Leadership Engagement & Discovery (LEAD)

LEAD 2021: Ethical Leadership and Legal Strategies for Post-2020 Organizations

  • Dates: March 26-27, 2021
  • Location: An Online Symposium
  • Sponsors:
    • Tobias Leadership Center at Indiana University
    • The Center for Legal Studies and Business Ethics in the Spears School of Business at Oklahoma State University
    • American Business Law Journal

View the March 26 Program

View the March 27 Program

The Tobias Leadership Center at Indiana University, the Center for Legal Studies and Business Ethics at the Spears School of Business, and the American Business Law Journal (ABLJ) present research on legal strategy, ethics, leadership, and compliance issues that may advance positive organizational change following the multiple challenges of 2020: Public health issues, an economic recession, civil rights and social justice movements, changing working conditions, environmental concerns, innovation, and evolving legal norms. The ABLJ anticipates publishing a special issue devoted to the symposium theme.

The challenges facing organizations around the globe following the convergence of monumental events in 2020 require a renewed focus on ethical leadership and legal strategies that build structures and organizations to make a positive societal impact. Often times, the law is lagging in its ability to address new means of interacting and conducting business. Given the severity and reach of challenges in 2020, it is imperative to advance the legal and ethical research to meet the moment. This symposium hopes to generate a broad range of scholarship that develops options and opportunities for organizations to contribute positively to their communities and the world following the disruptions of 2020.

Friday, March 26

Panel 1 — Global Governance and Compliance Issues
Moderator: Inara Scott, Oregon State University, ABLJ Articles Editor

1:30-2:30 p.m. EDT (UTC−04:00)

  • David Nersessian / Babson College & Dessislava Pachamanova / Babson College, MIT
    Law, Ethics, and Machine Learning – Big Data Analytics and Corporate Reporting on Human Trafficking in the Global Supply Chain
  • Chang-hsien (Robert) TSAI / National Tsing Hua University, Taiwan & Ching-Fu Lin / Institute of Law for Science and Technology, National Tsing Hua University
    Shedding New Light on Transnational Corporations and Human Rights? Promises and Limits of Leveraging Blockchain in the Global Supply Chain/li>

2:30-3:30 p.m. EDT (UTC−04:00)

  • Rachel Chambers / Human Rights Institute, University of Connecticut
    Corporate Sustainability Disclosures: The Role of Litigation in Holding Companies to Their Word
  • David Hess / Ross School of Business, University of Michigan
    Compliance and Human Rights Due Diligence

Panel 2 — Reimagining the Role of Private and Public Institutions
Moderator: Rob Landry, Jacksonville State University, ABLJ Articles Editor

4:00-5:00 p.m. EDT (UTC−04:00)

  • Mark J. Cowan / Boise State University, Ryan J. Baxter / Boise State University & Joshua Cutler / Boise State University
    Strategic Surrogates or Sad Sinners: U.S. Taxation of Bartering in Digital Services
  • David Nows / Central Michigan University
    Behind the Times: The Regulations Holding Back Internet-Based Nonprofits

5:00-6:00 p.m. EDT (UTC−04:00)

  • Jack Wroldsen / California Polytechnic State University
    Emergency Cash Savings Accounts in a Post-Covid World
  • John T. Holden / Oklahoma State University - Spears School of Business, Marc Edelman / Zicklin School of Business, Baruch College, City University of New York, Thomas Alexander Baker III / University of Georgia & Andrew Shuman / University of Michigan
    A Post-NCAA World: Reimagining the Governance of Intercollegiate Athletics