Yes, a successful venture can be unethical. In fact, it can be argued that some of the most successful ventures have been unethical. The behaviors that are seen as the most unethical are those that cause harm to others. Even if done with proper intentions, if in pursuit of a venture, a person puts another in harm’s way, underpays or undervalues an employee, or contributes to causes known to hurt others, that venture was unethical. To ensure the ethical standing of a venture, one cannot solely look at the intentions of the entire venture. One must look at each action taken at every step towards that venture. They must consider the intention and practical consequences that result from those actions and behave accordingly.