Categories
Riskology

Riskology by Infortal™ Episode 29: Election Risk: Managing Ballot Box Uncertainty

Welcome to Episode 29 of Riskology by Infortal.™

With over half of the world heading to the polls in 2024, the stakes are high and there is a lot for companies to consider. The 2024 election cycle has certainly lived up to the hype so far, and its impact cannot be underestimated.

Join hosts Dr. Ian Oxnevad and Christopher Mason as they break down recent electoral developments.

Analyzing Recent Political Shifts in the UK and France

In a move that surprised many political analysts, Rishi Sunak, the UK’s Prime Minister, called for a snap election amidst significant political upheaval. The subsequent victory of the Labour Party marked a significant shift in the political landscape that had been dominated by the Conservative Party for the past 14 years.

France’s political climate has been particularly volatile, with the emergence of right-wing movements challenging the status quo. France also recently encountered a snap election. The recent political maneuvers in France have demonstrated how political sentiment can rapidly divide governments and significantly influence future policy formulations.

The political volatility in Europe, particularly in France and the UK, is increasingly reflected in market movements. This underscores the importance for companies with international operations to develop robust strategies to manage these risks.

The ability to call for snap elections, a concept foreign to the American election cycle, underscores how quickly political norms can change in Europe. This highlights the crucial need for companies to stay vigilant and understand how shifts can impact their operations, emphasizing the importance of proactive planning.

Managing Election Risk

From a global risk perspective, companies must integrate multifaceted political risk analysis into their strategic outlook to stay ahead of shifting policies and the impact to business operations. Companies need to proactively create contingency plans to navigate political change. This involves not just assessing immediate risks but also understanding the long-term implications of political shifts.

The Importance of Contingency Plans

Having a well-prepared contingency plan can provide a significant advantage, especially during tumultuous times. The COVID-19 pandemic has underscored the need for such preparedness, revealing vulnerabilities in logistics and supply chains.

Companies that anticipate potential political shifts and have contingencies in place will be better positioned to handle the election impact on markets and regulatory frameworks.

Executives must stay informed about political trends to remain agile enough to adapt quickly. To remain competitive, this involves focusing on compliance and anticipating the direction of policy changes. Organizations must integrate political risk assessments into their broader strategic frameworks to remain resilient.

As hosts Dr. Ian Oxnevad and Christopher Mason discuss in this episode, investing in political risk intelligence can provide a significant advantage for your firm.

We hope you can join us for Episode 29 of Riskology by Infortal!™

Resources:

Infortal Worldwide

Email

Dr. Ian Oxnevad on LinkedIn

Chris Mason on LinkedIn

Categories
Daily Compliance News

Daily Compliance News: July 22, 2024 – The Victims’ Families Edition

Welcome to the Daily Compliance News. Each day, Tom Fox, the Voice of Compliance, brings you compliance-related stories to start your day. Sit back, enjoy a cup of morning coffee and listen to the Daily Compliance News. All from the Compliance Podcast Network.

Each day, we consider four stories from the business world: compliance, ethics, risk management, leadership, or general interest for the compliance professional.

In today’s edition of Daily Compliance News:

    • Boeing victims’ families object to the DOJ monitoring process. (FT)
    • The Zambian President fires the entire anti-corruption board.  (BBC)
    • Alaska judge scandal prompts referral to OIG. (Reuters)
    • MAGA states fight against national AML policies.  (WSJ)

 

For more information on the Ethico ROI Calculator and a free White Paper on the ROI of Compliance, click here.

Categories
Adventures in Compliance

The Last Bow Stories: Compliance Lessons from The Adventure of Wisteria Lodge

Welcome to a review of all the Sherlock Holmes stories which are collected in the work, “The Last Bow“. It is a collection of eight detective stories written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle from 1908 to 1917. The collection spans some of the most intriguing cases and mysteries that Holmes and his loyal friend Dr. John Watson tackle.

Today we consider some compliance lessons and investigative insights from The Adventure of Wisteria Lodge.

Fox discusses the titular story and its context, ‘The Adventure of the Wisteria Lodge.’ He then explores compliance lessons from the story, such as the importance of due diligence, vigilance against foreign influence, recognizing red flags, protecting whistleblowers, and ensuring a coordinated response to compliance issues.

The episode emphasizes how these insights can enhance the effectiveness of an organization’s compliance program.

Key Highlights:

  • The Adventure of Wisteria Lodge Begins
  • The Investigation Unfolds
  • Compliance Lessons from Wisteria Lodge

Resources:

The New Annotated Sherlock Holmes

Sherlock Holmes FAQ

Connect with Tom Fox

Instagram

Facebook

YouTube

Twitter

LinkedIn

For more information on Ethico and a free White Paper on top compliance issues in 2024, click here.

Categories
FCPA Compliance Report

FCPA Compliance Report: Bob Tarun and Peter Tomczak on The FCPA Handbook, Part 1

Welcome to the award-winning FCPA Compliance Report, the longest running podcast in compliance. In this edition of the FCPA Compliance Report, Tom Fox welcomes Bob Tarun and Peter Tomczak from Baker & McKenzie in Part 1 of a two-part podcast series to discuss the latest edition of their book, The Foreign Corrupt Practices Act Handbook.

