Tom Hardin was a young Wharton graduate working as a hedge fund analyst when he crossed a line that would change his life forever. Known by the FBI codename "Tipper X," Tom became a cooperating witness in Operation Perfect Hedge, secretly wearing a wire to help build cases in the largest insider trading investigation in a generation.
Join us as Tom takes the audience inside the psychology of his own ethical failure, the rationalizations, the pressure, and the isolated decision-making that led a promising career off the rails. Drawing from his bestselling memoir Wired on Wall Street (Wiley, 2026), he shares the behavioral frameworks that explain how smart, well-intentioned people make catastrophic choices, and what organizations can do to build cultures where they don't.
About the Speaker:
Tom Hardin is a keynote speaker, corporate trainer, and founder of Tipper X Advisors, specializing in behavioral ethics, compliance culture, and organizational risk management. A Wharton graduate and former hedge fund analyst, Tom became the FBI's key cooperating witness in Operation Perfect Hedge. Over more than 80 criminal cases, he secretly recorded conversations helping the FBI build cases against major financial figures. His memoir, Wired on Wall Street: The Rise and Fall of Tipper X (Wiley, 2026), debuted on the USA Today and Publishers Weekly national bestseller lists.
About the Moderator:
Elizabeth Kelley is a criminal defense lawyer with a nationwide practice focused on representing people with mental disabilities. She is the editor of several books published by the American Bar Association including Representing People with Autism Spectrum Disorders, Representing People with Dementia, Representing People with Mental Disabilities, 1st edition, Representing People with Mental Disabilities, 2nd edition, and co-author of Cybercrime and the Autism Spectrum: How the Online World Creates Victims and Offenders, published by Routledge.
When:
Tuesday, September 8, 2026
6:00 PM Wine & Cheese Reception
6:30 – 7:15 PM Moderated Fireside Chat
7:15 – 7:30 PM Q&A
Where:
Midtown location (Note: Address will be sent via email to all registered guests 24-48 hours prior to the event to the "Primary Email" address listed in your profile. Please review your profile to confirm that the email address listed is correct.)
Cost:
WCNY Supporting Members - $26 (WCNY supporting membership costs $95/yr at Join/Renew Membership)
Other Wharton Alumni & Alumni Guests - $52
Gold & Benefactor Members - $0
Pre-registration is required. Please register early as this event will sell out quickly.
Registration is subject to availability and will close on Monday, September 7th at 9:00am.
Cancellations must be made at least 48-hours (business day) prior to the event date by sending an email to Gabriela Sanchez. Refunds or credits for future events are not available for any no-shows or late cancellations. Click here for full details.
Join us as Tom takes the audience inside the psychology of his own ethical failure, the rationalizations, the pressure, and the isolated decision-making that led a promising career off the rails. Drawing from his bestselling memoir Wired on Wall Street (Wiley, 2026), he shares the behavioral frameworks that explain how smart, well-intentioned people make catastrophic choices, and what organizations can do to build cultures where they don't.
About the Speaker:
Tom Hardin is a keynote speaker, corporate trainer, and founder of Tipper X Advisors, specializing in behavioral ethics, compliance culture, and organizational risk management. A Wharton graduate and former hedge fund analyst, Tom became the FBI's key cooperating witness in Operation Perfect Hedge. Over more than 80 criminal cases, he secretly recorded conversations helping the FBI build cases against major financial figures. His memoir, Wired on Wall Street: The Rise and Fall of Tipper X (Wiley, 2026), debuted on the USA Today and Publishers Weekly national bestseller lists.
About the Moderator:
Elizabeth Kelley is a criminal defense lawyer with a nationwide practice focused on representing people with mental disabilities. She is the editor of several books published by the American Bar Association including Representing People with Autism Spectrum Disorders, Representing People with Dementia, Representing People with Mental Disabilities, 1st edition, Representing People with Mental Disabilities, 2nd edition, and co-author of Cybercrime and the Autism Spectrum: How the Online World Creates Victims and Offenders, published by Routledge.
When:
Tuesday, September 8, 2026
6:00 PM Wine & Cheese Reception
6:30 – 7:15 PM Moderated Fireside Chat
7:15 – 7:30 PM Q&A
Where:
Midtown location (Note: Address will be sent via email to all registered guests 24-48 hours prior to the event to the "Primary Email" address listed in your profile. Please review your profile to confirm that the email address listed is correct.)
Cost:
WCNY Supporting Members - $26 (WCNY supporting membership costs $95/yr at Join/Renew Membership)
Other Wharton Alumni & Alumni Guests - $52
Gold & Benefactor Members - $0
Pre-registration is required. Please register early as this event will sell out quickly.
Registration is subject to availability and will close on Monday, September 7th at 9:00am.
Cancellations must be made at least 48-hours (business day) prior to the event date by sending an email to Gabriela Sanchez. Refunds or credits for future events are not available for any no-shows or late cancellations. Click here for full details.