Fraud Part 2: Inside the Whistleblower’s Dilemma - Cool Careers in Accounting Ep. 26

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Dr. Kelly Richmond Pope joins host Mike Potenza to unpack whistleblowers—their stigma, motives, and impact. Pope outlines the “whistleblower triangle” and three archetypes: accidental, noble, and vigilante. Real-world cases span Dixon, Wells Fargo, Boeing, Hyundai, and more, revealing the risks, retaliation, and long legal roads many face, even with rewards under False Claims and Dodd Frank. Join us as Dr. Pope shares guidance for leaders on building safe reporting channels and for professionals weighing when—and how—to speak up.

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00:00 Introduction and Welcome
00:39 What's your take on a whistleblower? Are they heroes or are they villains?
02:05 Why do we hate whistleblowers?
03:44 Impact of TED Talk on Whistleblowers
05:14 Financial Incentives for Whistleblowers
06:00 Challenges Faced by Whistleblowers
07:58 Introducing the Whistleblower Triangle
10:00 Types of Whistleblowers
15:09 Accidental Whistleblowers
19:05 Case Study: Wells Fargo Scandal
22:22 Career Impact on Whistleblowers
25:28 The Noble Whistleblower
30:25 Historical Examples of Noble Whistleblowers
35:02 Jeffrey Wigand's Story
37:43 Controversial Cases: Little League Incident
42:19 Edward Snowden: Righteous Perpetrator
44:58 Supporting Whistleblowers: Organizational Role