The conversation covers their professional backgrounds, motivations for updating the book, and significant changes in FCPA enforcement and compliance practices. Bob and Peter provide detailed insights into their writing process and some of the key defenses for FCPA investigations. Key trends in international anti-bribery and corruption enforcement, the evolving role of corporate compliance programs, and strategies for dealing with DOJ expectations are also addressed. The episode concludes with discussions on future prognostications for FCPA enforcement and how listeners can connect with the authors.

Highlights in this Episode

  • Meet the Authors: Bob Tarun and Peter Tomczak
  • Updating the FCPA Handbook: New Challenges and Insights
  • Key Chapters and Practical Advice in the FCPA Handbook
  • DOJ Policies and Corporate Compliance
  • For the Board: The Pitch Count Policy Caremark Duties
  • Defending FCPA Investigations: Strategies and Trials
  • International Anti-Bribery and Corruption Trends

Resources:

Foreign Corrupt Practices Act Handbook

Bob Tarun

Email: RobertWTarun@gmail.com

Phone: 312-714-0225

Peter Tomczak

LinkedIn

Baker & McKenzie

Tom Fox

Instagram

Facebook

YouTube

Twitter

LinkedIn

Categories
Trekking Through Compliance

Trekking Through Compliance – Episode 50 – Ethical Lessons from Patterns of Force

In this episode of Trekking Through Compliance, we consider the episode  Patterns of Force, which aired on February 16, 1968, and occurred on Star Date 2534.

When the Enterprise approaches the inner planet Ekos to investigate the cessation of communication with researcher John Gill, it is attacked by a rocket carrying a nuclear weapon. Kirk and Spock beam down to explore and discover that a Nazi movement has swept the planet. John Gill is their leader.

They are captured, and in jail, they find that the Nazi movement began with the arrival of Gill. They escape and penetrate Nazi headquarters. They discover that Gill is only the drugged puppet of Deputy Führer Melakon. Gill and Melakon are killed. Kirk and company then return to the Enterprise in peace.

Commentary

The storyline follows the Enterprise crew as they uncover a Nazi regime on the planet Ecos, led surprisingly by John Gill. The episode delves into the ethical and compliance implications of totalitarian ideologies. Tom Fox extracts key compliance lessons from this narrative, including the importance of thorough context understanding, identifying unethical practices, recognizing normalization dangers, gathering diverse perspectives, upholding principles, empowering whistleblowers, and using appropriate interventions. These lessons offer practical guidance for fostering an ethical and compliant organizational culture.

Key Highlights

  • Story Synopsis
  • Fun Facts and Behind the Scenes
  • Ethical Lessons from Patterns of Force
  • Practical Compliance Strategies

Resources

Excruciatingly Detailed Plot Summary by Eric W. Weisstein

MissionLogPodcast.com

Memory Alpha

 

Categories
Sunday Book Review

Sunday Book Review: July 21, 2024 Books on Policies and Procedures Edition

In the Sunday Book Review, Tom Fox considers books that would interest the compliance professional, the business executive, or anyone who might be curious.

It could be books about business, compliance, history, leadership, current events or anything else that might interest me. In today’s edition of the Sunday Book Review, we look at the top business books on policies and procedures.

  • Writing Effective Policies and Procedures. by Nancy Campbell
  • Establishing a System of Policies and Procedures. by Stephen Page
  • How to Write Effective Policies and Procedures. by Kirsten Brumby
  • GAAP Handbook of Policies and Procedures. by Shim, Siegel, Levine and Qureshi

For more information on Ethico and a free White Paper on ROI for your compliance program, click here.

Categories
Trekking Through Compliance

Trekking Through Compliance – Episode 49 – Business Ethics and Compliance Lessons from Return to Tomorrow

In this episode of Trekking Through Compliance, we consider the episode  Return to Tomorrow, which aired on February 9, 1968, and occurred on Star Date 4768.3.

The Enterprise receives a distress call from a planet hundreds of light years too distant to have been visited by any Earth ship. Spock determines that the planet is similar to Earth but older and that its atmosphere was ripped away half a million years ago. Spock detects a power source originating 100 miles below the planet’s surface, and they all beam down.

The landing party discovers evidence of an ancient culture on a planet whose habitable surface was destroyed long ago by a self-inflicted cataclysm. They meet Sargon, whom Sargon occupies Kirk’s body. This transference produces great stress on Kirk’s body, causing McCoy to become alarmed. Sargon then asks to borrow the bodies of Spock and Dr. Mullhall so that they may construct androids. Sargon realizes that the temptation for him and Filissa to abuse their god-like powers is too great, and he and Filissa desert their bodies and fade into oblivion.

Commentary

The plot involves the Enterprise responding to a distress call, leading to encounters with disembodied entities seeking to take over the crew’s bodies to construct androids. This episode provides various lessons on compliance and business ethics, such as the importance of autonomous decision-making, informed consent, and transparency. Ethical dilemmas also illustrate the necessity of prioritizing the greater good, maintaining oversight and ethical boundaries, and fostering collaboration across functions. Additionally, the episode discusses controversies related to religion and script alterations made by Gene Roddenberry.

