Compliance Legend (the Godfather of Compliance) Joe Murphy has recently published a book written by his sister, Karen M. Leet. The book is so much fun. It’s written in short stories as opposed to non-fiction text.
I sat down with Karen and Joe to talk all about it.
Kristy: Karen, I’m so delighted to talk with you and your brother, Joe, about your fabulous new book, Voices in Compliance. It’s a really unique book and a great addition to the profession.
The book is so different because it’s a collection of short stories. It brings the world of compliance and ethics to life through many different human perspectives. I’d love to begin by hearing how the book came together.
Karen: Joe gave me this opportunity to dig deeper into the human side of compliance, the humanity—doubts, fears, hopes, dreams, struggles—the universal qualities that make us who we are no matter where we are or what work we do.
Joe: Karen’s stories brought the world of compliance to life, in a way I had not seen anywhere else. My fellow editors suggested an eBook and we made it happen.
Kristy: One of the things I love so much about the book is that it is written in story form. What made you decide to explore compliance and ethics through stories rather than through a more traditional, instructional format?
Karen: I think Joe asked me to do these stories because nobody else was digging deeper—into who compliance people are down deep inside—no matter what work we do, aren’t we all still so very human, so very full of hopes, dreams, strengths and weaknesses?
Joe: All our editors were experts in compliance. We also knew that stories were a powerful way to communicate messages. We wanted the newsletter to have a non-technical side, and Karen’s stories accomplished that.
Kristy: Karen and Joe, one of the things I especially admire is how many points of view appear in the book: front-line employees, compliance officers, bosses, people lower in the hierarchy, whistleblowers, family members, and even children. What has the experience been like to write and edit from so many different perspectives? Was one perspective more fun or interesting than another?
Karen: People are amazing—all people. We all experience life in astounding ways—hopes and dreams, hurts and fears, strengths and weaknesses. Think I most enjoyed the humor touches here and there.
Joe: One of my favorite stories was about wanting to give a customer’s employee a horse. Those kinds of stories stay in people’s minds, which can also remind them to consider the value of any gift and whether it is permissible or appropriate. I enjoyed this because I could take Karen’s excellent, real-life characters and tailor the compliance facts to fit what we have seen in the compliance field.
Kristy: Karen and Joe, could you each tell us about one of your favorite stories in the collection? Why did that story affect you so deeply or stay with you?
Karen: One story I definitely felt deeply was the son of a man who broke the law and suffered the consequences—so the father’s crimes tore up the entire family, their relationships, their everyday lives, their futures.
Joe: Of course, the stories about whistleblowers are memorable. Also having to deal with an environment where you are not sure you are appreciated, and wonder if you should stay or leave.
Kristy: Looking across the whole book, what advice or wisdom do you think shines through most clearly? Or, to put it another way, what is the message most needed for compliance officers today?
Karen: Perhaps what means the most in these stories is that we are all human. We all face sometimes overwhelming circumstances. We all struggle to face our fears and doubts. We all come with our own unique set of experiences. Wherever we are, whatever we must deal with, whatever comes at us, we must find the strength to make tough decisions –that’s what life is all about—facing whatever comes at us as best we can.
Joe: The stories remind us that we are dealing with people, with all their quirks, fears and other emotions.
Kristy: The “Stay or Go” stories recognize that integrity may require either staying to fight or leaving. How should a person think through that decision when their values, livelihood, relationships, and sense of purpose are all involved?
Karen: I strongly suspect it will never be an easy task to make such a tough decision. It might take everything we’ve got to make those kinds of choices. Hopefully anyone facing that situation will have friends/family/advisors to help. Perhaps none of us can make it through tough times without help.
Joe: This is an important point for any compliance professional working in-house. I did an article on this point to help those confronted with this question. I remind people that our first job is to help prevent our companies causing harm to others. We need to consider if we have really done all we can do, before we decide to leave the company. https://ideasandanswers.com/when-should-the-compliance-officer-resign/ Karen’s story gives life to this dilemma.
Kristy: Finally, where can readers find Voices in Compliance so they can read it for themselves? And where can they learn more about your work and the world of Compliance and Ethics: Ideas and Answers?
Karen: LINK HERE
The website/the newsletter is packed full of great stuff, new ideas, challenging topics, articles that dig deep, and people who have been there/done that–the newsletter takes on the latest ideas, the strongest debates, the most amazing variety of powerful topics!!
Joe: People can find out more about Compliance and Ethics: Ideas and Answers on our website, https://ideasandanswers.com
Kristy: Karen and Joe, thank you so much for sharing the story behind Voices in Compliance. I couldn’t recommend this book more highly to anyone who wants to understand the human side of compliance, ethics, leadership, and speaking up.