In my first TEDx talk, I recount my journey from earning a master’s degree in foreign policy to pleading guilty for violating the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act by bribing foreign officials. Despite understanding the law and committing to ethical conduct, I fell into  “ethical blind spots”—subtle biases and pressures that distorted my judgment. Through this story, I highlight three key blind spots: confirmation bias (seeking validation from those who agree with us), action bias (rushing decisions without reflection), and incremental bias (small unethical choices that snowball). While I  underscore how intense performance pressures and unchecked assumptions can lead to devastating consequences, my message is ultimately hopeful: by slowing down, seeking advice from “truth-tellers,” and becoming aware of our biases, we can protect our integrity, careers, and personal lives. 

 

Ethical failures don’t start big—they start blind. And awareness is the first step to prevention.  I hope you will take the time to view this fourteen and a half minute video on how “I went to prison for my ethical blind spots: You don’t have to.”