Former OECD Director for Legal Affairs Nicola Bonucci joins Sarah for a timely and deeply insightful conversation about the future of global anti-corruption efforts, ethical leadership, and the growing uncertainty facing international governance.

Having spent 25 years at the OECD, Nicola played a central role in shaping the OECD Anti-Bribery Convention and witnessed first-hand the transformation of global compliance frameworks during the rise of globalisation. In this episode, he reflects on the geopolitical optimism of the 1990s, the evolution of anti-corruption enforcement, and why he believes negotiating landmark international agreements like the OECD Anti-Bribery Convention would be far more difficult in today’s political climate.

Nicola also shares his concerns about the recent pause in FCPA enforcement in the United States, explaining why the implications stretch far beyond one piece of legislation. Together, Sarah and Nicola explore whether global anti-corruption momentum is now at risk, what this means for companies operating internationally, and why businesses may need to anchor themselves more firmly in values-based leadership rather than relying solely on legislation.

The conversation moves beyond policy into leadership itself. Nicola reflects candidly on the realities of implementing anti-corruption programmes inside organisations, the moral grey areas leaders sometimes face, and why humility, flexibility and judgement are essential qualities for anyone navigating complex ethical decisions.

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Tom Fox, widely known as “The Voice of Compliance”, joins Sarah for a fascinating conversation about leadership, resilience, storytelling and the future of ethics and compliance in an AI-driven world.

Founder of the award-winning Compliance Podcast Network, Tom has spent more than a decade helping reshape how organisations think about compliance, business ethics and risk management. Alongside hosting more than 50 podcasts and writing 28 books, he has become one of the most influential voices in the global compliance space.

In this engaging and often very personal conversation, Tom reflects on the unexpected twists that shaped his career. From a life-changing cycling accident that forced him to rethink his future, to becoming an early adopter of blogging, podcasting and social media long before most professionals embraced them, Tom shares how curiosity and adaptability became central to his success.

Together, Sarah and Tom explore:

• Why storytelling is one of the most powerful tools in leadership and compliance

• How podcasting creates deeper emotional connection and engagement

• The future of AI and how it could completely transform compliance education and risk management

• Why compliance professionals must evolve from “the department of no” into strategic business partners

• The importance of resilience, reinvention and earning trust every single day

• How ethics and compliance can become a true business enabler rather than a tick-box exercise

Tom also shares some remarkable stories from his podcasting journey, including how an episode about branding lessons from Count Dracula unexpectedly became his most successful podcast ever, and why a heartfelt story about a local cookie baker resonated with listeners around the world.

This episode is insightful, entertaining and full of practical wisdom for leaders navigating change, innovation and uncertainty. At its heart, it is a conversation about staying curious, embracing new ideas and using communication to genuinely move people.

Explore Tom Fox’s work and podcasts:

Compliance Podcast Network

Read Tom’s daily compliance insights:

FCPA Compliance and Ethics Blog

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Roxanne Petraeus, co-founder and CEO of Ethena, joins Sarah to explore entrepreneurship, leadership and the challenge of building meaningful culture in complex, fast-moving environments.

Drawing on her experience in the military, consulting and early-stage startups, Roxanne shares how a non-linear path led her to build Athena, a company focused on transforming compliance training from a tick-box exercise into something genuinely engaging and impactful.

In this thoughtful and practical conversation, Roxanne reflects on:

* Why most workplace training fails and how to make it truly effective

* The reality of building a business while raising a family and operating in constant uncertainty

* How to find and work with “innovator” customers who share your vision early on

* The balance between creativity and technology in building scalable solutions

* Why culture is not static and must be actively maintained through continuous feedback

* The importance of authenticity in leadership and why trying to fit a mould rarely works

Roxanne also shares candid insights into the challenges of scaling a technology platform, navigating legacy systems, and building a company that reflects the values it teaches. Her perspective on feedback, both giving and receiving it, offers a powerful reminder that strong cultures are built through openness, honesty and daily effort.

Looking ahead, she explores how AI will reshape learning and development, moving from one-size-fits-all training to truly personalised experiences tailored to individual roles, risks and behaviours.

This episode is honest, practical and deeply human. It is essential listening for leaders building teams, shaping culture and navigating the realities of modern work.

Website - https://www.goethena.com

Want to elevate your leadership beyond the boardroom?

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