From JD/MBA to Global Ethics Strategist

Did you know St. Thomas has one of the largest business ethics faculty in the United States? Principled leadership is woven throughout the university's curriculum, centers and institutes and public events. As a framework used across disciplines, it embraces business ethics, integrity, and transforms how businesses operate.

The focus on principled leadership was what first attracted Jessica Tjornehoj ’15 JD/MBA to St. Thomas. Soon after she catapulted her career as a global ethics strategist for one of the largest banks in the country.

“From a business ethics perspective, St. Thomas is obviously very well-known for having the largest ethics faculty,” said Tjornehoj, a triple Tommie. “The importance of ethics is embedded in the fabric of the university and curriculum. And the MBA program takes an even deeper dive into business ethics."

Tjornehoj combined her passion for law with an MBA to prepare her for the professional world. She focused her studies within the area of Organizational Ethics and Compliance. Her joint degree allowed her to take both law and business classes simultaneously. 

Her foray into leadership was through the International Business Ethics Case Competition during her MBA. She and her team presented on the ethics of doing a corporate inversion to Ireland, placing in the top three.

Tjornehoj currently works on a new and growing team in the Global Ethics Office at U.S. Bank, managing ethics strategy. More and more companies like U.S. Bank are building stand-alone teams focused on ethical culture and initiatives, a growing trend in financial services.

Tjornehoj also sits on the Advisory Board for Risk Leadership at St. Thomas’s Opus College of Business and the University of St. Thomas School of Law Alumni Board. She began teaching as an adjunct professor for the Organizational Ethics and Compliance program in the fall of 2018.

“With personal growth comes continuous learning. My personal perspective is to never stop being the student.”