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Most communication associations have codes of ethics by which they expect their members to abide. New communication models have ethics and character at their heart. So exactly what can a communicator do to guide ethical behavior in the organization? How do communicators fulfill that mission when they don’t have leadership’s ear or trust? These are issues addressed on the latest Circle of Fellows featuring three IABC Fellows and moderated by FIR’s Shel Holtz, also a Fellow.

• IABC’s Code of Ethics
• Arthur W. Page Society’s new model for activating corporate character
• The Global Alliance’s Melbourne Mandate
• Edelman’s 2016 Trust Barometer
• Boost Mobile’s election day action on voting rights

Shel’s answer to Brian Kilgore’s question, “No one’s talked about US law forcing maximizing of profits. That conflicts with ethics” (submitted at the end of the broadcast): It’s a common misbelief. The U.S. Supreme Court held in a recent case, “Modern corporate law does not require for-profit corporations to pursue profit at the expense of everything else, and many do not.” Here’s a New York Times article by a corporate and business law professor that goes into greater detail. In any case, law does not conflict with ethical behavior.

About the panel:

Priya Bates is a senior communication executive who provides strategic internal communication counsel in order to ensure leaders, managers, and employees understand the strategy, believe in the vision, act in accordance to the values, and contribute to business results. She is president of Inner Strength Communications in Toronto, and previously served as senior director of Internal Communications at Loblaw Companies Limited.

Dr. Amanda Hamilton-Attwell is accredited by both IABC and PRSA. She is managing Director of Business DNA, based on South Africa, which provides strategic research and consulting, including communication audits, customer service and other focused research and training in communication skills. Her career has also included a 15-year stint as a research manager for the National Productivity Institute.

Jennifer Wah, MC, ABC — Since founding her storytelling and communications firm Forwords Communication Inc. in 1997, Jennifer has worked with clients to deliver ideas, plans, words and results. The company operates as a strategic alliance of hand-picked professionals; all renowned for work in their areas of specialization. This approach means the right team is assembled for each project; no more, no less.   With more than two dozen awards for strategic communications, writing and consulting, Jennifer is recognized as a storyteller and strategist. She has worked in industries from healthcare to financial services to academia, and is passionate about the opportunity for stories to inspire actions and reactions within organizations.In 2013, Jennifer was named Associate Faculty of Royal Roads University, and in this capacity, continues to teach, coach and mentor others with an interest in business communication.

About Shel Holtz

Shel Holtz, ABC (Accredited Business Communicator), is director of Internal Communications at Webcor, a commercial general contractor headquartered in San Francisco. Before joining Webcor, Shel spent 21 years as principal of Holtz Communication + Technology. In addition to integrating technology into communications strategies, his expertise includes strategic communications planning, change management, organizational culture, business initiatives and communications research. Full bio