Episode 2: The Right Thing To Do

Welcome to What They Don’t Tell You — a leadership podcast from Deabadh Group.

In Episode 2 of What They Don’t Tell You, William Warren explores what it really means to do the right thing in leadership — especially when decisions come with human cost. Drawing on real experiences and a powerful case study from Baxter International, this episode looks at courage, responsibility, and why ethical leadership is about acting amid uncertainty, not waiting for perfect clarity.

About this episode

People talk a lot about doing “the right thing.” It sounds simple. Almost comforting. But in leadership, the right thing is rarely obvious.

Most decisions don’t arrive cleanly. Leaders are often choosing between imperfect options — between short-term pain and long-term consequence, between loyalty to individuals and responsibility to the wider system.

In this episode, William reflects on what ethical leadership really requires: courage in ambiguity, clarity under pressure, and the willingness to carry the weight of difficult decisions. Drawing on over 20 years working with senior leaders globally — and a powerful real-world example from Baxter International — he explores why doing the right thing often costs certainty, popularity, and comfort.

This is a conversation about responsibility, conviction, and what separates good leaders from great ones when there is no easy answer.

Learn more about our leadership work at deabadhgroup.com