Elev8 Ethics
November 10, 2025
News
SUMMARY: Dr. R. Edward Freeman, originator of stakeholder theory and one of the world’s leading voices in business ethics, visits JMU for Elev8 Ethics: a speaker series aimed at bringing awareness to current and significant ethical issues.
Ethics for the Rest of Your Life
In partnership with JMU’s College of Business (JMUCOB), Ethical Reasoning in Action (ERiA) welcomed Dr. R. Edward Freeman to Hartman Hall as the latest next Elev8 Ethics speaker. A leading voice in business ethics for over 40 years, known globally for his articulation of and contribution to stakeholder theory, Dr. Freeman spent the day engaging with students, faculty, and staff in meaningful conversation while addressing the ethical challenges that shape our world today.
In the latest Elev8 Ethics podcast episode, Dr. Freeman joins Dr. Roxanne Ross (JMUCOB) and Dr. Christian Early (ERiA) for a candid and thought-provoking conversation about stakeholder theory and the ethics of business.
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"The most powerful word in the English language is AND. It's not stakeholders OR shareholders. It's stakeholders AND shareholders." Dr. R. Edward Freeman |
Drawing from his decades of experience and philosophical training, Dr. Freeman emphasizes that business is fundamentally about creating value for all stakeholders—customers, employees, suppliers, communities, and investors—not just maximizing profit. He challenges the notion of trade-offs, advocating instead for the power of “and”: purpose and profit, stakeholders and shareholders.
With humor and insight, the conversation illuminates how ethical reasoning can help students and leaders move beyond false dichotomies and embrace a more imaginative, inclusive approach to decision-making.
If you have a topic or speaker that you would like to suggest for the Elev8 Ethics lecture series, please visit: https://jmu.questionpro.com/elev8speaker.
