When Nancy Reynolds joined the Markkula Center for Applied Ethics Advisory Board in September of last year, it was after years of continued involvement in the greater university community. Reynolds initially found the Markkula Center during an SCU reception in New York City. As Reynolds says, “Over the years, I’ve enjoyed ethics presentations and discussion on campus and followed developments through the Center’s website and publications.”
Ethics are valuable to Reynolds in a myriad of ways, as she explains. “I consider ethics to be a form of enlightened critical thinking and essential to who you are. When facing complex decisions, it is important to know and reflect upon your values (and those of your organization). Trustworthiness, service, and fairness are important values to me both personally and professionally.”
When it comes to her prolific career, Reynolds has worked in the investment industry for years, retiring as a principal in Investcorp’s Technology Investment Group where she served as CFO and investor relations coordinator. Prior to this, Reynolds received her B.S. in accounting from Boston College’s Carroll School of Management. Reynolds also spent 20 years working at Investcorp and has also become an active community member in her town, serving on many boards and committees. After retiring, Nancy became an active volunteer in her town and with the Kent Place School, volunteering as the Board Liason to the school’s Ethics Institute.
When asked about the impact of ethics and the Ethics Center on her industry, Reynolds said “we are fortunate that corporate cultures have evolved to appreciate the value of ethical business practices and social responsibility. In private equity where priorities often centered solely on profits, additional factors now measure success beyond the bottom line. Twenty years ago, doing the right thing was reliant on the individual and governed mostly through legal agreements and compliance regulations. A well–negotiated limited partnership agreement would protect investor interests and align the management team’s success with those of the limited partners.”
“Now, an emphasis on ESG (environmental, social, governance) and promoting corporate values as well as the viral public downside risk of corporate missteps seem to provide the carrot and stick needed to embrace ethics. Navigating ethical dilemmas will remain critical to the prosperity of companies and their teams. The Markkula Center is uniquely positioned to promote the application of ethical decision making through two tracks: first, the Center’s mandate to educate students (ethics courses within SCU’s engineering, business, sciences, etc. programs) to become ethical practitioners and leaders and second, through sharing its resources and thought leadership with companies to create a more ethical workforce. In joining the Advisory Board this year, I look forward to helping the Markkula Center advance its important mission.”