Our Story

One Team. One Story. One Philosophy

Our philosophy is rooted in the belief that authentic leadership flows from a deep understanding of self – not from imitation or technique.

Lapin is a strategy and leadership consulting firm. For over two decades, we have helped clients around the world reach their higher purpose and elevate performance at every level.

The Inner Work of Leadership

Leadership is not something we perform; it is something we become. The work of leading begins with the work of understanding – clarifying our values, uncovering our purpose, and aligning the way we act with the truth of who we are. At Lapin, this alignment between identity and action defines authentic leadership.

The Inner Work of Leadership

Team Approach

Lead with your values at every layer of business. We help individuals, teams, and organizations align around your beliefs, practice courageous conversation, and translate intent into disciplined execution.

Individuals

Highlight your self-awareness and turn pressure into principled action by revealing your core value-drivers, philosophy and behavior patterns. Build the habits of effective leadership so your impact grows beyond your role and adheres to your values.

Teams

Transform a group of talented contributors into a truly aligned and connected team. Using your beliefs and behavioral insight, we establish a shared language of values, enabling faster decisions and eliminating misunderstanding, turning strategy into results.

Organizations

Shape your company’s culture by design—not by default. Economical and easy to deploy across your company, the results reveal the core beliefs and values that form your organization’s leadership style and guide decision-making so your teams and talent scale together.

Origins of Insight

A Philosophy is Born

In the final years of Apartheid, as Nelson Mandela rose to leadership, David Lapin began shaping a new understanding of leadership – one grounded in human dignity, moral clarity, and purpose. Through early engagements with JCI Mining Group and ABI, Strategic Business Ethics was founded as a non-profit dedicated to helping organizations find the soul within business.

1989 - 1992

1992 – 2000

Responding to the Times

An Antidote to Excess

As the world embraced a culture of excess, from the LA Riots to the casino boom, Lapin’s work expanded to Los Angeles and evolved into a for-profit enterprise. Desi Lapin joined the practice, reinforcing its family foundation. In an era driven by image and speed, Lapin became a voice for distinction – the noble way to win – rooted in purpose-driven leadership, ethical clarity, and the courage to uphold values amid pressure.

Transformation Realized

A Prophecy Fulfilled

The digital age ushered in disruption and autonomy, calling for a new kind of leadership. Strategic Business Ethics became Lapin International – a consultancy devoted to aligning purpose, culture, and performance. Through landmark engagements with DuPont, Gore, and the U.S. Department of Justice, Lapin introduced the Lead by Greatness methodology and the Spiritual Fingerprint framework, guiding organizations to orient around values rather than structure. These timeless principles continue to shape modern leadership today.