ethiKids Mission

ethiKids is dedicated to the ethical development of children by providing fun and engaging materials that create open dialogue between children and adults about ethical behavior in today’s fast-paced, changing and sometimes confusing world.

ethiKids products and services will always foster a shared commitment to the importance of self-awareness, choices, action and personal responsibility – always balancing independence within boundaries.

ethiKids forms strong partnerships with organizations, communities and leaders who share our dedication and purpose.

Our Methodology

Collaboration is at the center of all we have done – and will do. This is evident in each step of our methodology.

From its inception, ethiKids has been informed by an advisory group of highly accomplished people with a shared commitment and passion for the ethical development of our children. This group played a critical role in establishing our mission and direction.

As detailed in the Influence and Risk section, we believed that the place to begin was with 8-11 year old children. We needed to understand the ethical dilemmas and pressures they face every day – in school, at home, with friends and in activities. We embarked on a series of focus groups with 8-11 year olds and parents and teachers of that same group. We learned a lot during that process (Out of the Mouths).

The focus group process informed our product development approach and content. Throughout the product development process, educational experts, parents, social service practitioners and people from a series of faiths were engaged to hone the focus and validate our emerging product concepts.

The information gathered at the focus group, coupled with input from other key stakeholders was supported by a collection and analysis of data from a variety of sources, many of which are available in our Resource section.

As the product development process evolved, we tested early concepts and content with parents of the targeted age group through a qualitative and quantitative product evaluation process.

Everything you’ll see in ethiKids products and on this website is a manifestation of experience, research, source material, collaboration and, most importantly, an appreciation for the challenges our children face.

The ethiKids Team

Deborah L. Talbot, CEO

Deb has recently joined ethiKids as CEO.  She brings to the comapny a wealth of experience in corporate management, largely spent at a former incarnation of JPMorganChase, The Chase Manhattan Bank.  While at Chase she ran three retail busineses and a global payments business and spent time at Harvard, MIT and Stanford honing her insights and talent for management and organizational change.

 Always a community leader, Deb has served on the boards of The Fresh Air Fund, The Martha Graham Company, Learning Leaders, and Earth Charter.  She has most recently co-founded a not-for-profit corporation, CreativeTampaBay, dedicated to engaging business, education, government and arts organizations in the economic and social development of the Tampa Bay region and remains active as an advisor to that corporation.  Deb also currently serves on the Board of Trustees for the Eagle Mutual Funds (Raymond James Financial) and the Advisory Board for the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Memphis.

Always in search of new ideas, "Dr. Deb" recently completed a PhD in Mythological Studies from the Pacifica Graduate Institute with a heavy emphasis in Jungian/Depth Psychology.  Her dissertative research developed a postmodern notion of play which she applied within the framework of capitalism and sustainable business and life alternataives.  A core element of her thesis was a new hybrid enterprise that would "Do Good and Make Money".  It's a principle she intends to employ in guidng ethiKids' business development.  Deb resides in Tampa, Florida.

Board of Directors

ethiKids’ Board of Directors currently is comprised of two individuals:
Cheryl Palmer, Director
Cheryl Palmer is a senior executive whose career has spanned a range of consumer products, retail and hospitality firms. Cheryl is currently Corporate Vice President, Revenue & Product Development for Club Quarters, a member-based hospitality chain in New York City. Ms. Palmer has an accomplished career of driving business growth through strategic brand positioning, a strong focus on the customer, and building and motivating high performance teams. She resides in Stamford, Connecticut.

Director (TBD)

Advisory Panel

From its inception, ethiKids, inc. has been informed by a group of highly accomplished people with a shared commitment and passion for the ethical development of children. This expert and diverse advisory group includes: