Podcasts about Audit committee

DAMIONCarnival Corporation's data breach exposed personal data of nearly 6 million customers: An April social engineering attack on an employee account compromised names, dates of birth, and government-issued ID numbers. WHO DO YOU BLAMESkills: Technology & Cybersecurity: Experience with information technology and cybersecurity matters is increasingly important to mitigate the risks our business faces, promote innovation and maintain a competitive edge in a rapidly evolving technological ageLeast represented 5/11CEO Josh WeinsteinNO: at Carnival since 2002, started as General CounselSir Johathon BandNO: First Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Staff, the most senior officer position in the British Navy (2006 to 2009, when he retired); Admiral and Commander-in-Chief Fleet (2002 to 2006); Served as a naval officer in increasing positions of authority (1967 to 2002)Jason CahillyNO: CEO Dragon Group LLC, provides capital and business management consulting and advisory services worldwide; The NBA: CFO & Chief Strategic Officer; Goldman Sachs: Partner; Global Co-Head of Media and Telecommunications; Head of Principal Investing for Technology, Media & TelecommunicationsNelda ConnorsNO: CEO/Chair Pine Grove Holdings, a privately held investment company; CEO Atkore International, manufacturer of electrical, safety and infrastructure solutions; VP Eaton Corporation, electrical and automotive supplierLaura WeilNO: Founder Village Lane Advisory LLC, specializes in providing executive and strategic consulting services to retailers COO New York & Company, women's apparel and accessories retailer; CEO Ashley Stewart, women's apparel retailer; CEO Urban Brands, apparel retailer; COO AnnTaylor Stores, women's apparel retailer; CFO American Eagle Outfitters, apparel retailerAudit Committee: Oversee management's risk assessment processes to identify principal and emerging risks, including financial, IT, cybersecurity and non-HESS operational risksLaura Weil*: NOJason Cahilly: NOJeffrey Gearhart: NOWalmart Corporate Secretary and lawyerStuart Subotnick: NOCEO at Metromedia Company, wireless/communications, until 2010; Carnival director since 1987 Health, Environmental, Safety and Security Committee: Oversee management's processes to identify principal and emerging health, environmental, safety, security and sustainability-related risks, including those related to ship operations and cybersecurity, RAAS health, environmental, safety, security audits, IAG and external investigations into significant ship incidents, and health, environmental, safety, security-related hotline complaints, and assess the steps management has taken to minimize such risks.Sir Johathon Band*: NONelda Connors: NOHelen Deeble: NOFormer CEO P&O Ferries Division Holdings, shipping and logistics businessKatie Lahey: NOExecutive Chair Korn Ferry Australasia, leadership and talent firmMicky Arison (75%): Exec Chair and former CEO and 7% stockholderThe CEO Pay Ratio1,063:124 retail CEOs made as much in a day as their typical employee earned in a year — and a big one didn't. WHO DO YOU BLAMEThe separation of CEO and Chair: Hamilton E. James Chair/Ron Vachris MMNot uniqueOnly 50% of the board is men. WTF?uniqueOne share = one voteNot uniqueState of HQ = WashingtonAlso StarbucksState of Inc = WashingtonAlso StarbucksPledge of allegiance to stakeholdersCostco generally has: Higher wages; Better benefits; Lower turnover; Higher sales per employee.Industry-leading employee compensation AND Self-imposed low-margin pricing philosophyWalmart only low-margin pricingOther comps:Todd Vasos of Dollar General, Shane O'Kelly of AutoZone, Gerald Morgan of Texas Roadhouse, Jack Sinclair of Sprouts Farmers Market, William Stengel of Genuine Parts Company, Michael Creedon of Dollar Tree, Ronald Sargent of Kroger, Lauren Hobart of Dick's Sporting Goods, Joshua Kobza of Restaurant Brands Inc., Kecia Steelman of Ulta Beauty, Scott Boatwright of Chipotle, Ted Decker of Home Depot, Bob Eddy of BJ's Wholesale Club, Corie Barry of Best Buy, James Conroy of Ross Stores, Chris Turner and David Gibbs of Yum Brands, Chris Kempczinski of McDonald's, Marvin Ellison of Lowe's, Brian Cornell of Target, Ernie Herrman of TJX Companies, Doug McMillon of Walmart, Brian Niccol of Starbucks, Hal Lawton of Tractor Supply Co, Laura Alber of Williams-SonomaFigma Gets an Activist Investor. Exhibit A on Why Companies Don't Want to Go Public. Figma's first year as a public company hasn't gone well. Findell Capital Management said it needs to take steps to shed its unwarranted reputation as an artificial-intelligence “loser.” WHO DO YOU BLAME?Figma founder and CEO Dylan Field: Owns 10% of shares but 72% of voting power: Class B shares worth 15 votes per shareDylan owns 158 Class A Shares (or 0.00003556% of 444,278,887)And Chair$5B net worth$865M total summary compensation in 2025; $91M in 2024Nominating Agreement:Figma must nominate Dylan Field to be a director and include him in the proxy statementThe company must use its resources to back him up and actively convince other shareholders to vote for him In response to a question about how he was going to change the world, Dylan said he was going to build better software for drones.Bro fest sausage party2 of 9 directors are womenTop 5 NEOs all dudesPeter ThielForced Dylan to drop out of Brown for a dumb fellowshipVC Blowhardiness on the BoardVC dude John Lilly (Greylock): Lead Independent Director2nd longest tenure (2014)Member of the Audit Committee; Member of the Nominating Committee (only Lilly and Rimer)VC dude Andrew Reed (Sequoia)Director at debt-maker Klarna Group (also way down since IPO): down roughly 54% from its initial $40.00 IPO price, and down nearly 68% from its all-time highMember of the Compensation Committee (which modeled Dylan's pay package after Elon Musk)VC dude Danny Rimer (Index Ventures)Director since 2014B.A. in History and Literature from HarvardMember of the Compensation Committee (which modeled Dylan's pay package after Elon Musk)Member of the Nominating Committee (only Lilly and Rimer)Luis von AhnDuolingo co-founder and CEO2025: shared an internal email outlining Duolingo's new "AI-first" strategy where Duolingo would “gradually stop using contractors to do work that AI can handle”Stated that "AI is a better teacher than humans" and that the future role of teachers would be reduced to providing "childcare."Blamed the controversy on a "lack of context" in his original statements"AI-First" memo goes viral: $389; today $118MATTDanone, Starbucks shine in methane-reduction rankingDanone is the only company in the group aligned with the Global Methane Pledge, an initiative backed by 150 countries that targets a 30 percent reduction in global levels of the gas by 2030. The French multinational also leads the pack in progress toward its target, having come close to hitting it five years ahead of schedule.WHO DO YOU CREDIT?Chair of the CSR committee Lise Kingo (9% influence), one of three directors tagged as merit directorsmaster's degree in Responsibility & Business from the University of Bathbachelor degrees in Religions and Ancient Greek Artbachelor's degree in Marketing and Economicscertificate as International Director from INSEADEx Novo Nordisk environmental affairs, internal audit, compliance, human resources, communication, branding and sustainabilityHelped create the UN SDGs and the UN Global CompactSomehow only bats 559 on carbon intensity (career) and 415 for scope 1/2 (career)Also, using deference metrics, the ONLY DIRECTOR tagged as fully independentEmployee rep member of the CSR committee Bettina Theissig (5% influence) and the employees of DanoneThe committee charter mandates employees get a say: At least two thirds of the CSR Committee must be independent, as defined by the AFEP-MEDEF Code. At least one Director representing employees must be a member of the Committee.In France (Danone's domicile), the European Investment Bank found that French employees were the most aware of environmental issues - 82% of French employees said they were highly concerned