How compliance ambassadors turn everyday moments into a culture of speaking up

Peer influence over top-down messaging

What if the most powerful way to build a culture of compliance isn’t top-down, but peer to peer?

One of our customers recently launched an internal initiative that did just that. They created a network of compliance ambassadors: employees from different departments who, alongside their regular roles, took on the added responsibility of being trusted, local advocates for compliance.

Visibility, trust, and informal influence

Not all ambassadors were appointed—some were nominated by department leads, while others volunteered. The aim was clear: give visibility to trusted employees and enable them to start regular, peer-led conversations about ethical behavior.

To support them, the compliance team provided focused training on topics like speaking up, ethical dilemmas, and the Code of Conduct. This initiative complemented—not replaced—the company’s regular compliance training and formal programs. It created space for informal dialogue that felt approachable and grounded in real team dynamics.

Each ambassador also received a small personal budget to organize team-based activities, such as:

·      🍕 A pizza lunch on conflicts of interest

·      ☕ A coffee break to discuss the speak up program

·      🍻 After-work drinks to explore real-life “what would you do?” scenarios

This wasn’t about adding new layers of oversight. It was about capitalizing on existing trust within departments.

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The power of peer communication

Let’s be honest: most employees won’t pay much attention to another email from a compliance officer they’ve never met. But when a colleague you sit next to—maybe even someone more junior—raises a topic over coffee, you’re more likely to listen. It feels natural, not corporate. Relevant, not abstract.

And for the ambassadors? It was an opportunity to step into a new kind of role: one that gave them visibility, purpose, and influence beyond their daily job. They weren’t delivering formal trainings. They were starting conversations that mattered.

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Why it works

This approach is powerful because it brings compliance closer to the people. It turns the idea of doing the right thing into something visible, approachable, and human. It shows that culture isn’t created by policy alone: it’s shaped by the voices people already trust.

At SpeakUp, we believe communication shouldn’t stop after rollout. That’s why we created this guide: How to communicate your SpeakUp program. It includes tips on mapping your audience, choosing the right channels, and keeping your program visible over time.

What this customer did is a great example of that last point: making compliance stick through regular, informal reinforcement—by the right people, in the right places.

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What could this look like in your organization?

·      Who already holds trust in your teams?

·      Would they be open to taking on a visible role in promoting ethical culture?

·      Could a small budget unlock creative ways to engage others?

Sometimes the most effective voice for compliance isn’t a formal leader. It’s someone who simply cares, and knows how to connect with their peers.

And that’s exactly the kind of culture where speaking up becomes second nature.

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