Your new Compliance Officer…Justin Bieber?

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by Roy Snell, CEO SCCE

I have a challenge for you. I have rated a few famous people as to their potential to be a compliance officer. Then I listed a few you can rate. Or you can comment on my ratings. It’s an interesting way to discuss the characteristics of a good compliance officer. While searching online for lists of well-known people to evaluate I discovered something interesting.Lists of famous people did not offer much in the way of people that seemed to have what it takes to be a compliance officer. Lists of smart people were not much help either. Then I found a list of the most peaceful people in history. And in my view, almost every one of those people would have made a great compliance officer.

Here are my ratings:

Spock (from Star Trek) – Grade B-: Spock would be cool under pressure and base his actions on facts, which are great attributes of a compliance officer. However, he might come up a little short in the category of showing empathy. Empathy is an important skill because at times we are going to occasionally cause people a little tension in their lives.

Jim Carrey (as a composite of his characters) – Grade D-: I love the characters he plays, but his only redeeming value would be that his typical character is not unethical. His neurotic on screen personality would be an utter disaster. Most compliance officers benefit from being a little calm under pressure.

Rosabeth Moss Kanter (professor at Harvard Business School) – Grade B+: She has the right values. She focuses on diversity and other principle base issues. She thinks about management and business objectives, which would help her relate to those who want to comply and continue to be successful in business.

Justin Bieber – Grade F: Needs serious help just to manage his own life. He could not help others.

Donald Trump – Grade C: I know I am out on a limb here, but he would get the job done. He sets his goals and achieves them. I think he is more compassionate than he displays in public. His views are controversial, which would get him in trouble but as a compliance officer, but I think he would stick to his assignment and leave that stuff out. I think the reason I am more positive about him than other people might be is because as a CEO I want to be successful at compliance and leave nothing to chance. Although he may be gruff he would find the big problems and fix them. If nothing else, I have given you something to chew on. Be nice.

Sandra Day O’Connor – Grade A: I think she has the right stuff. She has the legal experience to be successful. Her experience as a judge, hearing both sides before making her decision, would be invaluable. She would base her decisions on the facts. She seems calm under pressure.

Edward Snowden – Grade ?: I can’t do it… too political. You pick a grade and a reason for the grade you give him.

Here are some more people you might comment on as to their potential to be a corporate compliance officer.

Martin Luther King, Jr.

Dalai Lama

Tom Brady (Patriot’s quarterback)

Nelson Mandela

Mother Teresa

Mohandas Gandhi

David Petraeus

Rosa Parks

Confucius

Mark Zuckerberg

Eleanor Roosevelt

Oprah Winfrey

Benjamin Franklin

George Washington

Diana, Princess of Wales

Socrates

Margaret Thatcher

Brad Pitt

According to one most ethical CEO’s list, these are the Top 4 most ethical CEO’s. Any thoughts about their ability to be a compliance officer?

Howard Schultz, Starbucks

Greg Steinhafel, Target

Tony Hsieh, Zappos

Jim Skinner, McDonald’s