David Myers, former controller of WorldCom speaks about the importance of standing firm ethically when faced with decisions in the workforce. Myers was involved in an 11 billion dollar accounting scandal in 2002, when WorldCom came under pressure to cover its declining profitability. He spent a year and a day in federal prison and now travels to different organizations talking about his experiences.

"This is not something I'm proud to do. I do this because I hope I can help someone not go through what I went through, and that's the only reason," Myers said.

"I didn't realize I was working for people I couldn't trust. They were lying to their investors, but I told myself it wasn't my lie," Myers said.

But when WorldCom's revenues began shrinking, Myers was backed against a wall. He used illegal accounting methods to mask WorldCom's declining state--according to his boss, Scott Sullivan's, orders.

"I allowed Scott, his morals and his ethics override mine. Everything I built in life, all the things my parents had told me, everything I entrusted in myself, I let him override that," Myers said.

Myers always appeals to his audience: always take the high road even if it means quitting and to make cautious and ethical decisions. "I'm not suggesting mental paralysis every time you have to make a decision," Myers said. "But when your antenna goes up, there's a reason for that." He also added that no one can take responsibility for anyone else's actions except his or her own. "And if someone claims that they can, run the other way."

Ethics & Integrity, Business Ethics