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CATalyst attendees treated to classroom experience with Center for Leadership Ethics Director

Feb. 13, 2026

Throughout his discussion as part of the U of A CATalyst CHAT series, Founder of the Center for Leadership Ethics Paul Melendez queried his audience about their feelings about artificial intelligence. "Do we stop, pump the brakes or go full steam ahead?" The audience responded with mixed emotions, but there was little denying that there's no looking back and we have no choice in the matter. 

To help business students and business professionals establish guardrails, Melendez shared an acronym: FIGSE. 

  • Fair - Responsible AI should be fair, identifying algorithmic biases
  • Interpretable - so it is explainable, transparent, and trustworthy
  • Governed - across the entirety of an organization
  • Secure - to prevent cyber-attacks
  • Ethical - to align with the vision, mission, and values of an organization. 

By adhering to FIGSE, business leaders can consider stakeholder interests, realize economic returns, establish a high watermark for legal compliance and demonstrate thoughtful ethical practices in the marketplace, gaining competitive advantage. 

For a deeper dive into AI, consider registering for the Generative AI Leadership Accelerator, a four-day session at the U of A Scottsdale Center.