Business Ethics Conversation Starters for Alumni & Students

Ideas for conversation starters for Smeal alumni and students to use with business ethics conversations.

Facilitating conversations on business ethics is essential for creating a strong ethical foundation within a company or organization. This is an opportunity for alumni to share high-level insights with students on this topic, based on their career experiences, real situations in the news, and hypothetical scenarios.

Alumni should not feel obligated to share any classified company information or personal scenarios that they would prefer to keep private. If a student asks a question that the alumni volunteer does not feel comfortable answering, please simply explain this to the student.

Introductions:

  • Alumni & Students should start by introducing themselves.
    • For alumni: Name, location, company/title
    • For students: Name, hometown, class year, and major or intended major

Possible questions/topics for both students and alumni to discuss together:

  • What does "business ethics" mean to you?
  • Can you think of a recent business ethics issue in the news that you believe is relevant to our organization, and how should we respond to it?
  • Can you share an example of a company or leader that you admire for their ethical practices? What do you admire about them? 

Possible discussion questions/topics for students to ask alumni:

  • How do your company's values align with its business practices? Are there areas where they don't align?
  • What are some common ethical dilemmas or challenges in your industry, and how have you seen them be handled?
  • How can managers ensure that their employees and leadership consistently act in an ethical manner?
  • Are there any specific industry standards or regulations that you need to be aware of and comply with?
  • What steps can companies take to foster a culture of transparency and accountability within their organization?
  • Does your industry or company ever have to handle conflicts of interest?
  • How can organizations mitigate risks that might open the door for unethical behavior?
  • How does your company manage values such as social responsibility, diversity & inclusion, and sustainability?
  • The first line of the Smeal Honor Code makes a point that the code is for the entire Smeal community to take part in together. Can you reflect on the community you found here while at Smeal, and how that reinforced the importance of acting with honor and integrity? What, if any, challenges to integrity did you or your peers face while a student? Were any practical lessons derived from those experiences?
  • How do you feel you prepared for acting with integrity in your professional lives while you were still in college?
  • In your life now in your careers, how do you make sure you’re meeting your own ethical standards in your profession? How do you hold yourself accountable?
  • What is the best way you can hold a colleague accountable when they are not living up to their own or your organization’s ethical standards?
  • Have your standards changed or grown over the years? If so, how? Was it a direct response to your experiences or the industry you chose?

Possible discussion questions/topics for alumni to ask students:

  • What is an example of an ethical dilemma or challenge you've encountered in your time as a student and how have you handled situations like this?
  • How do you think Smeal’s Honor Code will influence your time as a student and as you start to embark on internships and full-time roles?
  • What do you and your peers think prevalence and potential ethical implications of AI used for schoolwork (like ChatGPT)?

 

*Please note that some questions were originally derived from ChatGTP and a 2023 Tarriff Center panel discussion.