about environmental issues, highest in EuropeLead Independent Director and chair of the Nom/comp committee who put together the comp plan, Valerie Chapoulaud-Floquet15% influence, second to the 18% influence CEO (democracy!!), got 99.16% shareholder approval in April (even as CEO got 89.73% approval and pay got 93.19% approval)20% of short-term pay and 30% of long-term pay is based on hitting sustainability targetsWhen you pay a CEO to do a thing, they are more likely to do a thingEx-CEO Emmanuel FaberOusted in 2021 by the board of directors and activist investors, he transformed Danone into an “enterprise a mission” (a French version of a B corp)Investors voted 99% in favor of the move and a year later ousted Faber, the board resigned, and the new board and CEO are basically moving back towards being environmental leaders because it paid offShort term share price laggedHe said in 2024 that nature is “at the core” of Danone, It took the stock 3 years from Faber's ousting to return to Faber levels - and in the meantime, they were sued for plastics and emissionsIsn't this HIS win?Current CEO Antoine de Saint-AffriqueBecause CEOGM Board Director Jonathan McNeill Stepping DownCEO of DVx Ventures. Ex COO at Lyft Inc. and ex president, Global Sales, Delivery and Service at Tesla, current director at Lululemon, GM director since 2022, on the Governance and Corporate Responsibility committee and Risk and Cybersecurity committee.We know that half of boards on average think someone on the board should be replaced - did the GM board not like McNeill?WHO/WHAT WOULD WE BLAME FOR PUSHING MCNEILL OUT?Outsider dude bro DRLet's be honest, McNeill worked at much more… modern?... companies than GMThe board is OLD SCHOOL - ex Northrop Grumman, ex Visa, ex Lazard, ex HP, ex eBay, ex Novartis, ex Walmart, other directorships at Goldman, Huntsman, P&G… these are professional, insular boardsMeanwhile, he's investing as a VC in AI, other auto/mobility startups, comes from boards that are bro founder lead (Tesla, Lyft) He's invested in AI, crypto, heavy tech, intertwined with VCs all overNot deferential enoughBarra is connected to 94% - THE ENTIRE - boardMcNeill has the highest network power on the board at $9tn, higher than even Mary Barra (who is super connected), but is NOT a power player in the board community of GM - the dominant board communities for GM are massive blue chip US companies, where McNeill has deeper connections in smaller IT/tech focused companiesHe doesn't need the pay, he gets nothing for the connections really, he has connection to Barra but his network is different - was he too independent?Pissed he doesn't have enough influence McNeill has the LOWEST influence on the GM board at 4%He's relatively new, younger, working as a VC where you have a lot of power of capital allocation“I don't need this shit” effect?Too many womenMcNeill's dvX ventures portfolio team is 6 dudes and 1 womendvX entire operations staff is two woman - guess what they do“Chief of Staff” (ie, HR)Executive Assistant (yes, listed on the team)Board is 2 women, 3 men (McNeill not on board)This one seems unlikely I guess?Too busy, meh, move onOne of dvX portfolio companies is curbee, with GM Ventures' Kurt Baumgarten on the board (and the dvX co-founder is founder of Curbee)McNeill on at least 3 of his portfolio boards or advisory committees, plus LULU and GM…

Well, it seems the big men being laid low is the theme of the moment. Lesley and Fraser are back to discuss a busy week. Lesley has been in all parts, taking in the incredible Orkney Folk Festival and witnessing the seamless infrastructure of the Netherlands, before returning to the rather less seamless Edinburgh Airport. Back in Scotland, the Peter Murrell narrative has been laid out, leaving many in the Yes movement feeling directionless. We look at the abject failure of governance within the SNP. Plus, a look down South at the latest Mandelson revalations.In this episode, we discuss:Orkney and the Netherlands: Lesley reflects on a week of incredible, volunteer-led musicianship at the Orkney Folk Festival. We also compare the well-maintained, cycle-friendly infrastructure of the Netherlands with the sad state of Edinburgh Airport's rolled-up corrugated paper door wedges.Operation Hingaboot Mark II: A large crowd gathered outside Holyrood for the Section 30 request vote. We discuss the ongoing disconnect between the SNP corporate leadership and the grassroots Yes movementPeter Murrell and SNP Governance: Following Peter Murrell's guilty plea, we unpack the agreed narrative of financial mismanagement. We examine the culture of deference that allowed £12,500 of Apple products and a £3,500 silver wine coaster to be coded without curiosity, and how those who tried to raise concerns—like the "Good Guys" slate on the NEC and members of the Finance and Audit Committee—were sidelined and frustrated.Labour's Leaks and Leadership: The latest document dump reveals damning WhatsApp connections between Peter Mandelson and Pat McFadden, who seems to lament the idea of taxing to pay benefits. With Keir Starmer's slow-moving demise, Andy Burnham's by-election date set, and Tony Blair wading into the policy debate, Labour is looking increasingly rudderless.Education and NEETs: Reflecting on Alan Milburn's report on young people not in employment, education, or training. We compare the UK's approach to the Dutch system's high engagement in vocational education and the need for a shift away from traditional, purely academic routes.LinksHighland Clearances; communities fight back - CrowdfunderClearance site event at Rosal on June 12th-14th June ★ Support this podcast ★If you're enjoying the podcast, you can become a pal or a buddy to help keep the pod going by heading to leslieriddock.com/podcast and following the links to subscribe. ★ Support this podcast ★

In this episode, Steve and Katie recap the May 19, 2026, Redding City Council meeting, including updates on:Public safety investments and roadway improvement projects New appointments to the City's Audit Committee and Financial Advisory Committee Redding Electric Utility's third-quarter financial report and long-term energy planning The future operations and management transition of the Redding Civic AuditoriumThe Redding Police Department's annual military equipment report, including approval of a new public safety drone The City's third-quarter General Fund financial update and ongoing efficiency efforts They also discuss the Mayor's proclamation recognizing the upcoming 250th birthday of the United States and encouraging the community to display the American flag from May 22 through July 12.Watch the full meeting on the City of Redding YouTube channel.Contact the City of Redding Podcast TeamEmail us at podcast@cityofredding.orgConnect with us on Facebook, Twitter and InstagramVisit the City of Redding websiteLove the podcast? The best way to spread the word is to rate and review!

Frank M. Placenti is a senior M&A and corporate governance lawyer who chaired the ABA Business Law Section's Corporate Governance Committee during the turbulent pandemic period. The centerpiece of this episode is a story Frank tells about a late-night call from an audit committee dealing with a rogue CEO who had engaged in insider trading and then concealed the resulting SEC investigation from both the company's auditors and its audit committee. Frank designed and managed the audit committee investigation, helped the company hire SEC enforcement counsel to walk the company through resolution with the SEC, recruited new qualified directors to reshape the company's governance and compliance programs, and got the company to the other side intact and without any shareholder litigation. Along the way he lays out lessons every investigative counsel should internalize: Audit committee counsel needs to understand the needs and concerns of the company's independent auditors and regulators and then design the investigation to produce a result that will satisfy both constituencies. Required listening for any lawyer who might one day get that midnight call.

