeth Wilks-Wood. Elizabeth is a barrister by training, who started her legal career as a regulator, in the Office of Telecommunications and the European Commission. She has over 20 years’ in house experience of advising companies in the UK and internationally, including at Digicel, du and Royal Mail. Elizabeth is passionate about making compliance simple, and empowering all to make ethical decisions every day. In 2017, her team in Royal Mail was awarded “In House Compliance Team of the Year” by Women in Compliance. In 2018, as compliance lead for the Ritz Hotel Casino, the company was awarded “Socially Responsible Operator of the Year”, for their innovative work with a clinician and economist, to proactively identify those who may develop problematic play. She joined Carlsberg in 2019, and during her tenure her team worked to embed and enhance compliance in over 100 markets, many of which are high risk. Elizabeth is a lifelong learner. She has master’s degrees in international business law, economics and a distinction in the psychology of behaviour change. Connect with Elizabeth on LinkedIn: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/elizabeth-wilks-wood-46b0b448
58 min
8
Episode 220 - Michael Levin
In this episode of The Ethics Experts, Nick welcomes Michael Levin. Michael Levin has a proven track-record of developing strategies and tactics for reducing compliance and ethics risks and has designed best-practice compliance programs for more than 100 companies. Michael spent 10+ years overseeing Compliance and Ethics at Freddie Mac, leading a team of compliance professionals and corporate investigators, and setting the strategy to manage and mitigate Ethics, Culture and Conduct risk across the enterprise. This includes the Compliance Helpline, the Code of Conduct, employee trading controls, corporate investigations, and enterprise risk and compliance training. Levin was the founder of and also served as Secretary of Freddie Mac’s Conduct Risk Committee. Connect with Michael on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-levin-0a958a1/
61 min
9
Episode 219 - Mark Jaffe
In this episode of The Ethics Experts, Nick welcomes Mark Jaffe. Mark Jaffe leads the Rivian ethics, compliance and privacy program which includes ethical culture, compliance oversight, privacy, and investigations. He leads a team of 16 people which includes privacy professionals, lawyers, compliance professionals, and investigators responsible for developing and implementing Rivian’s ethics, compliance and privacy programs and to investigate allegations of employee wrongdoing. Mark and his team work on issues related to privacy, information governance, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, and data ethics. https://www.linkedin.com/in/markjaffe/
67 min
10
Episode 218 - Ken Myers
In this episode of The Ethics Experts, Nick welcomes Ken Myers. Ken Myers is a global strategic business executive of global product compliance turned regulatory and business consultant with a passion and history of building organizations, relationships, practices, and cultures aimed at defending and emboldening omni-channel brands following a cross-functionally collaborative, risk-managed, data-driven, decision-making approach. Ken has over 20 years of experience lifting Supplement, Functional Food, OTC, Cosmetic, and Beauty/Medical/Electronic Device brands to achieve their goals. He is presently the Executive Director of Regulatory Avenues Consulting.
56 min
11
Episode 217 - Matt Fawcett
In this episode of The Ethics Experts, Nick welcomes Matt Fawcett. Matt Fawcett is general counsel for DXC Technology. He serves as principal counsel and advisor to senior leadership and the DXC Board of Directors. He has global responsibility for all legal, privacy, contracting, mergers and acquisitions, litigation, and compliance activities, as well as government and regulatory affairs. Connect with Matt on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattfawcett/
53 min
12
Episode 216 - Guido Palazzo
In this episode of The Ethics Experts, Gio welcomes Guido Palazzo. Guido Palazzo is a professor of business ethics at the University of Lausanne in Switzerland and a sought-after adviser on ethics and compliance. His work has been published in leading management journals such as the Academy of Management Review and the Academy of Management Journal. Guido, along with Ulrich Hoffrage, authored the book The Dark Pattern - The Hidden Dynamics of Corporate Scandals. The book is set to release on June 3rd, 2025. In the book, Guido and Ulrich reveal why good people in organizations do bad things and how entire organizations can fall off a moral cliff. Connect with Guido on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/guidopalazzo-/ Learn more about the book and order: https://guidopalazzo.com/book-project/
58 min
13
Episode 215 - Jay Cohen
In this episode of The Ethics Experts, Nick welcomes Jay Cohen. Jay Cohen has a wealth of experience as an architect of comprehensive legal compliance and risk management programs that identify and prevent fraud, promote ethical business practices, and ensure compliance with global legal mandates. As both Chief Compliance Officer and independent consultant, he has proven effective at identifying and interpreting applicable regulations and then crafting and communicating required organizational responses, motivating individuals at all levels of an organization, and collaborating with business leaders to advance compliant business strategies. https://www.linkedin.com/in/jay-cohen-legalcompliance
66 min
14
Episode 214 - Todd Gower
In this episode of The Ethics Experts, Nick welcomes Todd Gower. Todd Gower serves as the Chief Compliance Officer at L.A. Care Health Plan, bringing a distinctive blend of Big 4 consulting, finance, technology, and healthcare governance expertise to one of the nation’s largest publicly operated health plans. In this role, he leads a broad portfolio that includes corporate and regulatory compliance, enterprise risk management, external audit coordination, organizational ethics, privacy, special investigations, internal audit, delegated provider oversight, and compliance analytics. His focus is on building a culture of compliance that not only meets regulatory expectations—especially across Medicare and Medicaid programs—but also supports L.A. Care’s mission of delivering quality care to its members, providers, and communities.
