Ethics and compliance leaders often describe their programs as “mature.”
But maturity isn’t a fixed definition—it exists on a scale, and where a program sits on that scale depends on how you measure it.
For some organizations, maturity reflects strong foundations: clear policies, consistent training, and confidence in meeting regulatory expectations. For others, it signals adaptability—the ability to interpret data, understand behavioral and cultural signals, and respond as risks evolve.
Most programs operate somewhere in between. They’ve built what they need to meet today’s requirements, while sensing that expectations around insight, influence, and impact are continuing to expand.
That variability isn’t a weakness. It’s a reflection of a function in motion—and a key reason why conversations about what comes next matter now.
The ground is shifting—whether we name it or not
The environment ethics and compliance teams operate in today is fundamentally different than it was even a few years ago.
Technology is changing how work gets done and how risk shows up. Data is giving us new visibility into behavior, decision-making, and culture. Expectations—from regulators, boards, employees, and the public—are rising, often faster than programs were designed to adapt.
At the same time, compliance leaders are being asked to demonstrate effectiveness in ways that go beyond frameworks and documentation. Increasingly, the questions sound like:
- What are we learning from our data—and how is it informing decisions?
- How do we know whether our program is influencing behavior, not just awareness?
- What signals are we missing until they become issues?
These aren’t abstract questions. They’re practical ones—and they don’t always come with easy answers.
The future is shaped by technology, data, and human behavior
There’s no question that technology and data are reshaping how ethics and compliance functions operate. But the most important shift isn’t technical—it’s interpretive.
Data alone doesn’t create insight. Insight requires judgment.
The real work of modern ethics and compliance sits at the intersection of information and behavior: contextualizing what data is telling us, how people experience expectations, and where pressure, ambiguity, or silence may be influencing decisions.
The programs that are evolving most effectively aren’t just collecting more information. They’re using it to ask better questions, tell clearer stories to leadership, and make more informed choices about where to focus attention.
That’s where trust, culture, and accountability are either strengthened—or quietly eroded.
Why True North exists
True North was never intended to be just another compliance event.
It was designed as a practitioner-led space for honest conversation about where the ethics and compliance function is headed and how we want to shape that future together. A place to explore what’s working, what’s not, and what needs to change—without pretending there’s a single right answer.
At True North, the focus isn’t on selling solutions or showcasing perfection. It’s on:
- Learning from peers who are experimenting and adapting in real time
- Examining how data, technology, and human behavior intersect in practice
- Creating shared language around effectiveness, impact, and evolution
- Building confidence to move programs forward with clarity
For leaders who sense that traditional measures no longer tell the full story, True North offers something rare: space to think, test assumptions, and evolve with intention.
An invitation to join the conversation
Ethics and compliance aren’t standing still—and neither are the expectations placed on those who lead them.
True North is for professionals who are willing to engage with that reality, challenge inherited assumptions, and help define what effective ethics and compliance look like next.
Join us on Tuesday, February 11, as we illuminate the future of ethics & compliance together. Learning Pool customers are invited to participate in an exclusive second day featuring extended, in-depth discussions.
Harper Wells is a governance, risk, and compliance leader with over 20 years of experience developing enterprise-wide ethics and compliance programs. As Chief Compliance Officer at Learning Pool, she leverages data-driven insights and innovative training strategies to foster ethical, high-performing workplace cultures.
