Episode description
Some 20 years ago Toby Tester had the good fortune to study Existentialism as part of his MBA at Macquarie University. Apart from being what he thought was a pretty cool subject at the time, the existentialist view on responsibility continues to resonate with him to this day.
It's a type of responsibility that's deep, introspective and uncompromising. People need to go forth into the world with a moral and psychological responsibility for literally everything they say and do.
As the French philosopher, Jean-Paul Sartre put it: "Man is fully responsible for his nature and his choices"
Toby found this tough-minded view on responsibility, in an odd way, to be very life-affirming. There is much to say about this deeply introspective understanding of responsibility, particularly when it comes to dealing with modern-day challenges where the very rules of business are in a constant state of flux.
This is what Toby wants us to think about accountability….