Boardroom Agility—Strategies for Modern Boards Managing Crises, Compliance & Collective Responsibility

On this episode of Culture & Compliance Chronicles, Amanda Raad and Nitish Upadhyaya from Ropes & Gray’s Insights Lab, and Richard Bistrong of Front-Line Anti-Bribery are joined by Rachel Samren, a board director, responsible business advocate, and crisis management expert. The discussion centers on the changing demands of board membership, including the need for clarity, agility, and continuous learning in today’s complex risk environment. Rachel shares practical advice for new and seasoned board members, emphasizing the importance of integrated risk management, open communication, and upholding organizational values. The episode offers actionable tips on effective governance, crisis management, and fostering a culture of collective responsibility for compliance and integrity.

On this episode of Culture & Compliance Chronicles, Amanda Raad and Nitish Upadhyaya from Ropes & Gray’s Insights Lab, and Richard Bistrong of Front-Line Anti-Bribery speak with Archana Kotecha, CEO of The Remedy Project, about her journey from corporate law to leading human rights initiatives across Asia. Archana shares practical insights on assessing workplace culture, supporting women and migrant workers, and building trust between businesses and NGOs. The conversation explores the challenges of conducting human rights impact assessments, the importance of direct worker engagement, and the role of pilots and feedback in compliance programs. Whether you are a compliance professional, legal advisor, or business leader, this episode offers valuable lessons on aligning purpose with practice, amplifying unheard voices, and finding common ground to create lasting impact. Tune in to explore how culture shapes compliance—and how new perspectives can help your organization to shape solutions to challenges.

On this episode of Culture & Compliance Chronicles, Amanda Raad and Nitish Upadhyaya from Ropes & Gray’s Insights Lab, and Richard Bistrong of Front-Line Anti-Bribery are joined by Professor Guido Palazzo, co-author of The Dark Pattern: The Hidden Dynamics of Corporate Scandals. Together, they explore why corporate scandals are rarely the result of a few “bad apples” and instead stem from deeper organizational patterns—such as toxic leadership, unrealistic targets, and ambiguous rules—that shape behavior across entire companies. Professor Palazzo shares practical insights on how organizations can recognize and disrupt these harmful dynamics, foster allyship, and build cultures where ethical conduct thrives. Tune in for actionable strategies and a fresh perspective on creating lasting change in compliance and corporate culture.

On this retrospective episode of the Culture & Compliance Chronicles podcast, Amanda Raad and Nitish Upadhyaya from Ropes & Gray’s Insights Lab, and Richard Bistrong of Front-Line Anti-Bribery, reflect on the key themes and insights from season one. They emphasize the importance of culture in driving compliance and regulatory practices, highlighting discussions with various guests who shared their experiences and strategies. Key themes include the significance of contextualizing culture, humanizing compliance, and using data intentionally to inform decisions. The hosts also share practical tips and exercises for maintaining focus and creativity in the compliance space. As they look forward to the next season, they challenge the community to bring new ideas and perspectives to the conversation. Tune in to hear their reflections and stay curious about the evolving landscape of business, compliance and culture.

On this episode of Culture & Compliance Chronicles, Amanda Raad and Nitish Upadhyaya from Ropes & Gray’s Insights Lab, and Richard Bistrong of Front-Line Anti-Bribery, are joined by Nicole Rose, a compliance specialist and creative artist based in Australia who shares her unique insights on how creativity helps solve compliance challenges. Nicole discusses the concept of "moneyballing" in compliance, emphasizing the importance of data-driven, effective controls that add value to the business. She also highlights the significance of humanizing compliance training and making it relevant and engaging for employees. Tune in to explore Nicole's innovative approaches, including her experiences with cultural nuances in compliance and the power of simplicity and relationships in driving compliance success.

On this episode of Culture & Compliance Chronicles, Amanda Raad and Nitish Upadhyaya from Ropes & Gray’s Insights Lab, and Richard Bistrong of Front-Line Anti-Bribery, are joined by Dina Denham Smith, an accomplished leader, executive coach, and author, to discuss her new book, Emotionally Charged: How to Lead in the New World of Work. Dina shares insights on the heightened emotional demands on leaders, strategies for managing emotions in the workplace, and the importance of compassionate detachment. They also explore the concept of emotional contagion and how leaders can balance authenticity with the need to maintain team morale (or “with the need to preserve their own self-care”).

On this episode of Culture & Compliance Chronicles, Nitish Upadhyaya from Ropes & Gray’s Insights Lab and Richard Bistrong of Front-Line Anti-Bribery, are joined by Megan Reitz, founder of Reitz Consulting and an Associate Fellow at Saïd Business School, Oxford University. Megan, a renowned thought leader listed on the Thinkers50 ranking and HR Magazine’s Most Influential list, shares insights from her latest co-authored book, Speak Out, Listen Up: How to Have Conversations That Matter. Megan discusses the relational aspects of speaking up, the importance of creating environments that encourage open dialogue, and practical exercises to enhance listening skills. The conversation reveals stories of how organizations have driven value through speaking out and listening up. This episode is packed with valuable takeaways for compliance officers, HR professionals, and business leaders looking to foster a culture of transparency and innovation. 

On this episode of Culture & Compliance Chronicles, Nitish Upadhyaya from Ropes & Gray’s Insights Lab and Richard Bistrong of Front-Line Anti-Bribery, are joined by Megan Reitz, founder of Reitz Consulting and an Associate Fellow at Saïd Business School, Oxford University. Megan, a renowned thought leader listed on the Thinkers50 ranking and HR Magazine’s Most Influential list, shares insights from her latest co-authored book, Speak Out, Listen Up: How to Have Conversations That Matter. Megan discusses the relational aspects of speaking up, the importance of creating environments that encourage open dialogue, and practical exercises to enhance listening skills. The conversation reveals stories of how organizations have driven value through speaking out and listening up. This episode is packed with valuable takeaways for compliance officers, HR professionals, and business leaders looking to foster a culture of transparency and innovation. 

On this episode of Culture & Compliance Chronicles, Nitish Upadhyaya from Ropes & Gray’s Insights Lab and Richard Bistrong of Front-Line Anti-Bribery, are joined by Tal Freilich, the vice president of group governance, risk and compliance at DKSH. The discussion delves into the complexities of managing compliance across diverse markets, the impact of cultural differences on compliance practices, and the innovative use of AI and data analytics in compliance programs. Tal shares his insights on building trust, fostering open communication, and enabling business operations through effective compliance strategies. Tal notes some great examples of both successful initiatives, and ideas that haven’t worked, embracing the idea of learning from failures.

On this episode of Culture & Compliance Chronicles, Nitish Upadhyaya from Ropes & Gray’s Insights Lab and Richard Bistrong of Front-Line Anti-Bribery, are joined by Letitia Adu-Ampoma, a seasoned compliance professional with extensive experience in designing and implementing ethics and compliance programs across multiple continents. Letitia shares her invaluable insights on the importance of contextualizing and operationalizing global compliance to local cultures. She emphasizes the need for organizations to understand and adapt to cultural nuances, including demographics, linguistic nuances, and technology, to ensure the effectiveness of their compliance programs. Through engaging anecdotes and practical examples, Letitia illustrates how cultural differences can impact compliance outcomes and the importance of localizing training and policies. Tune in to learn how to navigate the complexities of global compliance, the significance of cultural awareness, and strategies for integrating local insights into your compliance framework.