The pressure of delivering strong results quarter after quarter can tempt even the best companies to be myopic about ethics and fair business practices. Sometimes, this gives rise to the sort of scandal that can destroy the very foundations of a business. While some may view 'fair practices' as resource-draining and growth-impeding, companies that adopt a values-based approach to ethics and compliance gain a long-term competitive edge in the marketplace. 

At a recent joint session of the India CEO and CFO Forums, Sabina Sudan, corporate lawyer, and active speaker on ethical and legal issues, discussed effective strategies for melding profitable growth with ethical practices, and how organisations can embed ethics into the corporate culture, including in its code of conduct, CSR initiatives and whistle-blower policies.