Ethics forms the philosophical bedrock of all my coaching, consulting, and research endeavors. Far from abstract theorizing, my approach to ethics centers on practical moral philosophy—the rigorous study of how we should live, act, and organize collective life in ways that advance human flourishing and social justice. This page explores my grounding in secular moral formation, applied organizational ethics, and liberation-centered frameworks for ethical decision-making across personal and institutional contexts.
Foundations in Secular Moral Philosophy
My ethical framework emerges from secular moral philosophy, which grounds moral reasoning in human faculties of logic, empathy, reason, and moral intuition rather than supernatural revelation or religious doctrine. This approach aligns with my research on “secular/non-religious moral/ethical formation,” recognizing that humans possess innate capacities for moral judgment and the development of ethical systems independent of theological foundations. Secular ethics encompasses diverse philosophical traditions—from utilitarian calculations of greatest good to deontological imperatives base moral authority arises from within human communities rather than external divine command.
This philosophical grounding shapes my coaching methodology in Trauma Recovery Coaching, where survivors of religious high-control environments must often rebuild their moral compass after deconstructing externally imposed ethical systems. Similarly, my DEI Transformation work helps organizations develop values-based cultures that honor human dignity across difference without relying on religious justifications.
Applied Ethics in Organizational Contexts
Applied ethics translates philosophical principles into practical frameworks for addressing real-world moral dilemmas. My expertise spans two primary forms of organizational ethics: first, analyzing specific ethical problem types within institutions (such as workplace misconduct, conflict of interest, or resource allocation), and second, developing decision-making processes and structures that embed ethical considerations into organizational operations. This dual approach recognizes that ethical behavior requires both principled reasoning and systemic support through policies, training, and accountability mechanisms.
Research demonstrates that effective organizational ethics programs must move beyond compliance-based approaches to foster genuine moral reasoning capabilities among employees and leaders. My work with organizations emphasizes developing ethical competencies—the knowledge, skills, and habits that enable individuals to recognize moral issues, reason through complex dilemmas, and act with integrity even under pressure. This capacity-building approach appears throughout my Strategic HR & Organizational Consulting.
Praxis-Oriented Ethical Frameworks
Following the principle that “philosophers have only interpreted the world, but the point is to change it,” my ethical approach prioritizes praxis — the integration of theory and practice aimed at transforming oppressive conditions. This means ethical reflection must connect individual moral choices to broader systems of power and collective liberation. Unlike purely theoretical ethics, praxis-oriented approaches examine how personal decisions either reinforce or challenge structural inequalities based on race, class, gender, sexuality, and other axes of oppression.
This framework influences my approach to Research & Program Support, where I help organizations develop evaluation metrics that account for ethical impacts alongside operational outcomes. It also shapes my Mediation & Conflict Management work, which addresses not just interpersonal disputes but the underlying power dynamics that generate ongoing tension.
Virtue Ethics and Character Formation
While secular ethics often emphasizes consequentialist or deontological reasoning, my practice integrates virtue ethics—the cultivation of moral character traits that enable consistent ethical behavior across diverse contexts. Virtue ethics asks not just “what should I do?” but “what kind of person should I become?” and “how do we create communities that foster moral excellence?” This approach proves particularly valuable for leadership development and organizational culture change, where sustainable transformation requires internal commitment rather than external compliance.
My coaching integrates practices for developing core virtues such as practical wisdom (phronesis), justice, temperance, and courage while adapting these concepts for contemporary challenges. For clients healing from coercive control, virtue ethics provides tools for reclaiming agency and developing authentic moral identity beyond imposed rules.
Critical Ethics and Power Analysis
Traditional ethical frameworks often assume neutral decision-makers operating in fair conditions. Critical ethics, by contrast, examines how systems of domination shape moral possibilities and limit access to ethical agency. This analysis reveals that many apparent “ethical dilemmas” actually reflect deeper structural problems—for instance, when employees face pressure to compromise integrity due to exploitative labor conditions, or when communities must choose between economic survival and environmental protection due to extractive capitalism.
My work consistently applies power analysis to ethical questions, examining how race, class, gender, sexuality, disability status, and other identities affect moral decision-making contexts. This approach appears prominently in my research on conversion therapy and high-control religious environments, where individual “choices” occur within coercive systems designed to eliminate authentic moral agency.
Practical Tools for Ethical Decision-Making
Beyond philosophical frameworks, effective ethics requires practical tools for navigating complex moral terrain. My approach integrates multiple decision-making models adapted for different contexts and stakeholder needs.
For organizational applications, I develop customized ethical assessment tools that help leaders systematically evaluate policy proposals, resource allocation decisions, and strategic initiatives.
Ethics in Research and Evaluation
My academic research maintains rigorous ethical standards while advancing knowledge that serves liberation movements and social justice causes. This includes adherence to institutional review board protocols, informed consent procedures, and data protection standards, but extends beyond compliance to examine how research methodologies either reproduce or challenge existing power relations. Participatory action research, for instance, involves affected communities as co-researchers rather than passive subjects, distributing power and ensuring that knowledge production serves community-defined goals.
Evaluation ethics requires particular attention to whose voices are centered, what metrics are prioritized, and how findings are disseminated. My Research & Program Support emphasizes culturally responsive evaluation approaches that honor diverse ways of knowing while maintaining methodological rigor.
Working Together: Ethical Coaching and Consulting
Whether supporting individual clients, organizational teams, or research initiatives, my ethical expertise provides tools for navigating complex moral terrain with integrity and strategic wisdom. I help clients develop personal ethical frameworks that integrate their values with practical decision-making skills while remaining accountable to broader justice commitments. For organizations, I facilitate processes that embed ethical reasoning into operational systems and cultural practices.
Curious about developing ethical frameworks for your personal or professional context? Contact me to explore how coaching or consulting might support your goals for principled, effective action in service of collective flourishing.
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I regularly publish analysis on ethics, power, and organizational transformation through both academic venues and public-facing platforms. Subscribe below for insights that connect moral philosophy with practical strategies for social change.