Digital & Technology
The CIO Perspective: Ethical Leadership
10 min read
Lyndi Retief and Kimberly Greyling, from the Digital and Technology Practice at Odgers Berndtson Sub-Saharan Africa, engaged in a series of discussions with esteemed CIOs from the JSE Top 100. These conversations aimed to gather their perspectives on the significance of ethics in leadership.
Ethical leadership is more than a guiding principle; it is the foundation for growing a successful and respected modern organisation. The role of Chief Information Officer (CIO) now extends beyond technology management to encompass some of the most significant budgetary and strategic decisions within a company. Leading with integrity is essential.
We asked South Africa’s top CIOs to share their insights into the nuances of ethical leadership in their field. Their perspectives collectively illustrate the principles and practices that drive responsible leadership in today’s corporate landscape.
Cornerstones of Ethical Leadership
Ethical leadership is a multifaceted concept that integrates integrity, transparency, trust, governance, and leading by example. It focuses on creating a lasting legacy and ensuring long-term impact by embedding these core values into the very fabric of the organisation.
Integrity and a Moral Compass
The CIOs interviewed stressed the importance of maintaining and applying a strong moral compass in business decision-making.
Ethics is the foundation of integrity and your responsibility.
This ethical stance should be deeply embedded in your leadership style, fostering an environment where actions align with the organisation’s values and toxic behaviours are promptly addressed. Fischer reiterated that ethical leadership “is about making morally sound business decisions”.
Further to this, integrity in leadership involves establishing ethical guardrails, aligning partnerships with the organisation’s values and consistently modelling ethical behaviours. This alignment creates a cohesive and supportive environment where ethical behaviour is the norm. Such a culture encourages employees to act with integrity and promotes a sense of collective responsibility.
Ethics in leadership means doing the right thing and creating an environment where team members feel comfortable speaking up.
Transparency and Trust
Transparency emerged as a recurring theme in the interviews.
Ethical leadership involves absolute trust and transparency.
This means being open about plans, successes, and failures. According to Gause, regular communication through various platforms and forums, either collectively or one-on-one, helps build trust and transparency. It also ensures that employees understand the basis of decisions taken. This transparency, coupled with clear behavioural expectations, builds an environment of trust and accountability.
Ethics in leadership, therefore, involves maintaining transparency, building trust-based relationships and ensuring that decisions are made with the long-term benefit of the organisation in mind.
Leading by Example
According to the CIOs, ethical leadership is about leading by example.
Ethics is not only something we preach, but it is something we practice.
Ethics is not just about making the right decisions, it’s about embedding ethical behaviour into the organisation’s DNA. Consistency in behaviour and decision-making is fundamental to ethical leadership; being consistent inevitably builds trust among team members and stakeholders alike.
Ethics in leadership is modelled through actions, not just words.
As reiterated by David Price, CIO at Life Healthcare "you want people to look up to you and say ‘he walks the talk, he doesn’t just talk the talk."
All decisions have a ripple effect and an impact on everybody else that exists in your ecosystem.
This approach helps White-Ndlovu stay true to her personal values and avoid actions that may negatively impact reputation or credibility.
Governance and Compliance
In highly regulated industries, governance and compliance are paramount. Hirschberg stressed the need for awareness and understanding of ethical guidelines to ensure that intentions translate into actions. In regulated industries, ethical governance requires adherence to compliance and fostering an environment where employees feel empowered to raise concerns.
This approach not only prevents unethical decisions but also promotes a culture of openness and transparency.
Ethics influences everything from client interactions to vendor partnerships.
By aligning business practices with ethical values, leaders can create a sustainable and trustworthy organisation.
Legacy and Long-Term Impact
Finally, Price emphasised the importance of leaving a positive legacy. He noted that unethical actions often resurface, potentially tarnishing one’s reputation.
Ethical decision-making is not just about immediate outcomes but also about building a solid foundation for future generations.
This long-term perspective reinforces the significance of integrity in leadership, highlighting the need to make decisions that benefit the business while considering the broader impact and striving to leave a lasting positive legacy.
Both Price and Khan highlighted the importance of treating the business as if it were their own, with Price noting “it’s always a good lens to place on things because you won’t do anything that’s not in the interest of the business.” This perspective encourages leaders to make decisions that benefit the organisation in the long run, rather than seeking short-term personal gains. By adopting this mindset, leaders can ensure that their actions align with the company’s best interests, fostering a culture of trust and accountability.
Conclusion
Ethical leadership, as shared here by some of South Africa’s top CIOs, is not simply a corporate responsibility – it is the foundation of sustainable success. Leaders who lead with integrity, transparency and a strong moral compass develop and nurture cultures of trust, accountability and long-term impact. Their ethics not only elevate brand reputations (and their own) but also leave a lasting legacy when they move on.
How are you fostering trust, accountability, and long-term success?
Partner with us
Ethical leadership is the cornerstone of sustainable business success. At Odgers Berndtson, we recognise the pivotal role that integrity, transparency, and a strong moral compass play in driving long-term impact and fostering a culture of trust and accountability. We specialise in sourcing executives who are equipped to advance your organisational strategy and navigate future challenges.
Contact us today to discover how we can assist you in finding the leaders who will drive your organisation forward and build a legacy of ethical leadership.