Leading with Courage: 21st Annual Olafson Ethics Symposium Welcomes WorldCom Whistleblower Cynthia Cooper

What does it mean to do the right thing when doing so comes at a cost? That question was at the center of the 21st Annual Olafson Ethics Symposium, hosted by the University of North Dakota’s Nistler College of Business and Public Administration on Tuesday, November 10th.

Established by UND alumnus Bob Olafson, the annual symposium was created to help prepare students for the ethical challenges they may encounter throughout their professional careers. After experiencing an ethical dilemma of his own, Olafson recognized the importance of equipping future business leaders with the knowledge and confidence to navigate difficult situations. Since its founding, he has partnered with SEI Investments to help grow the symposium and expand its impact on the UND community.

This year’s event welcomed Cynthia Cooper, internationally recognized ethics speaker, consultant, New York Times bestselling author and one of TIME Magazine’s 2002 Persons of the Year. Cooper gained national recognition for her role as the whistleblower who helped uncover the WorldCom accounting fraud, which at the time was the largest accounting fraud in corporate history.

Under the theme, “Leading with Courage: Building Trust and Shaping Our Future,” Cooper shared her firsthand experience navigating one of the most significant corporate scandals in American history and the personal and professional challenges that came with speaking up.

Cooper emphasized that doing what is right is not always easy, particularly when it means going against the grain. Speaking up can come with significant consequences, both personally and professionally. As she reminded attendees, “No one congratulates you for being a whistleblower.”

The WorldCom scandal had far-reaching consequences. Employees lost their jobs; individuals faced criminal charges and the company ultimately filed for bankruptcy. Yet, Cooper’s experience demonstrated the importance of standing by one’s values, even when the outcome is uncertain.

Throughout her presentation, one message stood out: “Your moral compass should always be pointing north.”

Her story served as a reminder that ethical leadership is not simply about knowing the difference between right and wrong. It is about having the courage to act on those values, especially when doing so is difficult. For students preparing to enter the business world, these lessons offer an important perspective on the responsibility that comes with leadership.

Cooper’s impact extends well beyond her role in uncovering the WorldCom fraud. She is the author of Extraordinary Circumstances, a New York Times bestselling book detailing her experience, and has continued advocating for ethics education throughout her career. She donated all profits from the book to support ethics education for high school and university students.

The 21st Annual Olafson Ethics Symposium continues a longstanding tradition of bringing real-world experiences and important conversations to UND students. Through Bob Olafson’s vision and the continued partnership with SEI Investments, the symposium provides future business professionals with an opportunity to learn from leaders who have faced difficult ethical decisions firsthand.

As students prepare to take on leadership roles in their careers, Cooper’s message is one worth carrying forward: doing the right thing may not always be the easiest path, but it is always the right place to start.

By: Raegan Schrankler