Is it legal vs. Is it right: Owen Ryan
About Owen Ryan
In a 2021 discussion on technology in accounting and finance, Ryan said he was excited by the evolution of technology's role in the field, describing it as "rapidly become more integrated, more impactful, more relied upon to make decisions." He stated that this has created a new skill set that students and professionals need to be successful, and noted his own experience pairing business knowledge with technology knowledge through coursework in data analytics and data mining, as well as working with computer scientists and engineers on startups using machine learning and artificial intelligence. Ryan said he was grateful to explore this through the school of accounting and finance and that understanding both sides allows him to understand where he adds value in an organization. In a 2017 interview, Ryan discussed a shift in the business community from asking "is it legal" to "is it right." He said that in some industries, people previously interpreted rules and regulations to see if they could "get away with it," but that increased regulation, more aggressive regulators and boards, and diminished tolerance for poor behavior have led professionals to ask themselves "is it right." Ryan stated that this lens is "good for business and that's good for the capital markets and good quite frankly for the individual."