(0:00) Intro (1:24) About the podcast sponsor: The American College of Governance Counsel (2:11) Start of interview *reference to the BRI from LCDA (3:54) Eddie's origin story (6:27) Eddie's investment focus  (7:44) The rise of AI and its impact on him (9:06) Eddie's roles in investment over the past 35 years (as GP and LP). (8:32) His current endeavors: 1) Board member in mutual funds (Calvert Funds); 2) Independent director and Chair elect of Global X Venture Fund; 3) Chief Strategy Officer at Leadview Capital; and 4) Advisor at Bullpen.ai (19:38) Dealing with AI hallucinations (e.g. Sullivan & Cromwell example) (23:13) Convergence of AI, ESG, and Governance: "It's dramatic" (25:00) "Stocks will be tokenized, markets will be much more liquid." "Wall street is trying to put liquid claims on illiquid investments" *WSJ Nasdaq's Plan for 24/7 Tokenized Stock Trading (31:20) Geopolitical Challenges in Investing and for Boards. *Example of Meta-Manus breakup. "We live in a selectively connected world." (34:00) Politicization and social issues in corporations. Board Adaptation to Rapid Changes (38:19) AI and Audit Committee Responsibilities (40:30) Bridging the AI Knowledge Gap "Boards are under prepared." *References to Stanford GSB cases: Netflix Approach to Governance and the Artificially Intelligent Boardroom (46:10) Changing Dynamics in Board Practices. "It's a matter of time before companies like SAP or Microsoft move into corporate auditing, or Amazon starts offering mutual funds. The incumbents just don't see it coming." (47:10) Power Laws and Growth in Private Markets. (50:31) Books that have greatly influenced his life: The Power Broker, by Robert Caro (1974) The Tipping Point, by Malcolm Gladwell (2000) U2 by U2, by Bono, The Edge, Adam Clayton, Larry Mullen Jr. with Neil McCormick (2006) (52:56) His mentors. (53:56) Quotes that he thinks of often or lives her life by: "Prioritize by impact" "Recognize the good in everyone" (55:10) An unusual habit or an absurd thing that he loves: obsession with curating music playlists. (55:06) The living person he most admires: Bono and Bad Bunny. Eddie Ramos is the Chief Strategy Officer for Leadview Capital. He is also currently on the board of Morgan Stanley's Calvert Mutual Funds and Global X Venture Fund, serving as the Chairman of the Audit Committee for both. You can follow Evan on social media at:X: @evanepsteinLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/epsteinevan/ Substack: https://evanepstein.substack.com/__To support this podcast you can join as a subscriber of the Boardroom Governance Newsletter at https://evanepstein.substack.com/__Music/Soundtrack (found via Free Music Archive): Seeing The Future by Dexter Britain is licensed under a Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 United States License

Welcome to RIMScast. Your host is Justin Smulison, Business Content Manager at RIMS, the Risk and Insurance Management Society.   In this episode, Justin interviews the RIMS 2026 Risk Manager of the Year, Jeff Bray, about his award and his career at AMB, which merged with Prologis early in his career. Justin and Jeff discuss how risk management earns a strategic seat at the table, how Jeff revived the ERM Program at Prologis, tying it to the business model, and how cross-functional risk management works at Prologis today. Jeff speaks of resilience in the face of polycrisis and climate risk, and working on what he has control over while being aware of the rest. Jeff shares his excitement for developing the next generation of risk professionals and about the amazing opportunity the risk profession holds for them today. Listen for insight on ERM, resilience, and building relationships.   Key Takeaways: [:01] About RIMS and RIMScast. [:14] We hope you are listening to this episode of RIMScast while at RISKWORLD 2026, and we are gently reminding you to download the RIMS Events App to navigate the show successfully! [:29] About this episode of RIMScast. This is our annual Risk Manager of the Year episode. We are delighted to be joined by this year's honoree, Jeff Bray of Prologis. If you are listening to this on its release day of May 4th, you might see him onstage at RISKWORLD. But first… [:59] RIMS Virtual Workshops. The next RIMS-CRMP-FED Exam Prep Course will be on May 13th and 14th. The popular CBCP and RIMS-CRMP Exam Prep Bootcamp will be held from May 18th through the 21st. The next RIMS-CRMP Exam Prep Course will be held on June 9th and 10th. [1:19] Links to registration are in this episode's notes. [1:22] Webinars. On May 14th, Origami Risk will return with a new session, "Future-Proofing Your Risk Program: Keeping Pace with Scale, Complexity, and Visibility." [1:34] On May 21st, GRC returns to present "Is Your Fire Protection Strategy Outdated? Emerging Risks Are Changing the Rules." [1:43] On May 28th, Zurich returns with "From Underwriting To Risk Management: What To Expect From The Growing Demand For Data Center Construction." Register for webinars at RIMS.org/Webinars or through the links in this episode's show notes. [1:58] Folks, RIMS is back on YouTube. Our handle is @RIMSOfficialChannel. We've got plenty of videos there, including RIMScast, RIMScast Canada video podcasts, and other informative and entertaining content from RIMS. Subscribe to the channel today! [2:16] RISKWORLD 2026 is underway in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania! If you are here or on your way, be sure to download the RIMS Events App. It is free and publicly available. This will help you set your agenda and provide ample navigation through the Philadelphia Convention Center. [2:36] RIMS has also released its RISKWORLD Playlist, available through Apple Music and Spotify. Whether you want to get in the zone before RISKWORLD or relive the energy after it, these official RISKWORLD Playlists are available to keep the energy going. [2:53] Links are in this episode's show notes. [2:57] On with the Show! This is our special Risk Manager of the Year episode of RIMScast! This year's honoree is Jeff Bray. [3:08] Jeff is the Senior Vice President and Head of Global Risk Management at Prologis, a global leader in logistics real estate, with 1.3 billion square feet across 20 countries on four continents, and more than 6,500 customers focused on moving goods around the globe. [3:24] That is a lot of responsibility for one person, but don't worry, he's got a mighty team who shoulder it with him. [3:31] We're going to learn all about his work, the leaps and bounds he's made over the last 20 years, his involvement with the Spencer Educational Foundation, and what it takes to succeed in an increasingly uncertain world. We're going to have a lot of fun! Let's get to it! [3:46] Interview! RIMS 2026 Risk Manager of the Year, Jeff Bray, welcome to RIMScast! [4:07] Justin and Jeff met recently for his profile in RIMS Risk Management Magazine. [4:14] This episode is released on Day 1 of RISKWORLD. When people are listening to this, they might be seeing Jeff onstage accepting his award. Jeff says, first and foremost, he is looking forward to RISKWORLD; the award is a nice cherry on top. [4:37] Jeff is 20 years into his career, and he has only missed a few RISKWORLDs. [4:45] Jeff joined AMB Property Corporation in 2005, not knowing anything about risk management and knowing only environmental insurance, a few weeks before Hurricane Katrina. It was trial by fire. Then, Hurricane Rita and Hurricane Wilma hit. It was a transformational year. [5:34] There were two years in a row of serious hurricanes affecting the property insurance market. The challenges AMB had experienced transformed the way the insurance and risk management program has been run ever since. [6:02] AMB merged with Prologis a few years later, following a great financial crisis that occurred in June 2011. [6:32] Jeff says Prologis is an owner of logistics real estate. They don't operate any of the buildings. Jeff's purview is the 1.3 billion square feet of real estate in 20 countries, with around 60,000 assets. [6:47] Prologis has a couple of billion dollars a year of development activity. They have a renewable energy business and a digital infrastructure. [7:32] Jeff says it's critical to see properties first-hand. Warehouses are different in different countries, and seeing them helps solve problems when they arrive. Early on, he attended a captive owners conference in Bermuda, and meeting many peers accelerated his learning. [9:03] Through serving the business, Jeff built trust with senior leaders and the board. Jeff started by figuring out what people wanted or needed and helped them achieve it. He built strong relationships with every group; he's in lockstep with legal, finance, and business teams. [10:33] Jeff's risk team has seven members. He also has two members of the corporate security team. He has worked hard to grow the team as needed. He sees an opportunity with technology to scale the team's capabilities to focus on critical tasks. He's grateful for the team's efforts. [11:49] Risk management is centralized at Prologis. They operate as a consistent global program. Jeff is in San Francisco, with team members in the Bay Area, Denver, and one in Dallas. [12:45] Jeff says he takes advantage of every crisis and pays close attention to every near-miss. It's a reminder that this is why what we do is important. Sometimes it's all hands on deck. What can we do differently next time? [13:35] One big near-miss was a fire that arose from customer operations in a building, which didn't amount to much because the sprinklers operated properly. Jeff participates in Prologis's global safety board. They pay close attention to anything like a contractor injury. [14:06] June is National Safety Month. The Head of Safety of Prologis's Development Team plans Safety Month activities. Every project and team member will be involved. It sends a good message. They make it very clear to every contractor they hire that safety is paramount. [14:49] Justin says the leader of the ASSP will soon be a guest on RIMScast. Safety should be observed every month. Jeff says in the past, safety was something they focused more on when something happened, but now it's ingrained in the way they operate. It's not treated separately. [15:44] Jeff reestablished Prologis's ERM program. His ERM Committee is a sounding board with seven or eight global leads. The members are the Head of Internal Audit, the Head of Info Security, and others, who work closely across the risk register to ask, "What are we missing?" [17:14] The challenge in reactivating the ERM committee was getting the relevance right. For the first meeting or so, they brainstormed. Now it's operating at the right frequency with the right dynamic input. It will continue to evolve in every meeting. [17:55] They meet annually with the Audit Committee, and some years they meet with the Board of Directors. It evolves from the day-to-day Risk Register, working with the business teams. The Audit Committee and the Board are very invested