About
Erika Cheung is one of the whistleblowers who reported Theranos to regulators, and the co-founder and Executive Director of the nonprofit Ethics in Entrepreneurship.
She joined the 2024 "Out of Isolation" panel at the inaugural conference.
At the White Collar Conference
Erika Cheung described the isolation that followed her decision to report problems at the diagnostics company where she worked, and how even sending an email became difficult. She talked about asking friends, a psychologist and a whistleblower peer support group for help, and about breaking each day down to what she could do to make tomorrow a little better.
“I didn't realize how isolating the experience would be for me.”
Watch at 2:39
“You can't choose to just do it alone anymore.”
Watch at 7:59
“What can I do to just make tomorrow a little bit better and a little bit better and a little bit better and then from there it compounds.”
Watch at 29:11
Chapters
- 0:00 Bill Baroni opens the panel
- 2:03 Erika Cheung on blowing the whistle and the isolation that followed
- 5:56 Erika Cheung on asking for help
- 11:03 Seth Williams on going from elected office to solitary confinement
- 17:07 Seth Williams on RDAP and learning from other inmates
- 20:53 Elizabeth Kelley on isolation, mental health and her clients
- 28:31 Erika Cheung on making tomorrow a little better
- 32:32 Seth Williams on Chuck Colson's "Born Again"
- 34:20 A few words for someone who feels isolated
- 36:29 Elizabeth Kelley's closing advice
With Bill Baroni (moderator), Elizabeth Kelley and Seth Williams
Join us in fall 2027.
The fourth annual White Collar Conference is planned for fall 2027, virtual on Zoom and open to all.