Tyler Shultz, the whistleblower who helped expose fraud at the healthcare startup Theranos, will speak at an event titled “Courage and Conscience: A Celebration of Business Ethics” on April 14. The event is scheduled from 5-7 p.m. and is free to attend.
The upcoming talk aims to highlight the importance of ethical decision-making in business, especially for young professionals entering the workforce. Attendees will hear firsthand about Shultz’s experience navigating complex ethical, regulatory, legal, and personal dilemmas as he exposed what became one of the most significant corporate frauds since Enron.
Shultz joined Theranos shortly after graduating college when the company was valued at over $9 billion and promoted as a revolutionary force in healthcare. Despite its high-profile board and substantial funding, Shultz discovered that Theranos was built on false claims. His story has been featured in docuseries on HBO and Hulu, as well as in the best-selling book “Bad Blood” and major newspaper articles.
The event will also feature breakout discussions and an ethics award ceremony. Light refreshments will be provided for attendees.
“Courage and Conscience: A Celebration of Business Ethics” is presented by the College of Business and Economics Hansberger Chair in Business Ethics and the Responsible Business Initiative. In 2025, Justin Ames, associate professor in the Department of Management, was appointed as the Robert V. Hansberger Endowed Chair in Business Ethics for a five-year term. The position was established through a gift from the Hansberger family to honor Robert V. Hansberger’s legacy as a proponent of ethical business practices.