in what the ERM Committee does. [18:34] ERM at Prologis is tied to what's relevant to the CFO, the Chief Legal Officer, and other stakeholders. With the CFO, it's tied to earnings per share and net operating income impact. Jeff is always looking at what the business is looking to accomplish and how ERM can support it. [19:17] A Quick Break! The 2026 Florida RIMS Educational Conference will be held from July 28th through August 1st at the lovely Ritz-Carlton in Naples, Florida. A link to the event is in this episode's show notes. [19:40] Register now for the Second Annual RIMS Texas Regional Conference, to be held from August 10th through 12th at the Grand Hyatt on the San Antonio River Walk. Advance rates are available through June 5th. [19:55] The 11th Annual Chicagoland Risk Forum will return to the Old Post Office on Thursday, September 24th, 2026, in Chicago. Visit ChicagolandRiskForum.org for more information. [20:08] The RIMS Western Regional Conference will be held from October 4th through the 7th in Seattle, Washington. Registration is open, and you can also submit a session. Visit RIMSWesternRegional.com and the link in this episode's show notes for more information. [20:26] Save the dates October 18th through the 21st. That is when the 50th Annual RIMS Canada Conference will be held in Quebec City. Booth sales are already open. The call for educational sessions is open through May 8th. Early-bird registration will open in June. [20:44] Visit RIMSCanadaConference.ca for more information. Also, remember to check out RIMS.org/Canada for our spinoff show, RIMScast Canada, hosted by National Conference Committee Chair, Aaron Lukoni. [20:59] Check RIMS.org for an announcement about the RIMS ERM Conference 2026. It will be up soon! [21:07] Let's Return to Our Interview with RIMS 2026 Risk Manager of the Year, Jeff Bray! [21:24] Justin asks what Jeff loves about RISKWORLD. Jeff loves the people, the interactions in the hallways, even when racing from session to session, and meeting to meeting. There's no better place to meet people and build meaningful relationships over the years. [21:45] Jeff says there's no better place to get apprised of what's coming up in the risk industry and reconnect with our most important relationships. [22:17] Jeff says RISKWORLD is a connection point where a group of risk professionals from around the country can get together. [22:31] Jeff's team members, the Head of Risk and the Head of Claims, have attended RISKWORLD for the last few years. [23:07] Justin asks about cross-functional risk management. Jeff says that he can't imagine a problem crossing their desk that Risk Management can solve solely by themselves, figure out, and move on. Generally, they will engage Legal, HR, and the Business Teams. [23:28] Jeff says that's hugely important to be able to solve problems effectively, and in a way that enables the business. [23:55] Jeff thinks the perspective on risk has changed over time. The needs have changed over time. At the beginning of his time at AMB and Prologis, there was a focus on insurance because they were expanding to new countries and standing up a global program. [24:17] Within 90 days, Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, and Wilma hit, and Jeff was learning about disaster recovery and response. He saw the teams in action and how it can be a competitive advantage if they can get their properties up and running quicker than someone else. [24:37] That's absolutely a competitive advantage to Prologis, and that's been in their DNA ever since. [24:53] Justin asks about Jeff's dashboard. It's a Claims dashboard, created by the Claims team, so Jeff can look at the Claims activity every day. [25:16] Jeff says Prologis retains a bunch of risk itself. It's Prologis's money. It concerns not only Jeff, but also the Finance Team and others. None of them likes surprises. Jeff manages it like a business, managing actual claims against the forecast. [25:53] Jeff says it's been phenomenal. He's asking for more dashboards! [26:08] Jeff discusses the impacts of technological innovation on his role. One of the biggest pieces was onboarding Archipelago, a tool to intake Statement of Value information and other property characteristics and deliver it to an insurance company in a reliable and verifiable way. [26:33] Jeff says during that period, they went through $40 to $50 billion of acquisitions, so Archipelago was a game-changer in a way that insurance companies couldn't believe. [26:48] Prologis would bring on a portfolio in September and was ready for its December renewals with the full Schedule of Values. Jeff says it was about, "What questions am I asking myself, and how do we solve for that?" [27:03] Jeff was looking beyond the Cap Modeling results to what other information he could get out of the data, from the newness of the assets, different specifications, and different protections in place, and quantifying that in a way that was meaningful for the insurers. [27:25] When Prologis onboarded Archipelago, there weren't any other systems available to do what was needed. They were developing something that hadn't been in place yet. Prologis was part of the development team. [27:43] Jeff says the Claims dashboard is driven by Origami, which has been an important partner of Prologis. [27:55] Prologis has always been focused on the combination of good data and leveraging technologies to interpret that data. That's been very important to Prologis. [28:15] Another Quick Break! The Spencer Educational Foundation's Risk Manager on Campus application period is now open, and it will close on June 30th. Grant awardees, colleges, and universities are typically notified in September. [28:42] The Course Development Grant application deadline for Interval Number 2 will be on June 15th, 2026. Award notifications will be sent out in late July. [28:57] General Grant applications will open on May 1st, 2026, and the application deadline is July 30th. Internship Grant applications open on August 15th and close on October 15th. [20:08] Links to each of these grants are in this episode's show notes. Visit SpencerEd.org for more information. [29:17] Let's Conclude Our Interview with RIMS 2026 Risk Manager of the Year, Jeff Bray! [29:43] Jeff says the younger risk professionals are absolutely more well-versed in technology. The challenge is not to let technology become more important than understanding the basics of the business. [30:00] Jeff says you still need to understand what that policy says and what the submission process looks like, so you can get the right outcomes out of the technology. Most of the folks Jeff works with are younger than he is. [30:21] Jeff says what they're doing with AI, dashboards, and other insights is super impressive. They balance that with learning the fundamentals. [30:47] In a new risk professional, Jeff looks first for curiosity and questions. When Jeff hit stagnant parts of his career, he had stopped asking questions, so today, he asks a lot of questions. Curiosity is key to investigating what's happening in the company to solve problems. [31:18] Jeff says connecting the dots is something he still works on today. We live in a complex world. There's generally not one threat or risk that operates in a silo. Risks are connected. Someone who can understand how different risks might be interconnected will be critical. [31:43] Jeff says that being hungry, learning, and striving to do more than the person who started next to you is more important than ever. [32:06] Jeff says polycrisis is an interesting term, and he fully believes in it. He spends a fair amount of time thinking about what he has control over and what he doesn't have control over. Jeff says Prologis doesn't let the polycrisis drive its strategy on a day-to-day basis. [32:45] Jeff says awareness is key, and knowing how you can respond as an organization. [33:02] On mitigation and navigation, Jeff says, it's like being on defense versus offense. Risk mitigation works if it's a very simple solution. Putting a floodwall in a building to prevent flooding is a great mitigation.  [33:15] Most risks are not that simple, and they require navigation. They require keeping options open and multiple solutions. Navigation lends itself to how risks evolve and how we respond to those risks. [33:40] Jeff says Prologis is an owner of 1.3 billion square feet of real estate, with two to three percent of the world's GDP flowing through its buildings. Supply chain resilience is key. Prologis focuses on climate risk, but Jeff wants to look at it from more of a resilience perspective. [34:04] Jeff's perspective is about what Prologis should be worrying about, and how that affects how they build a building and how they operate an asset. Climate risk is front-of-mind to this day for many of Prologis's investors. [34:17] Investors want to know what Porlogis is doing about things and how they are looking at exposures. So Prologis has always tried to be on the front end of that discussion with investors. The decisions Prologis makes just need to make good business sense. [34:41] As long as Prologis can communicate, this is a concern, and this is how it translates into a business impact or impacts performance. That remains key, and we are in an environment that is evolving in frequency and severity. It's something Prologis pays close attention to. [35:16] Solar panels are part of Prologis's sustainability goals. Thicker rooftops are needed. Solar panels affect how air conditioning is used and the temperature levels within a building. It affects how Prologis might construct the building to have a better working environment. [35:51] Jeff says it all ties together, which comes back to a more resilient and better-performing portfolio. [36:00] Justin asks about earthquake resilience for new construction. Prologis has a lot of property on the California coast and has been focused on earthquake risk for the life of the company, doing voluntary retro-fittings and seismic upgrades. [36:33] That's not to get reduced insurance premiums but to take steps to reduce interruptions that may occur for Prologis's customers' activities when an earthquake does arise. It's about taking Prologis's objectives and aligning them with the business, not to save premiums. [37:16] Jeff is very excited by the level of abilities he sees in college students. He was recently at Old Dominion for Risk Manager on Campus. This industry has an amazing amount of opportunity. Risk is at the crossroads of finance, operations, legal issues, and HR. [38:27] Jeff's words to students and aspiring risk professionals: "There's an incredible amount of opportunity. What risk strategy means today is very different than what it meant 15 years ago. It's a hidden gem of an industry, still today." [38:44] Justin congratulates Jeff on being named RIMS Risk Manager of the Year 2026. Nobody accomplishes anything by themselves. Is there anyone you want to thank? Jeff says thanking a whole host of folks might take its own