The Art and Science of Compliance: Nicole Rose on Culture, Curiosity, and Change

In this episode of Great Women in Compliance, host Sarah Hadden sits down with Nicole Rose—lawyer, artist, author, and creator of the FRAME Training Method—to explore how human behavior, psychology, and creativity can transform compliance from a checkbox exercise into a movement that drives real change. Nicole shares the story behind her “Moneyball Compliance” approach, showing how small, measurable behaviors can predict integrity, build stronger cultures, and make ethics training finally stick. The two also discuss Nicole’s upcoming book, Told: How In-House Legal and Compliance Professionals Secure Airtime, Gain Traction, and Transform Organizations. Four Takeaways: 1. Compliance Is About People, Not Policies Nicole’s journey from lawyer to artist to compliance innovator reveals that effective compliance starts with understanding human behavior and culture—not just ticking boxes or enforcing rules. 2. Behavior Beats Metrics Traditional compliance programs measure completion rates; Nicole’s “Moneyball Compliance” approach measures behaviors that predict integrity—like speaking up, giving feedback, and practicing micro-activities that build ethical “muscle memory.” 3. Curiosity Is the Secret Ingredient Engagement happens when employees are curious. Nicole emphasizes creating “pre-frames” that connect compliance messages to what people already know and care about, making training meaningful and memorable. 4. Make It Real, Not Funny Humor has its place in presentations, but when it comes to serious topics like bribery, privacy, or human rights, authenticity and relatability are far more powerful than laughs. Real characters and relatable stories drive real change.