2024 Olafson Ethics Symposium

Olafson Ethics Symposium

On Thursday, November 21, the Barry Auditorium in Nistler Hall buzzed with energy as the 2024 Olafson Ethics Symposium unfolded. This highly anticipated event, held annually, brought together students, faculty, and members of the business community to explore the critical role ethics plays in both personal and professional spheres.

This year’s symposium featured a captivating keynote address by none other than Erika Cheung, the renowned Theranos whistleblower. Erika’s courage in exposing one of the most infamous biotech scandals of our time captivated the audience. She shared her journey from medical researcher to advocate for transparency and integrity, drawing on her experience as a co-founder of Ethics in Entrepreneurship, a nonprofit aimed at fostering ethical practices in startups and innovation ecosystems. Her story, chronicled by major outlets like 60 Minutes, HBO, and ABC News, provided a powerful reminder of the real-world impact of ethical decision-making.

The Olafson Ethics Symposium, now a cornerstone of the University of North Dakota’s Nistler College of Business & Public Administration, owes its existence to the vision and generosity of Bob Olafson, a UND alumnus and ethics champion. With additional support from SEI Investments Company, this event continues to challenge attendees to think critically about their values in the context of business and leadership.

About Robert Olafson

Bob Olafson, a native of Gardar, North Dakota, is a two-time UND graduate with degrees in mathematics and business administration. His distinguished career at Securian Financial spanned decades, culminating in his role as Senior Vice President of Group Insurance. A Fellow of the Society of Actuaries and an advocate for ethical leadership, Bob has made significant contributions to UND, including establishing the Robert M. Olafson Endowment to sustain the Ethics Symposium since its inception in 2005.

This year’s symposium was another resounding success, sparking meaningful conversations about the importance of ethical principles in shaping tomorrow’s leaders. As the audience left inspired, the event reinforced UND’s commitment to preparing students for a world where doing what’s right isn’t just an option—it’s essential.