Wall Street whistleblower Weston Smith to deliver 2016 Kelman Business Ethics Lecture
The Wayne State University Mike llitch School of Business Department of Accounting will host the 2016 Paul Kelman Business Ethics Lecture, "Ethical Leadership for the 21st Century," on Wednesday, April 20, at 5:30 p.m. in McGregor Memorial Conference Center.
This year’s speaker is Weston Smith, former CFO of Healthsouth Corporation, which for more than a dozen years was a Wall Street darling that grew from one to thousands of locations in all 50 states. However, underneath the apparent growth, glimmering corporate offices, the fleet of corporate jets, and “consistent” earning reports lay a multi-year, multi-billion-dollar financial fraud. Smith came forward, voluntarily exposed the fraud and accepted responsibility for his actions.
For audiences, Smith highlights both the financial and non-financial red flags of corporate misconduct and challenges audiences to work with ethics, integrity and “to simply do the right thing.” He provides his perspectives about the fraud’s small beginnings, the deceptive rationalizations, and how and why it grew exponentially.
Smith is a former CPA, a graduate of the University of North Alabama, and a regular contributor to researchers of corporate fraud. He has been featured on CNBC and the Fox Business Network.
The evening begins at 5:30 p.m. with heavy hors d'oeuvres; the lecture takes place at 6 p.m. The event will also provide an outstanding networking opportunity for students, as leaders and professionals from the Detroit business community will be in attendance.
This event is free but reservations are required. Dress is business casual.
If you are interested in helping to sustain this lecture series on its very important topic, especially given today’s political environment, you may elect to make contributions to the Wayne State University Paul Kelman Fund. Please contact the Ilitch School's development office at 323-577-6273 for more information about supporting this program.
