The Transparency Task Forve (TTF) and its members seek to re-balance the financial ecosystem in favour of the society it is meant to serve. This effort is reflected in out multifaceted Finance Development Goals, which establish a framework for finance reform in the same way that the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals are a framework for planetary change. However, as an independent organization, TTF recognizes the limits of its influence. Truly meaningful and sustainable change must come from within the Financial Sector itself; and we wish to help promote and facilitate the change that is needed.
We cannot overstate the transformational potential of the leaders within our industry to effect change. In fact,we believe our aspirations will not become reality unless and until a majority of industry leaders begin managing their businesses consistent with the Finance Development Goals, or a similar set of ethics-based principles; and unless and until political and regulatory leaders have sufficient courage to stand against powerful special interests and call out those who do not operate ethically.
With respect to industry reform, leadership is a pro-active endeavour that extends well beyond a particular person, position or organisation. The League is founded on our convictions that the transformational impact of industry leaders will be magnified through a shared platform for their collaboration, mutual support and collective voice.
The quotations below capture very well the essence of the importance of ethical leadership; and they serve as a compelling conclusion to this explanation of the raison d’etre for our International League of Ethical Services Leaders.
Abraham Lincoln
“Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man’s character, give him power.”
Dwight D. Eisenhower
“The supreme quality for leadership is unquestionably integrity. Without it, no real success is possible, no matter whether it is on a section gang, a football field, in an army, or in an office.”
Elvis Presley
“Values are like fingerprints. Nobody’s are the same, but you leave’em all over everything you do.”
Joanne B. Ciulla
“Leadership is not a person or a position. It is a complex moral relationship between people based on trust, obligation, commitment, emotion and a shared vision of the good.”
General Norman Schwarzkopf
“Leadership is a potent combination of strategy and character. But, if you must be without one, be without strategy.”
Simon Sinek
“Leadership is absolutely about inspiring action, but it is also about guarding against mis-action.”
Pope Francis
“There is a need for financial reform along ethical lines that would produce in its turn an economic reform to benefit everyone. This would nevertheless require a courageous change of attitude on the part of political leaders.”
Lao Tzu
“A leader is best when people barely know he exists; when his work is done, his aim fulfilled, they will say: we did it ourselves.”