those brave souls from other profes- sions who are currently âtransitioningâ into Compliance. Or perhaps skydiving i
Compliance & Ethics January
2014
Professional
a publication of the society of corporate compliance and ethics
www.corporatecompliance.org
Congratulations, Brian ! an interview with Brian Patterson the 6,000th person actively certified by the CCB
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This article, published in Compliance & Ethics Professional, appears here with permission from the Society of Corporate Compliance & Ethics. Call SCCE at +1 952 933 4977 or 888 277 4977 with reprint requests.
BOEHME OF CONTENTION
by Donna Boehme
There is nothing more difficult to take in hand, more perilous to conduct, or more uncertain in its success, than to take the lead in the introduction of a new order of things. — Niccolo Machiavelli, The Prince, 1513
T
his month’s column is dedicated to all those brave souls from other professions who are currently “transitioning” into Compliance. Or perhaps skydiving is a better visual. Maybe you’ve come to the profession by choice or maybe (gasp) by involuntary assignment. Either way, welcome to our world—and hold on to that parachute… you may need it. As Machiavelli observed 500 years ago, the job is hard—and it can be perilous. Thus, if you are just looking for any port in a storm, Boehme a “back-up” profession, or simply rosier employment opportunities, let me suggest you think long and hard about a career in Compliance. As Maritza Munich, former international counsel for briberyplagued Wal-Mart, said recently “I like to sleep at night.” Compliance is not a job for the faint of heart, and that is an understatement. Just ask the CCOs who have confided to me that they carry or have in their desk a signed letter of resignation, drafted at what Machiavelli would call “perilous” times. One former compliance officer for a Fortune 100 company offered his letter twice and it was twice rejected. These stories usually don’t have such a happy ending. If you’re on the fence about that, call me. Let’s talk.
But assuming that you have come into this profession “eyes-wide-open,” what’s next? Three initial thoughts for any transitioning CCO: ·· Take two steps to the right. Compliance is not a subset of Legal, an extension of Audit, or a new iteration of any other profession. You have a new mandate that requires a new mindset. The best thing a new CCO can do is leave their old profession behind and figure out what new competencies, skillsets, knowledge base, and experiences they need to do the job well, and how to get them. ·· Learn your company like never before. A listening tour is an excellent way to understand the challenges you face in this new position, begin to identify existing compliance activity, form alliances, and recruit supporters. Polish up your elevator speech first. ·· Never be isolated. As we said, the job is hard. But it’s even harder if you are isolated with no frame of reference into the profession. Form your professional networks early and carefully. If you do, they will help sustain you in times of trouble. Joe Murphy and I will be doing a ½-day preconference session on this very topic in London on May 18, 2014. Let us know if we should save you a seat. ✵ Donna Boehme (dboehme @ compliancestrategists.com) is Principal of Compliance Strategists LLC and former Chief Compliance and Ethics Officer for two leading multinationals. Follow Donna on Twitter @ DonnaCBoehme.
+1 952 933 4977 or 888 277 4977 www.corporatecompliance.org
Compliance & Ethics Professional January 2014
Skydiving into Compliance, with eyes wide open
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