Morgan Hamel on Moral Polarization

How does moral polarization challenge even the most well-intentioned leaders?

In this episode, I speak with Morgan Hamel, who talks frankly about her journey from working in business ethics to launching her own ethical fashion business.

In our conversation, Morgan reflects on the complex dynamics of running a business that sought to balance purpose and profit and how that vision was tested by the demands of a polarized world.

Morgan’s story offers a candid look at the pressures business leaders face today—particularly around ethical decision-making and navigating stakeholder expectations. She shares her personal experiences of how social media, moral polarization, and the expectations of "doing good" can create enormous challenges for business owners who want to stay true to their values while also being commercially successful.

We explore the notion of moral polarization and how leaders can prepare themselves to handle the reputational and psychological pressure that comes with balancing ethics and business in today’s climate.

Morgan Hamel
Morgan describes herself as an entrepreneur and ethics expert who has dedicated her career to exploring the intersection of business and ethics. She began her journey in business ethics after studying applied ethics at Utrecht University. She later spent 11 years working in the ethics office of a large Canadian corporation, where she helped develop integrity programs and worked on aligning corporate actions with ethical codes.

After leaving corporate life, Morgan founded her own ethical fashion business, "The Garment," which sought to change the face of fashion by connecting women with responsibly made clothes. However, her business came under immense pressure during the moral and social upheaval following the death of George Floyd.

Morgan ultimately made the difficult decision to close the business, leading her to reflect on the deeper issues of moral polarization that businesses face today. Today, she works with organizations, boards, and executives to help them navigate the complexities of ethical leadership in a polarized world.

AI-generated timestamp summary

[00:00:00] - Introduction to the mini-series on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.
[00:01:12] - Morgan's background in business ethics and her decision to start an ethical fashion business.

[00:02:33] - Morgan reflects on her business's failure due to the competing demands of ethics and commercial success.

[00:04:00] - The pressures of leading ethically in a polarized world, particularly on social media.

[00:07:10] - The dangers of moral polarization in business decision-making.

[00:10:20] - How post-2012 pressures (social media influence) have changed the ethical landscape for businesses.

[00:18:00] - Lessons from Morgan’s decision to close her business despite its commercial success.

[00:30:00] - A discussion on aligning business actions with ethical values and balancing profit with purpose.

[00:46:55] - Morgan’s reflections on handling reputational risk and psychological pressure.

[01:00:40] - The rise of post-2012 ethical risks and how leaders can prepare themselves.

[01:10:00] - Morgan’s current work on moral polarization and her advice for business leaders today.

Links
To find out more about Morgan, visit her website: https://www.morganhamel.com/

Morgan on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/morgan-hamel-365537210/

The previous episode of this mini-series on DI&E: https://www.humanriskpodcast.com/chloevaldary-morganhamel-peterstein-on-diversity-equity-inclusion/

The essay she wrote with Keith Darcy on Stakeholder Activism: https://www.morganhamel.com/stakeholder-activism

Morgan's TED Talk: https://tedxyyc.ca/tal