Season 8, Episode 9: Does Integrity Have Any Place in Today's Business World (with Robert Chesnut)

Join us for an enlightening episode of Notes to my (Legal) Self with Robert Chesnut, former General Counsel and Chief Ethics Officer at Airbnb. Discover the critical role of integrity in business—a strategy that goes beyond charitable contributions to become a cornerstone of corporate success.

Robert Chesnut, a Harvard Law graduate who pioneered trust and safety at eBay and shaped the ethical framework at Airbnb, shares his wealth of experience. This episode features an interactive Q&A session where you can ask Rob your burning questions about corporate ethics and learn from his extensive experience. Gain actionable insights into integrating integrity into your business strategy and understand why it's crucial for long-term success.

Rob's journey at Airbnb, especially during the #MeToo movement, underscores the importance of proactive ethical leadership. He discusses how he transitioned from the reactive role of a General Counsel to the proactive stance of a Chief Ethics Officer, focusing on embedding integrity into the company culture. Rob delves into the difference between ethics and integrity, emphasizing that integrity resonates more with people because it aligns with personal values rather than just compliance.

Learn how to implement integrity as a core aspect of corporate culture through practical strategies such as engaging employees in rewriting the code of ethics, using voluntary integrity videos, and creating an ethics advisor program. Rob's innovative approach, including the use of "Integrity Yetis" to reward ethical behavior, highlights how small gestures can significantly impact corporate culture.

This episode is not only educational but also an opportunity to engage directly with a leader who has shaped ethical standards in major companies. Explore how integrity can influence decision-making at the highest levels and apply these principles in your day-to-day business operations. Set your reminders now and prepare to be inspired by this engaging and thought-provoking discussion.

In this episode, Robert Chesnut shares stories and frameworks that illustrate the power of integrity in business. He explains how his role at Airbnb evolved during the #MeToo movement, leading him to focus on preventing problems rather than just addressing them. Rob's insights into the difference between compliance and integrity reveal that while compliance is about following rules, integrity is about doing the right thing because it resonates with personal values.

Rob discusses practical ways to embed integrity into corporate culture, such as involving employees in rewriting the code of ethics and creating engaging, voluntary integrity videos. He highlights the success of Airbnb's ethics advisor program, which increased engagement and reinforced the importance of ethical behavior across the company.

By sharing anecdotes like the "Integrity Yeti" initiative, Rob demonstrates how recognizing and rewarding ethical behavior can foster a culture of integrity. He emphasizes that integrity is contagious and that leaders set the tone for the entire organization.

From this conversation, you will learn:

1. The distinction between compliance and integrity and why integrity resonates more with employees.
2. Practical strategies to embed integrity into your company's culture, including rewriting the code of ethics and creating engaging integrity videos.
3. The importance of involving employees in ethical initiatives to create a sense of ownership and commitment.
4. How recognizing and rewarding ethical behavior can significantly impact corporate culture.
5. The role of leaders in setting the tone for integrity and how their actions influence the entire organization.
6. The value of integrating ethical practices into business strategies for long-term success and brand trustworthiness.

Tune in to gain valuable insights from Robert Chesnut and learn how to make integrity a driving force in your business.