62 min
15
Episode 213 - Betty Tierney
In this episode of The Ethics Experts, Nick welcomes Betty Tierney. Betty Thorne Tierney is the Vice President, Litigation for a nationwide retailer. Betty leads the company’s in-house litigation team which actively defends the company’s uninsured litigation across the country. In this role, she has tried cases and arbitrations in numerous jurisdictions. Betty has also argued appeals in several federal districts and before the Missouri Supreme Court. In fulfilling this not so traditional in-house litigation role, Betty works closely with local counsel in the jurisdictions where her cases are pending. A 1990 graduate of Washington University School of Law, Betty spent her first two years of practice in a local law firm and has spent the remaining 33 years of her practice in-house.
43 min
16
Episode 212 - Margaret McLean
In this episode of The Ethics Experts, Nick welcomes Margaret McLean. Margaret B. McLean is General Counsel, Chief Risk Officer, and Corporate Secretary for TTEC Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:TTEC), a leading global CX (customer experience) technology and services innovator for AI-enabled solutions for many of the world’s most iconic and disruptive brands. Ms. McLean joined TTEC in 2013, with global legal, corporate governance, compliance, and risk management responsibilities for TTEC’s diversified business portfolio in 22 countries on six continents. She has special expertise in corporate governance and risk management, including data privacy, information security, healthcare, financial services, and public sector special regulatory regimes. She is also the executive sponsor for TTEC’s Impact & Sustainability/ESG initiative and the chair of the company’s Responsible AI Council. https://www.linkedin.com/in/margaret-mclean/
61 min
17
Episode 211 - Barry Parsons
In this episode of The Ethics Experts, Nick welcomes Barry Parsons. Barry Parsons is an Associate General Counsel for General Litigation. Barry litigates cases, advises clients, and manages outside counsel on a wide variety of legal matters including employment, contract, housing discrimination, insurance, fraud, counterparty receiverships, securities, and antitrust law. He also conducts internal investigations, prepares corporate policies, and advises the company on document retention, e-discovery, information governance, legal hold, privilege, litigation avoidance, and compliance issues.
46 min
18
Episode 210 - Leigh Mulholland
In this episode of The Ethics Experts, Nick welcomes Leigh Mulholland. Leigh Mulholland serves as the Chief Compliance Officer at the Kansas City Board of Public Utilities (BPU), where she oversees regulatory compliance, regulatory, environmental policy and compliance, enterprise risk management, insurance, and internal audit for both water and electric operations. Before joining BPU, Leigh spent 16 years at Capital Power Corp (TSE:CPX), a Canadian-based independent power producer, where she served as Chief Compliance Officer from 2015 to 2023. Under her leadership, Capital Power earned Ethisphere’s prestigious World’s Most Ethical Companies designation from 2018 to 2023. Her prior roles at Capital Power spanned Corporate Strategy, Business Planning, M&A and Asset Valuation, Commercial Management, Real-time Operations, and Finance, showcasing her breadth of expertise in the energy sector.
52 min
19
Episode 209 - Kurt Stitcher
In this episode of The Ethics Experts, Nick welcomes Kurt Stitcher. Kurt Stitcher is the Chief Legal and Compliance Officer at Nihon Kohden North America, Inc., a subsidiary of Nihon Kohden Corporation, a Japan-based medical device manufacturer. In this role, Kurt manages all legal and compliance matters for seven North American subsidiaries. Before NKNA, Kurt served in senior compliance roles in multi-national medical device, manufacturing, and technology companies, where he helped design, build, and lead various elements of global compliance programs. Before he moved in-house, Kurt spent over 20 years as a practicing lawyer, where he served as a Litigation, White Collar Criminal Defense, and Investigations Partner at a number of global law firms. He also spent several years as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in Miami, Florida.
