In the latest episode of The Leadership Habit Podcast, host Jenn DeWall sat down with Andrew Cooper, an influential executive leader and author of the newly released book, The Ethical Imperative. The episode delves deep into what it means to “lead with conscience” in the modern workplace, offering valuable insights for leaders striving to create positive outcomes for their teams, organizations, and communities.

Meet Andrew C.M. Cooper

Andy received his doctorate from Emory University and later joined the legal leadership teams of multiple Fortune 500 companies. He rose in responsibility to General Counsel of UPS Airlines and served on an executive staff responsible for overseeing billions in assets and over twenty thousand employees. Cooper would become the youngest and first African American to assume the role at America’s largest cargo airline.

Andrew is a globally recognized executive leader and advocate for compassionate business practices. He is the head of patent acquisitions at Meta Platforms, Inc. He made history as the first millennial and black executive to serve as general counsel of UPS Airlines, the world’s largest logistics airline operating in 220 countries. With over 20,000 employees, Cooper’s team played a pivotal role in the success of Operation Warp Speed, the US Pandemic vaccine relief effort.

Andrew is committed to facilitating leadership transformation and assisting organizations in achieving and sustaining high performance. Andrew’s debut book, The Ethical Imperative: Leading with Conscience to Shape the Future of Business makes a compelling case for companies to champion the collective prosperity of employees, shareholders and communities. 

The Importance of Leading with Conscience

Leading with conscience is more than just a buzzword—it’s a critical approach to leadership in a time of significant social and organizational stress. Andrew Cooper, a globally recognized advocate for compassionate business practices and head of patent acquisitions at Meta Platforms Inc. underscores the need for leaders to prioritize ethical decision-making.

Cooper’s journey to writing The Ethical Imperative began during his time as general counsel at UPS Airlines. He witnessed firsthand the immense pressures that leaders faced during the pandemic. He started journaling about these experiences, which eventually led to the development of his book. As Cooper explains, “The genesis of the book really came when members on my team began losing family members… I began journaling about how we were dealing with stress, people on my team, and how I was dealing with it. And that evolved into research on how leaders historically help their teams retain high performance during crises.”

The Four Moral Imperatives of Leadership

Later in the episode, Cooper lays out the four moral imperatives that are essential for leading with conscience:

1. Speed: In the face of rapidly changing market conditions, leaders must decentralize decision-making to enable quick, informed actions. Cooper emphasizes the importance of speed, not in a reckless sense, but as a moral imperative to save livelihoods and adapt to market changes. “The moral reasoning behind why speed is important is because staying ahead of changes is really a moral requirement for organizations today. If you are caught flatfooted, people are harmed,” says Cooper.
   
2. Inspiration: Cooper highlights the necessity of connecting employees’ work to a larger cause. By doing so, leaders can double productivity and foster a sense of purpose among their teams. He points to Bombas, a company that donates a pair of socks to homeless shelters for every pair sold, as a prime example of how cause connection can inspire employees to go above and beyond.
   
3. Community Investment: Cooper’s personal experiences growing up in a struggling rural community in South Carolina fuel his belief in the power of community investment. He advocates for businesses to intentionally invest in economically depressed areas, which can help bridge the rural-urban divide and strengthen communities. “Everything that we do has an impact on communities. When we succeed, communities thrive; when we fail, they also hurt,” he explains.
   
4. Openness: The final imperative centers on creating inclusive environments where all employees have the opportunity to thrive. Cooper urges leaders to dismantle hierarchies and focus on individual contributions. He cites Meta’s initiative to support historically overlooked inventors, particularly women in tech, as an example of intentional inclusivity.
   

Crestcom’s Commitment to Ethical Leadership

At Crestcom, we understand that leading with conscience is more than just an ideal—it’s a necessity for sustainable business success. Our leadership development programs are designed to equip leaders with the tools they need to inspire, connect, and empower their teams. As Jenn DeWall concludes in the podcast, “We know that we’ve got to make better decisions to protect our people, to navigate the disruption that is continuously around us.”

If you’re looking to enhance your leadership skills, consider requesting Crestcom’s complimentary leadership skills workshop for your organization. In just two hours, you’ll gain actionable tactics to improve decision-making, build trust, and increase accountability within your organization.

Final Thoughts

As we navigate through an era of unprecedented change, leading with conscience is no longer optional—it’s imperative. Andrew C.M. Cooper’s insights remind us that ethical leadership is about more than just making the right decisions; it’s about creating an environment where people can thrive, communities can prosper, and businesses can achieve lasting success.

Where to Find More from Andy: 

• Connect with Andy on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/accooper
  
• Visit his website: andrew-cooper.com
  
• Read his book: The Ethical Imperative
  

Thank you for listening to The Leadership Habit Podcast! For more information on how Crestcom can support your leadership development, visit Crestcom.com/freeworkshop and request your free workshop today.

 

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