Leadership is more than a title it is a responsibility, a practice, a duty, and above all, a reflection of our core values. Over the past semester, I have learned that ethical leadership isn’t just a theoretical concept but rather a compass guiding every decision and interaction in our professional lives. As young professionals in the early stages of our careers, we often focus on climbing the corporate ladder, but what truly sets great leaders apart from others is their ability to stay grounded in values that inspire trust, respect, and growth.

One of the most impactful lessons that I have learned in this class is that leadership begins with self-awareness. A values driven leader must first identify their core beliefs and make sure their actions align with them and what they believe. This semester I have reflected on my own values and found: innovation, integrity, and the desire to make a meaningful impact on the world are my core leadership values. I realized that being an effective leader means applying these values for daily decisions even when it’s uncomfortable or not in my best interest.

Take Tyler McGrit, for example my coworker from Bosch Home Appliances someone I look up to because of his story. Tyler started on an assembly line and worked his way up to a data analyst role by leveraging his work ethic, perseverance, and commitment to continuous learning. His story shows that leadership isn’t tied to a position but to how you inspire those around you. His example taught me that leading ethically means showing humility, valuing growth, and maintaining authenticity no matter your role.

This course also highlighted that ethical leadership often involves making very tough choices. Whether navigating workplace conflicts or choosing between profit and principle, the most ethical path is always the least easiest option. We studied cases where leaders faced moral dilemmas, and the common thread among successful outcomes was their leaders unwavering commitment to transparency and fairness for all.

I faced a small but telling ethical decision in my internship at Bosch Home Appliances last summer. I was tasked with analyzing quality issues in our manufacturing process, and I uncovered a minor discrepancy that could have been overlooked to save time on the assembly line. There was a heating error where the dishwasher tubs get a very thin bitumen layer heated onto them, but multiple tubs where coming out with over melted bitumen that went unreported. Reporting it meant delaying the project slightly, but it was the right choice to ensure accuracy and quality of the tubs for our consumers. While it may not have been a groundbreaking decision, it reinforced the importance of doing what’s right over what’s easy a cornerstone of ethical leadership.

Leadership extends beyond personal decisions to, it’s about creating a culture where others feel empowered to act ethically too. This past summer, I was also inspired by Dr. Kytyr my boss during my internship in the Czech Republic this summer at the Theoretical and Applied Mechanics Insitute. He is a leader who balances his roles as a researcher and educator and does so extremely well due to his ethical foundation and values. He does this by promoting innovation, accountability, and collaboration, resulting in a cultivated a culture where his team thrives. His leadership style reminded me that the best leaders amplify others strengths and encourage ethical behavior by modeling it themselves.

As we start on our careers, the pressure to perform and achieve can sometimes tempt us to cut corners or corupt our values and change our beliefs. But what I have learned is that success built on shaky ethical foundations is never sustainable and always has conflicts . The leaders who leave a lasting impact are those who remain true to their principles and prioritize people over profits no matter what.

To my fellow peers leadership is a journey, not a destination. Take the time to define your values, seek out mentors who embody ethical leadership, and never shy away from making the hard but right decisions. Whether you’re leading a team of one or one hundred, the principles you uphold today will shape the legacy you leave tomorrow.
Leadership is ultimately about more than achieving goals and not only that but also it’s about how we achieve them. So let’s strive to lead with purpose, integrity, and a commitment to making our workplaces, industries, and communities better for those who follow in our steps by always taking an ethical first step in everything we do.