podcast. [38:59] Jeff thanks his team across Risk, Resilience, and Claims, and the deep bench of external risk advisors, from broker placement to consulting, technology partnerships, and the insurers. He couldn't do this without all of those team members. He's very grateful for it all. [39:49] Justin says, I look forward to meeting you and seeing you up onstage and cheering you on. I hope we can continue to stay in touch because you've got so much knowledge to share with the global risk community, here through RIMScast. Thank you so much for your time! [40:16] Special thanks again to Jeff Bray, the 2026 RIMS Risk Leader of the Year. We are delighted for him and congratulate him once again. Be sure to check out last week's episode, featuring RIMS Rising Risk Professional, Tyler Vaughan. [40:32] In May, we intend to have Honor Roll Awardee, Emily Buckley, back on RIMScast. Check RIMS Risk Management Magazine for the Awards Digital Edition, which also features profiles on the Chapters of the Year and other special awards. More winners will be on RIMScast in 2026. [40:55] I hope everyone who's listening in Philadelphia at RISKWORLD is having a blast! Next week's episode will feature interviews recorded live while in Philadelphia. Let's relive the magic! [41:08] Plug Time! You can sponsor a RIMScast episode for this, our weekly show, or a dedicated episode. Links to sponsored episodes are in the show notes. [41:37] RIMScast has a global audience of risk and insurance professionals, legal professionals, students, business leaders, C-Suite executives, and more. Let's collaborate and help you reach them! Contact pd@rims.org for more information. [41:55] Become a RIMS member and get access to the tools, thought leadership, and network you need to succeed. Visit RIMS.org/membership or email membershipdept@RIMS.org for more information. [42:13] Risk Knowledge is the RIMS searchable content library that provides relevant information for today's risk professionals. Materials include RIMS executive reports, survey findings, contributed articles, industry research, benchmarking data, and more. [42:29] For the best reporting on the profession of risk management, read Risk Management Magazine at RMMagazine.com. It is written and published by the best minds in risk management. [42:43] Justin Smulison is the Business Content Manager at RIMS. Please remember to subscribe to RIMScast on your favorite podcasting app. You can email us at Content@RIMS.org. [42:55] Practice good risk management, stay safe, and thank you again for your continued support!   Links: RISKWORLD Playlists:

We spoke with the Edmonton Riverhawks about the proposed River Crossing plan that could turn the RE/MAX Field parking lot into housing. Plus, derelict property owners better look out — Mayor Andrew Knack is coming for you! And we reminisce about the good old days of Boston Pizza on Jasper Avenue.(00:00) - Introduction (01:11) - Ad: Edmonton Opera (05:02) - Scramble intersections (10:31) - River Crossing (21:39) - Ad: GoodMorning (22:27) - Derelict tax subclass (31:32) - Audit Committee tea (36:41) - Boston Pizza on Jasper Avenue (39:04) - Karen's Boston Pizza story (43:24) - Close Here are the relevant links for this episode:Scramble intersectionsCity to remove scramble crosswalks on Whyte AvenuePedestrians speak out about Edmonton's plan to remove scramble crosswalks on Whyte AvenueCouncillor wants more data on Whyte Ave scramble crosswalk removal aimFull Interview: Director of Transportation Planning on Whyte Ave scramblesRiver CrossingRiver CrossingRiver Crossing Capital Profile AdjustmentEdmonton Historical Board: RossdaleInside the Rossdale Power PlantDerelict tax subclassCity of Edmonton takes aim at non-residential derelict properties with new tax subclass'We're coming for you': Edmonton begins four-year long process to tackle derelict propertiesDerelict Non-residential Tax SubclassVacant Residential and Non-residential PropertiesAudit Committee teaOffice of the City Auditor 2025 Annual ReportBoston Pizza on Jasper AvenueWhile Jasper Avenue Boston Pizza closes, traffic shifts towards Ice DistrictThis episode is brought to you by Edmonton Opera, which is is bringing the fantasy and fun of The Magic Flute back to the Jubilee Auditorium in its 2026-27 season. Part fairy tale, part adventure, this classic story unfolds in a world where darkness and light exist side by side, and Mozart's music shapes the journey at every turn. It's part of the season subscription — get yours today. Learn moreThis episode is also brought to you by GoodMorning, one of Canada's largest mattress retailers, founded right here in Edmonton. GoodMorning's first-ever flagship retail store is now open at 144 Mayfield Common NW. It's the best place to see, touch, and test the full collection of award-winning Canadian mattresses. Enjoy a relaxed, no-pressure way to find your next great night's sleep. Learn moreSpeaking Municipally is produced by Taproot Edmonton. We deliver reliable intelligence about the Edmonton region.Sign up to get The Pulse, our weekday news briefing. It's free!Want to reach the smartest, most-engaged people in the Edmonton region? Learn more about advertising with Taproot Edmonton! ★ Support this podcast ★

Zak Mir talks to Sath Ganesarajah, CEO of Bluebird Mining Ventures Ltd (BMV), as the gold streaming, mining and treasury company confirmed that Frank Amato and Hernán M. Yellati have been appointed to the Board as Non-Executive Directors with immediate effect.Frank Amato will serve as Chair of the Audit Committee, while Hernán M. Yellati has been appointed Chair of the Remuneration and Nomination Committee.Bluebird Mining Ventures Ltd has strengthened its board with the appointment of Frank Amato and Hernán M. Yellati as Non-Executive Directors, in a move aimed at enhancing governance and strategic oversight.Amato will also serve as Chair of the Audit Committee, while Yellati takes on the role of Chair of the Remuneration and Nomination Committee.In addition, Board Advisors Darron Giddens and John Webb will participate in Audit Committee meetings, with Webb also appointed to chair a newly established Conflicts Committee.The changes are designed to bolster the company's governance framework as it continues to execute its growth strategy.Sath Ganesarajah, Chief Executive Officer of BMV, said: "We are delighted to formally welcome Frank and Hernán to the Board. They bring significant experience across financial markets, macroeconomic strategy and emerging technologies, which will be invaluable as we continue to execute our growth strategy."I look forward to working closely with them and our Advisory Board to further strengthen governance, enhance strategic oversight and drive the business forward. Their leadership of the Audit Committee and the Remuneration and Nomination Committee respectively will play an important role in supporting the Company's long-term objectives and delivering value for shareholders."About Bluebird Mining Ventures LtdBluebird Mining Ventures (LSE: BMV) is a gold streaming, mining and treasury company. The Company's mission is to build and manage a gold-backed treasury through streaming agreements, providing investors with exposure to physical gold without the operational risk of mining.BMV focuses on streams from producing assets within the ore concentrate to bullion value chain. Its investments secure multi-year flows of gold that can be recycled into new transactions. This model enables scalable exposure to gold without capital expenditure, or execution risks. Drawing on its heritage in gold, BMV combines the stability of physical bullion with the benefits of a scalable, disciplined business model. With a focus on prudent capital allocation and treasury management, BMV aims to deliver sustainable, long-term value for shareholders.For more information, please visit: www.bmvbtc.com 

Today, I'm especially honored to welcome Ted Rich, Chief Growth Officer for Rich Products, a family-owned food company with annual sales of over $6B and a market-leader in a number of food categories, including cakes, icings, pizza, appetizers, and specialty toppings. In this position, Ted leads company­wide demand-creation strategies to accelerate growth and expansion in priority markets and segments across the globe. He is also a member of Rich's Executive Team and Board of Directors where he serves on the Finance and Audit Committee. In 2020, Ted established the Rich Family Council for the family-owned business where he serves as the council head. Since joining Rich's in 1995, Ted has held various associate and customer-facing roles, including Executive Vice President of Organizational Excellence, Senior Vice President of Customer Experience and Europe/Middle East region leader, Regional Sales Manager of Foodservice; Strategic Sourcing Leader of Procurement; and Vice President of Toppings and Icings in North America, to name just a few. Before joining Rich's, Ted worked for the Seattle Supersonics NBA team as a sales manager and also held positions with North West Parent Publishing in Seattle and Travers-Schutte & Company Advertising in Buffalo, NY. He currently serves as the Vice Chair of the Education Policy Committee on the Culinary Institute of America's Board of Directors and supports the Institute's mission to provide the world's best professional culinary education. Ted and his family are family office members of FOX, and we are thrilled to have them as valued members of our FOX community. We start with the amazing journey of the Rich family and the iconic company Ted's family has now owned and operated for 80 years. Ted shares the story and path of the family business and the broader family enterprise over the past 8 decades. Governance is an evergreen topic among family enterprises and family offices, and certainly a frequent topic for families and advisors within the FOX community. Ted talks about his family's governance evolution, highlighting when formal governance became a necessity and how the family went about establishing these structures, both for the business and for the broader family enterprise. One practical tool Ted recommends to fellow families and their multigenerational enterprises is planning forward. He describes the multi-year planning process and discipline his family has employed throughout their shared journey and outlines some of the specific steps, methods, and tools they have relied on to always have a long-term, forward-looking view of where the family enterprise is going. The Rich family leadership has embraced the principle of inclusivity. Ted talks about how they have operationalized this belief in inclusivity and describes the various processes and structures that have been instrumental to bringing more family members into the journey and ensuring strong engagement with the rising generations. Do not miss this exclusive and highly educational conversation with a distinguished family principal and leader of one of the most storied and successful family enterprises in America.