48 min
20
Episode 208 - Michelle Scharfenberg
In this episode of The Ethics Experts, Nick welcomes Michelle Sharfenberg. Michelle has over 25 years of legal experience. She has spent the majority of her career in the medical device industry, providing legal advice to business teams, building compliance programs, and integrating compliance into business operations and culture. Michelle has served as Senior Vice President and Chief Ethics & Compliance Officer for Avanos Medical and Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer for Cantel Corporation (acquired by Steris Corporation). Prior to that experience, she held roles of increasing responsibility in the legal and compliance departments at Integra LifeSciences Corporation, including Chief Compliance Officer as well as General Counsel for Global Operations. She began her career as a law clerk in the District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania and worked at Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP (now Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP) before joining the medical device industry.
49 min
21
Episode 207 - Katherine Cohen
In this episode of The Ethics Experts, Nick welcomes Katherine Cohen, JD, CHC, CHRC. Katherine is the Chief Compliance Officer of Southern Illinois University (SIU) Medicine. In that role, Kate leads the compliance program for the SIU School of Medicine, the affiliated faculty practice plan and the SIU federally qualified health center. Focusing on collaborative, proactive compliance support for the organization, the compliance office is responsible for physician billing auditing and compliance, referral issues, conflict of interest, research compliance, research integrity, and privacy. Prior to her work with SIU Medicine, Kate has worked in healthcare and research compliance and legal positions. Kate is a graduate of Florida International University College of Law and Colgate University and holds certifications in healthcare compliance and healthcare research compliance from the Healthcare Compliance Association. https://www.linkedin.com/in/katherine-cohen-jd-chc-chrc-a6380b15/
55 min
22
Episode 206 - Scott Sullivan
In this episode of The Ethics Experts, Nick welcomes Scott Sullivan. Scott E. Sullivan was most recently the former Chief Integrity & Compliance Officer of Newmont Corporation, the world’s leading gold company. Newmont has approximately 20,000 employees and 25,000 contractors with 12 operating mines and 2 non-operated JVs in 9 countries. Mr. Sullivan oversaw, developed, implemented and managed Newmont’s integrity and compliance program including ethics, anti-bribery, corporate investigations, conflicts of interest and global trade compliance. Previously, Mr. Sullivan was the Chief Ethics & Compliance Officer of Flowserve Corporation, a global manufacturer of fluid motion and control products with approximately 17,000 employees operating in 55 countries. Linkedin.com/in/scottesullivancco
56 min
23
Episode 205 - Steven Robinson
In this episode of The Ethics Experts, Nick welcomes Steven Robinson. Steven Robinson (CIPP/US, CIPP/E, CIPT, FIP, AI Security & Governance) is the former Chief Privacy Officer and Associate General Counsel at Ricoh USA, Inc., where he led technology transactions teams and supported U.S.-based technology development, privacy, security, and compliance teams. In that role, he spearheaded AI, privacy, and compliance policy development and provided comprehensive legal support for new technology initiatives. Mr. Robinson came to Ricoh as the Chief Legal Officer of mindSHIFT Technologies, Inc., when Ricoh acquired it. He began his career as an Assistant District Attorney in the Manhattan DA's Office. https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevenhrobinson/ https://stevenhrobinson.substack.com/
55 min
24
Episode 204 - Gary Ballesteros
In this episode of The Ethics Experts, Nick welcomes Gary Ballesteros. Gary Ballesteros is Vice President, Law, Chief Compliance Officer and Ombuds. He leads the team of compliance professionals who oversee Rockwell Automation’s compliance with regulatory requirements around the globe. Under his leadership, Rockwell has been named one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies by Ethisphere Magazine. As the Company’s Ombuds, Gary serves a critical role in the Company’s culture of ethics and integrity. The Ombuds has a direct reporting authority to the Board of Directors and is empowered to investigate any claims or allegations of misconduct within the Company. The Ombuds maintains a variety of hotline reporting mechanisms that can be accessed anonymously by any employee worldwide; and he also manages a staff of investigative personnel and counsel who investigate any reported violations of our Code of Conduct.
47 min
25
Episode 203 - Curtis Oltmans
In this episode of The Ethics Experts, Nick welcomes Curtis Oltmans. Curtis Oltmans joined Fulcrum as General Counsel in November 2020 with over 25 years of experience in corporate law including senior management positions in legal departments at several leading pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies. He served as Vice President, Head of Litigation at DaVita Kidney Care, Inc. where he led a 30-person team and was responsible for all litigation, workers’ compensation and employee safety matters. Prior to DaVita, Curtis was Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary at Array BioPharma Inc. where he oversaw all legal, corporate governance, patent and compliance matters. He has served on the Avenue Therapeutics Board of Directors since April 2021. Curtis received a BA in political science from the University of Nebraska and his JD from the University of Nebraska College of Law.
58 min