The purpose of this study was to identify general characteristics attributed to ethical business cultures by executives from a variety of industries. Our research identified five clusters of characteristics: (1) Mission- and Values-Driven; (2) Stakeholder Balance; (3) Leadership Effectiveness; (4) Process Integrity; and (5) Long-term Perspective. We propose that these characteristics can be used as a foundation of a comprehensive model that can be engaged to influence operational practices in creating and sustaining an ethical business culture. (Contains 1 figure and 3 tables.)