This research examines how managerial value orientations (MVOs) have evolved over time, highlighting a shift in mid- to upper-level managers’ values over the past 20+ years. The study, using the Rokeach Value Survey, contrasts managers’ priorities from the late 1980s to early 2010s and finds a significant trend: managers today are more likely to prioritize moral values over competence-based values. The findings underscore the critical role of values in shaping managerial behavior, organizational culture, and ethical climates, reinforcing their importance in decision-making processes, especially during times of global and organizational turbulence. This shift toward moral values in managerial decision-making can be directly tied to contemporary trends in the business world, such as the increasing emphasis on Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) criteria. Companies like BlackRock and other global firms are doubling down on ESG initiatives, reflecting a broader cultural and generational shift toward values-driven leadership. Similarly, the rise of stakeholder capitalism—where businesses are judged not just by profits but by their contributions to society, employees, and the environment—aligns with the study’s findings of managers valuing ethics and moral responsibility more today than in the past. The study’s implications are particularly relevant in the wake of corporate scandals, where leadership’s moral failings have often been at the center of controversy. For example, the recent focus on ethical leadership in the aftermath of the FTX collapse highlights the need for leaders who prioritize integrity over purely technical competence. It also sheds light on how organizations are rethinking their leadership development programs to ensure alignment with modern ethical and cultural expectations.