Tune in to the Williamson County Joint Audit & Independent Audit Committee Meeting from March 13th, 2026.

This week, our guest is Anthony Pugliese, President and CEO of the Institute of Internal Auditors.   Anthony joins the show as he approaches his five-year anniversary leading the IIA, reflecting on the major milestones and progress the organization has made during that time. He shares a look back at key initiatives from the past five years and discusses what the next phase could look like for the profession.   We also talk about several recent research efforts, including the 2026 Risk in Focus survey and the joint report with AuditBoard on AI driven fraud. Anthony highlights a few key trends auditors should be watching, particularly as organizations navigate emerging technology risks and evolving expectations around governance and oversight.   Finally, Anthony explains two initiatives aimed at strengthening the future of the profession: the Global Audit Committee Center, which supports stronger engagement with audit committees, and VisionU, a development program designed for new and aspiring chief audit executives.   Be sure to connect with Anthony on LinkedIn. 6:02 - AI Tips 11:03 - 5 Years as IIA President 14:32 - Strategy and the New Internal Audit Standards 14:32 - Why "Simple" Implementations Rarely Actually Simple 17:40 - Key Insights from Risk in Focus 2026 and the AI Fraud Report 21:50 - AI Literacy and Training in Internal Audit 24:26 - The Audit Committee Center 27:54 - How to Join the Audit Committee center 33:25 - Experienced CAE resources 35:35 – Final Thoughts 38:26 - Best advice for CAEs from Anthony Pugliese   Be sure to connect with Mark on LinkedIn. Also, be sure to follow us on our social media accounts on LinkedIn, Instagram, and TikTok.   Also be sure to sign up for The Audit Podcast newsletter and to check the full video interview on The Audit Podcast YouTube channel.   This podcast is brought to you by Greenskies Analytics, the services firm that helps auditors leap-frog up the analytics maturity model. Their approach for launching audit analytics programs with a series of proven quick-win analytics will guarantee the results worthy of the analytics hype.    Whether your audit team needs a data strategy, methodology, governance, literacy, or anything else related to audit and analytics, schedule time with Greenskies Analytics.

We continue our year-end toolkit series with insights on key areas of the year-end accounting and reporting process. Today's episode focuses on the finance team's engagement with the audit committee, which faces a packed agenda and expanding oversight responsibilities. We explore how management can strengthen collaboration with those charged with governance, streamline reporting, and address emerging issues such as AI, enterprise risk management, and transformation initiatives.In this episode, we discuss:1:18 – Strengthening management/audit committee communication and collaboration10:10 – Key year-end issues finance teams should be prepared to address15:02 – Oversight of AI: risks, opportunities, and controls21:33 – Enhancing enterprise risk oversight27:35 – Navigating the evolving cyber risk landscape in the age of AI36:05 – Elevating proxy disclosuresFor more, watch the replay of our Year-end audit committee webcast and read our publication, Your year-end audit committee guide.In case you missed it, check out the previous episode in this year-end miniseries:Year-end toolkit: Accounting and reporting reminders for 2026Year-end toolkit: Materiality assessmentsYear-end toolkit: Cash flow classificationBe sure to follow this podcast on your favorite podcast app and subscribe to our weekly newsletter to stay in the loop.About our guestStephen Parker is a partner in PwC's Governance Insights Center, which strives to strengthen the connection between directors, executive teams, and investors by helping them navigate the evolving governance landscape. With more than 30 years of experience, Stephen has advised boards of directors on a variety of complex financial reporting matters. Stephen's client service experience includes energy and utility companies, financial services companies, and nonprofits.About our guest hostDiana Stoltzfus is a partner in PwC's National Office who helps to shape PwC's perspectives on regulatory matters, responses to rulemakings and policy development, and implementation related to significant new rules and regulations. Prior to rejoining PwC, Diana was the Deputy Chief Accountant in the Office of the Chief Accountant (OCA) at the SEC where she led the activities of the OCA's Professional Practices Group.Transcripts available upon request for individuals who may need a disability-related accommodation. Please send requests to us_podcast@pwc.comDid you enjoy this episode? Text us your thoughts and be sure to include the episode name.

