Christopher Michaelson headshot.

Christopher Michaelson Selected as "Top Mind"

Christopher Michaelson, associate professor of ethics and business law, was one of 12 professionals profiled in Compliance Week’s inaugural Top Minds issue, a special publication highlighting the most influential thought leaders in the ethics and compliance field today. The in-depth interviews are designed as way for top practitioners to share their knowledge and insight with other members of the community as the profession continues to grow and evolve.

In addition to his work as a professor of ethics and business, Michaelson is a practicing business adviser working for PricewaterhouseCoopers. His involvement in both the academic and business worlds affords him a unique perspective, and Michaelson said he sees a path forward for ethics and compliance not just as a professional or discipline but as a business model for the 21st century.

At the University of St. Thomas, Michaelson teaches students how to frame ethics and compliance recommendations to employers in terms of showing how they will create value, rather than just protecting value or managing risk. “A lot of students want to do something where they genuinely feel they are making the world a bit better through what they do," Michaelson said. "They are looking for a way to broaden their impact and have more systemic influence on an organization.”

A digital version of Top Minds is available online, and a print edition will ship with the August issue of Compliance Week. Content from the Top Minds issue will also be featured in upcoming issues of the Compliance Week e-newsletter, as well as through social media.