Erika Cheung, the executive director of ethics and entrepreneurship at a non-profit organization based in the US, was a key whistleblower in the Theranos scandal. In this interview with Luke, she shares her insights on ethical issues in businesses and the safeguards that can be put in place to address them. She also highlights the importance of having a speak-up culture and strong ethical values to protect stakeholders in the organisation.

Cheung believes that having a mechanism for employees to speak up and be heard is crucial to ensure the longevity of the company. This means having a proper investigation and taking corrective action to address the issue. She notes that having a correct culture is necessary for this mechanism to work, where organisations need to value honesty and make sure that employees feel comfortable coming forward with any issues.

To build a strong ethical culture, Cheung emphasizes the importance of having clear values and sticking to them in the course of doing business. This culture can dictate the processes, policies, and procedures within a business, so being conscious of the culture as the company grows is key to developing well-rounded programs that protect stakeholders. Cheung also provides advice on what business leaders and employees can do when they realize that something is wrong. She recommends collecting evidence, identifying allies, and taking the case to an ombudsman, third-party agency, or whistleblowing hotline.

Watch the full video to hear Erika's insights. You can also watch more interviews with business leaders on our YouTube channel.