Key Highlights

  • Sargon’s Request and the Crew’s Dilemma
  • The Transference and Its Consequences
  • The Betrayal and Resolution
  • Fun Facts and Behind the Scenes
  • Business Ethics Lessons from ‘Return to Tomorrow’

Resources

Excruciatingly Detailed Plot Summary by Eric W. Weisstein

MissionLogPodcast.com

Memory Alpha

Categories
10 For 10

10 For 10: Top Compliance Stories For The Week Ending July 20, 2024

Welcome to 10 For 10, the podcast which brings you the week’s Top 10 compliance stories in one podcast each week. Tom Fox, the Voice of Compliance brings to you, the compliance professional, the compliance stories you need to be aware of to end your busy week. Sit back, and in 10 minutes hear about the stories every compliance professional should be aware of from the prior week.

Every Saturday, 10 For 10 highlights the most important news, insights, and analysis for the compliance professional, all curated by the Voice of Compliance, Tom Fox. Get your weekly filling of compliance stories with 10 for 10, a podcast produced by the Compliance Podcast Network.

  • Does Amazon Prime Day cause injuries?   (WaPo)
  • Deutsch Bank flouted accounting rules. (FT)
  • Senator Robert Menendez is guilty.  (WSJ)
  • Carlos Watson was found guilty. (Bloomberg)
  • The mayor of Venice is under investigation for corruption.   (ABCNews)
  • An ex-Goldman banker pleads not guilty to bribery and corruption charges.   (WSJ)
  • Nigeria refuses to release Binance compliance professionals. (Bloomberg)
  • The judge tosses the SEC suit against Solar Winds. (Law360)
  • A Chinese tycoon was convicted of fraud in US.   (BBC)
  • An ex-Segantii Capital Management employee was alleged to be accused of ‘disreputable conduct’. (FT)

For more information on the Ethico ROI Calculator and a free White Paper on the ROI of Compliance, click here.

You can check out the Daily Compliance News for four curated compliance and ethics-related stories each day, here.

Connect with Tom 

Instagram

Facebook

YouTube

Twitter

LinkedIn

Categories
Kerrville Weekly News Roundup

Kerrville Weekly News Roundup: July 20, 2024

Welcome to the Kerrville Weekly News Roundup. Each week, veteran podcaster Tom Fox and his colleagues Andrew Gay and Gilbert Paiz get together to go over a couple of their favorite stories from the past week from Kerrville and the greater Hill Country.

Sit back, enjoy a cup of morning coffee and listen in to get a wrap up of the Kerrville Weekly News. We each consider two of our favorite stories and talk about the upcoming weekend’s events, which will enjoy or participate in.

In this episode, Tom takes a solo turn back to look at some of the things that caught his attention over the past week.

Stories Include:

  • First-time home buyers in Texas are under pressure
  • Great new exhibit at MOWA
  • County budget
  • Big wins at regional swim meet
  • Fred Gilmore honored

Resources:

Tom Fox on LinkedIn

Gilbert Paiz on LinkedIn

Andrew Gay on LinkedIn

Texas Hill Country Podcast Network

The Lead

Kerrville Daily Times

Categories
Trekking Through Compliance

Trekking Through Compliance – Episode 48 – Compliance Lessons and the Prime Directive in A Private Little War

In this episode of Trekking Through Compliance, we consider the episode A Private Little War, which aired on February 2, 1968, and occurred on Star Date 4307.1.

Spock, Bones, and Kirk beam down to a planet Kirk surveyed 13 years ago and are attacked. Spock is shot while trying to escape. Kirk speculates that the Klingons have violated the treaty governing the “neutral planet,” which restricts both parties to scientific research and provides them with rifles.

On the planet, Kirk furnishes the hill people with rifles. The wife of the leader of the Hill people is killed, and now Tyree is mad with anger and asks Kirk for many weapons with which to destroy the village people. Kirk complies by asking Scotty to manufacture flintlock rifles for the hill people, which he calls “serpents for the Garden of Eden.” As they beam back to the Enterprise, Kirk is upset at the loss of innocence he has contributed to but knows of no other action he could have taken.

Commentary

This episode, an allegory for the Vietnam War, follows Kirk, Spock, and Bones as they discover Klingon’s interference on a neutral planet, leading to a moral dilemma involving arming the peaceful inhabitants. Key themes discussed include the ethical implications of interfering in other cultures, the role of compliance expertise in decision-making, and the importance of transparency and accountability in business operations. Compliance takeaways include the necessity of board compliance expertise, the significance of mergers and acquisitions safe harbors under the FCPA, and the benefits of fostering competition through ethical practices.

Key Highlights

  • Story Synopsis
  • Klingon Interference and Kirk’s Dilemma
  • Vietnam War Analogies and Moral Dilemmas
  • Compliance Lessons from the Episode
  • Applying the Prime Directive to Compliance

Resources

Excruciatingly Detailed Plot Summary by Eric W. Weisstein

MissionLogPodcast.com

Memory Alpha