Navigating Ethical Challenges: Insights from Willie Pietersen (MDE583)

In this episode, I had the pleasure of hosting Willie Pietersen, a distinguished professor at Columbia Business School and former CEO, who shared his remarkable journey from South Africa to the United States. Willie discussed his experiences growing up during apartheid, his career transition from law to business, and his insights on leadership. He emphasised the importance of personal leadership, strategic direction, and interpersonal skills, drawing on his own life lessons and the example set by Nelson Mandela. We explored the challenges of maintaining ethical standards in leadership and the role of moral courage. Willie also shared his thoughts on the biases that affect decision-making and the significance of having a shared purpose in business. For those interested in learning more, his book "Leadership: The Inside Story" is available on Amazon. It was a truly enlightening conversation, and I hope to meet Willie in person someday to continue our discussion.