White Collar Offender Stigma and Reintegration into Company

This next online public lecture will be delivered by Erin Frey, Assistant Professor of Organizational Behavior at Yale School of Management titled: “White Collar Offender Stigma and Reintegration into Company".

Public accusations of misconduct can leave lasting digital traces, making it difficult for individuals to escape the stigma associated with their past. Drawing on interviews with 57 individuals convicted of white-collar crime, this project examines how people navigate persistent reputational stigma. Findings reveal that traditional stigma management tactics, such as concealment and strategic disclosure, are often ineffective. Instead, individuals can leverage their stigmatized identities as professional roles, becoming “professional exes” who use their past experiences to build new careers. A path to professional reintegration is created through this process, though not necessarily a return to full acceptance within their former professions. This research provides a unique look at white-collar wrongdoing, reputational stigma, second changes, and how organizations might reintegrate professionals after unethical behavior.     

This lecture will be moderated by Todd Haugh, Kelley School of Business, Indiana University.

Lecture date and time: Thursday, 3 December 2026 | 13:00 – 14:00 EST (19:00 – 20:00 CET)

The public lecture series is organised by the Kelley School of Business Institute for Corporate Governance (ICG+E), in partnership with Ethical Systems and ECGI.