Welcome to RIMScast. Your host is Justin Smulison, Business Content Manager at RIMS, the Risk and Insurance Management Society.   In this episode, Justin interviews Susan Hiteshew about her career path, from long-time risk manager to broker, and how her foundation in risk provides her with corporate empathy and understanding of her clients. They cover key principles Susan learned on the way, how she intentionally made a change, and how her risk philosophy helps her as a broker. Susan shares points from her risk philosophy and the benefits she realized from the RIMS-CRMP, as well as from serving on the National RIMS Board.   Listen for key factors in a great trisk management team.   Key Takeaways: [:01] About RIMS and RIMScast. [:17] About this episode of RIMScast. We will be joined by Susan Hiteshew, a long-time risk professional, to discuss how she successfully transitioned over to the broker side. We will also get her ERM philosophy and how it still guides her to this day. But first… [:47] RIMS-CRMP and Some Prep Courses. The next virtual prep courses will be held on March 110th and 11th and again on April 21st and 22nd. Links to these courses can be found through the Certification page of RIMS.org and through this episode's show notes. [1:04] RIMS Virtual Workshops are coming up. On February 2nd and 3rd, Pat Saporito will host the debut of the two-day course, "Storytelling with Data for Risk Management". [1:18] On February 4th and 5th, Ken Baker will return to deliver the course, "Applying and Integrating ERM". [1:28] The full schedule of virtual workshops can be found on the RIMS.org/education and RIMS.org/education/online-learning pages. A link is also in this episode's notes. [1:39] RIMS members always enjoy deep discounts on the virtual workshops. [1:43] The next RIMS Webinar will celebrate Women's History Month by exploring "Hard Hats & High Stakes: Women Leaders Shaping Construction Risk Management" on March 6th. [1:53] We'll be joined by a Chief Risk Officer, an underwriter, and a broker, who will explore their career paths and risk and safety philosophies, and lend some insight as to why this is the time for the next generation of leaders to rise. [2:08] Visit RIMS.org/webinars and check out the link in this episode's show notes. [2:12] On with the show! Our guest today is the Managing Director and Office Head for Marsh's Washington, D.C. Office. Before accepting that role, she had 16 years of experience in risk management. She was one of the first RIMS-CRMP certificate holders. She's Susan Hiteshew. [2:35] We're going to talk about her career and why she decided to make a transition over to the broker side with Marsh. We'll also talk about her ERM philosophy and how it continues to guide her to this day. [2:47] We will also talk about strategy and the concept of professional empathy. Let's get to it… [2:54] Interview! Susan Hiteshew, welcome to RIMScast! [3:34] Susan can't imagine a better way to start 2026 than getting to be here on RIMScast with Justin! [4:00] For years, Susan was a corporate risk manager. Most recently, she was the VP of Risk at a real estate investment trust. Before that, she was Senior Director of Insurance at a major hotel brand and had filled other risk roles. [4:25] Susan says that before she got started as a risk manager, she began her career in claims. She worked in a specialized unit on the carrier side, analyzing legacy claims for coverage. They printed policies, read them, and manually wrote claims notes on them. [4:57] Susan says it was a great way to learn the coverages and understand the underwriting intent of the policies. That foundation taught her that insurance is technically complex and that there's a policyholder on the other end who will be getting your coverage letter in the mail. [5:19] Susan says insurance is a people business, even though it is very much a technical business. It's a form of strategic finance. [5:28] Susan learned as a risk manager the value in building that downside protection for your company and creating predictability in your cost of risk so that your business can operate with confident margins. [5:44] As a risk manager, Susan implemented that approach into how she thought about ERM. She thinks the most successful ERM programs are very collaborative across different business units and are built upon the spirit that everyone's a risk manager. [6:05] Risk is something we all own for our company. Susan's focus was always on supporting her executive team and board, and giving them information in clear, cogent, and actionable ways. [6:24] Susan speaks of frameworks. Risk and strategy are two sides of the same coin. Some risks are quantifiable and insurable; some risks are not. [6:36] Enterprise risk management is about understanding all risks, creating awareness around them, and mobilizing your company to focus on those risks in every part of your organization, at every level. Susan finds value in both ISO and COSO. She leans more toward COSO. [7:19] ERM was different at every company Susan worked with, tailored to the company and the business. It was collaborative. So much of enterprise risk management is taking who you are as a company, where you're trying to go, and building a framework that makes the most sense. [8:11] Susan was a risk manager for about 16 years. [8:20] Susan had reached the point where she wanted to broaden her impact across the board. Every time she made a change in her career, it was because she wanted to try something new and learn something different. [9:09] The timing felt right. She had had a lot of different in-house experiences, so she could sit across from a client and say she had been in their seat and knows what they are thinking through from an insurance perspective, and she can help them solve their issues. [9:32] At different companies, a risk manager does different things. Susan had had different areas of responsibility in insurance, claims, captive management, and enterprise risk management. What she loved the most was the insurance side. [10:05] Susan asked herself, wouldn't it be great if she could do what she loved most, all the time, for lots of clients? She loves that in her role now, leading the D.C. office for Marsh, she gets to help lots of clients with lots of different problems. She loves supporting risk managers. [10:44] Susan says the reason that she's been able to do what she's done in her career is because of support from others in the industry. She's having a lot of fun, working on helping clients with interesting problems. She thinks professional empathy helps her support clients. [11:23] Quick Break! The RIMS CRO Certificate Program in Advanced Enterprise Risk Management is RIMS' live virtual program, led by James Lam. Great News! A brand new cohort has been announced. Registration closes on April 6th. [11:44] Beginning on April 14th, bi-weekly workshops will be held from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Eastern Time through June 23rd. Register now! A link is also in this episode's show notes. [11:57] Save the dates, March 18th and 19th, 2026, for the RIMS Legislative Summit, which will be held in Washington, D.C. Join us for two days of Congressional Meetings, networking, and advocating on behalf of the risk management community. [12:13] Visit RIMS.org/advocacy for more information and updates and to register. [12:21] Let's Return to Our Interview with Susan Hiteshew! [13:08] Susan says that where her background is most helpful is in her claims foundation. It trained her to interpret coverage, to understand the intent of policy language, and to understand all that goes into resolving complex claims. [13:24] As a risk manager, Susan learned what Accounting needs, what Finance needs, and what a CFO needs when something "has gone bump in the night" and there's a significant claim issue. [13:37] Susan can tie all that together to support a risk manager and say, "You might want to have a conversation with Accounting about this. What do you have budgeted for this? Let's have a conversation with Finance about this. Is Legal involved? Do we have clarity on Operations?" [13:55] Susan's years in-house taught her how to pull all of those different components of the organization together. A good risk manager knows and works with everybody in their company. There are many internal and external stakeholders.  [14:19] Susan helps risk managers navigate tough situations and know whom to talk to before needing to get in front of them, to bring a tough situation to a good resolution, with everybody being aware and having the opportunity to give input to bring the situation to a close. [14:41] Justin notes that the risk manager needs to be the point guard for the organization. Susan agrees. She coaches her daughter's basketball team. [15:20] Susan notes that risk managers save the company money, but in most cases, they don't generate income, so it's important to run an efficient risk management team with the resources to work with and support everybody in the company. The team size differs for every business. [16:19] Susan has loved every stop along the way in her career. Each one has been different. She has worked with amazing people. She looked for work where she would be professionally challenged, learn a lot, and work with awesome people she can learn from at every level. [17:06] When Susan was ready to try being on the broker side, she was very intentional about it. She is so grateful for her choice. She has absolutely loved this transition. [17:23] Quick Break! RISKWORLD 2026 will be held from May 3rd through the 6th in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. RISKWORLD attracts more than 10,000 risk professionals from across the globe. It's time to Connect, Cultivate, and Collaborate with them. Booth sales are open now! [17:45] General registration and speaker registration are also open right now! Marketplace and Hospitality badges will be available starting on March 3rd. Links are in this episode's show notes. Be sure to check out RIMS.org for more information. [18:01] Let's Return to Our Interview with Susan Hiteshew! [18:22] Susan joined RIMS in 2011. She attended RISKWORLD in Philadelphia and is excited that RISKWORLD is back in Philadelphia this year, from May 3rd through 6th. There is a lot to do in Philadelphia, and it's very convenient for East Coast members. [19:07] Susan says it's awesome to have RIMS-CRMP as part of her title. It's a designation that means something. It's tied to helping a risk manager get to the next level of connecting the risk and strategy for their organization. [19:32] Susan took the RIMS-CRMP in the first group, in San Diego, in 2016. She was so excited to get the certification. Having the RIMS-CRMP and being active in RIMS gave her a wider lens on the profession than just seeing risk through the lens of one industry or company. [20:14] RIMS exposed Susan to a much broader network and helped her build her professional network.  [20:34] Susan says the RIMS-CRM shows you keep up with all the CEs every two years. [20:51] Susan says serving on the National RIMS Board and as the Board liaison for the Audit Committee in the past was an incredible experience. It put her at the intersection of governance, oversight, and strategic risk thinking. She saw how the Board evaluates controls. [21:19] When Susan was on the Board, they had outside counsel come in and give several different board trainings on governance and how to be good supporters and board members, and understand how to do their job effectively. [21:34] Working in that capacity helped Susan to sharpen her appreciation for transparency and disciplined communication, which were skills she was able to bring back to her role as a risk manager and other work she does. [21:50] Susan serves on an advisory board for her daughter's school and on the board of a privately-held real estate firm in D.C. Being on the RIMS Board taught her about how to be a good advisor for the executive team. [22:35] Susan says it's interesting to look at how the risk environment has changed. Marsh published the "World Economic Forum Global Risk Report" at the end of 2025. It talks about how risks are managed across the world by business executives, experts, and academics. [23:01] Susan says it's interesting to see what risks they call out and how the risks change from one year to the next. The report is a fascinating read for people who are looking at external risks and how they might impact their company. [23:16] Susan says the risk environment is incredibly dynamic. There are risks in the Risk Report that weren't there two years ago that are now in the top five risks. [23:30] Susan believes Enterprise Risk Management is strategic, not administrative. Leaders need dynamic, real-time insights to help them connect risk directly to their business outcomes. [23:45] Susan says tools and analytics are being used to help break down historically uninsurable risks into parts that can be actionable and solvable. [24:15] Susan says expectations for talent are changing. We need risk professionals who can interpret analytics, communicate clearly, and help support executive decision-making processes. The connection between risk and strategy is becoming more imperative. [25:10] How you identify your risks and communicate a message around your risks is going to be what matters and sets risk managers apart. You can have a policy and a process around managing a risk, but people at every level of a company need to internalize it. [25:33] Susan says you need a level of validation and ownership. It has to be instilled into the corporate culture. That starts with empathy, connection, and keeping things real for folks. That will be the ultimate driver of success. [26:04] Justin and Susan agree that risk management is a people business. It's about making things real for folks. [26:22] When Susan worked as a risk manager for a major retailer with warehouses, she spent time in the warehouse, working at every station, so she understood the jobs that everyone was doing. [26:38] She could see for herself how a workers' compensation injury happens. How are we getting these soft tissue issues? What do we need to do about them? [26:50] Learning from the people who are doing it every day, you learn things you would never pick up, otherwise. You can tailor your training programs, business processes, and the real risk management work to the people who need it, whom you are helping keep safe. [27:46] Susan's biggest piece of advice is to reframe the role. Risk management's role isn't reporting on risk; it's enabling competent business processes and competent decision-making. Speaking the language of strategy, and not just severity and probability, is very impactful. [28:11] Susan says building relationships before you need them and infusing risk management into the culture of the company helps a business build a competent risk management approach at every level within the organization. [28:30] Risk managers are really good at identifying issues and stumbling blocks, but offering options and solutions is where there is true value. Thinking about how we support our executives and leadership team is a key part of being a great risk manager. [28:49] Our executives have several things coming at them, all day, every day. They've got to make decisions and move expediently. [28:58] The more we can distill complicated risk issues into a straightforward framework, the more executives can confidently move forward on specific risk decisions. That is incredibly valuable. [29:20] Susan says that from both the practitioner and the advisory perspective, when you're a risk manager and you position yourself as a strategic partner, you can be relied upon, not only to help protect the organization but also to help accelerate its success. [29:40] Susan learned from a former boss to ask during ERM analyses, "Why do expensive race cars have very expensive brakes? It's not so you can stop, but so you can go fast confidently." A great risk management program helps enable speed, confidence, and resilience.  [30:34] Susan says that's what she loves about the value that risk managers bring to the table. [30:56] Susan, you've been such a wonderful guest. You've been so giving with your perspective. Also, where are you going to be from May 3rd through the 6th, 2026? She'll be at RISKWORLD 2026 in Philly! It will be a great time, seeing all her RIMS friends! [31:23] Some of Susan's favorite things about her profession are the friendships she created through RIMS. [31:27] At RISKWORLD 2026, May 3rd through 6th in Philadelphia, you will Connect, Cultivate, and Collaborate! I can't wait to get the chance to finally meet you in person! [31:38] Anybody who wants to learn a little more about Susan can check out her RIMS-CRMP Stories. It's one of the first ones. Susan is also on LinkedIn. Susan would love it if you reached out with a question for her, either on LinkedIn or RIMS Engage. [32:05] Special thanks again to Susan Hiteshew for joining us here on RIMScast. I've got a link to her RIMS-CRMP Stories interview, which will hopefully inspire you to sign up for and study for the RIMS-CRMP exam. [32:21] The link is in this episode's show notes. You can also check out RIMS.org/certifications. [32:27] Plug Time! You can sponsor a RIMScast episode for this, our weekly show, or a dedicated episode. Links to sponsored episodes are in the show notes. [32:54] RIMScast has a global audience of risk and insurance professionals, legal professionals, students, business leaders, C-Suite executives, and more. Let's collaborate and help you reach them! Contact pd@rims.org for more information. [33:12] Become a RIMS member and get access to the tools, thought leadership, and network you need to succeed. Visit RIMS.org/membership or email membershipdept@RIMS.org for more information. [33:29] Risk Knowledge is the RIMS searchable content library that provides relevant information for today's risk professionals. Materials include RIMS executive reports, survey findings, contributed articles, industry research, benchmarking data, and more. [33:45] For the best reporting on the profession of risk management, read Risk Management Magazine at RMMagazine.com. It is written and published by the best minds in risk management. [33:59] Justin Smulison is the Business Content Manager at RIMS. Please remember to subscribe to RIMScast on your favorite podcasting app. You can email us at Content@RIMS.org. [34:10] Practice good risk management, stay safe, and thank you again for your continuous support!   Links: RISKWORLD 2026 Registration — Open for exhibitors, members, and non-members! Reserve your booth at RISKWORLD 2026! RIMS Legislative Summit — March 18‒19, 2026 on Capitol Hill, Washington, D.C. | Register now! RIMS-CRO Certificate Program In Advanced Enterprise Risk Management | April‒June 2026 Cohort | Led by James Lam The Strategic and Enterprise Risk Center RIMS Diversity Equity Inclusion Council RIMS Risk Management magazine | Contribute RIMS Now Spencer Educational Foundation Scholarships | Submission Deadline Jan. 31, 2026 RISK PAC | RIMS Advocacy RIMS-Certified Risk Management Professional (RIMS-CRMP) | Insights Video Series Featuring Joe Milan! Susan Hiteshew's RIMS-CRMP Story: The Value of Being 'In The Club' Upcoming RIMS-CRMP Prep Virtual Workshops: RIMS-CRMP Exam Prep March 10‒11 | April 21‒22, 2026, 9:00 am‒4:00 pm EST, Virtual Full RIMS-CRMP Prep Course ScheduleSee the full calendar of RIMS Virtual Workshops "Storytelling with Data for Risk Management" | Feb. 2‒3 "Applying and Integrating ERM" | Feb 4. "Facilitating Risk-Based Decision Making" | March 4‒5 Upcoming RIMS Webinars: "Hard Hats & High Stakes: Women Leaders Shaping Construction Risk Management" | March 6 | Presented by RIMS RIMS.org/Webinars   Related RIMScast Episodes: "Risk Decision-making in 2026 with Joseph A. Milan, Ph.D." "The Evolving Role of the Risk Analyst" "Risk Rotation with Lori Flaherty and Bill Coller of Paychex" "Energizing ERM with Kellee Ann Richards-St. Clair"   Sponsored RIMScast Episodes: "Secondary Perils, Major Risks: The New Face of Weather-Related Challenges" | Sponsored by AXA XL (New!) "The ART of Risk: Rethinking Risk Through Insight, Design, and Innovation" | Sponsored by Alliant "Mastering ERM: Leveraging Internal and External Risk Factors" | Sponsored by Diligent "Cyberrisk: Preparing Beyond 2025" | Sponsored by Alliant "The New Reality of Risk Engineering: From Code Compliance to Resilience" | Sponsored by AXA XL "Change Management: AI's Role in Loss Control and Property Insurance" | Sponsored by Global Risk Consultants, a TÜV SÜD Company "Demystifying Multinational Fronting Insurance Programs" | Sponsored by Zurich "Understanding Third-Party Litigation Funding" | Sponsored by Zurich "What Risk Managers Can Learn From School Shootings" | Sponsored by Merrill Herzog "Simplifying the Challenges of OSHA Recordkeeping" | Sponsored by Medcor "How Insurance Builds Resilience Against An Active Assailant Attack" | Sponsored by Merrill Herzog "Third-Party and Cyber Risk Management Tips" | Sponsored by Alliant   RIMS Publications, Content, and Links: RIMS Membership — Whether you are a new member or need to transition, be a part of the global risk management community! RIMS Virtual Workshops On-Demand Webinars RIMS-Certified Risk Management Professional (RIMS-CRMP) RISK PAC | RIMS Advocacy RIMS Strategic & Enterprise Risk Center RIMS-CRMP Stories — Featuring RIMS President Kristen Peed!   RIMS Events, Education, and Services: RIMS Risk Maturity Model®   Sponsor RIMScast: Contact sales@rims.org or pd@rims.org for more information.   Want to Learn More? Keep up with the podcast on RIMS.org, and listen on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.   Have a question or suggestion? Email: Content@rims.org.   Join the Conversation! Follow @RIMSorg on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.   About our guest: Susan Hiteshew, Managing Director | Office Head, Washington D.C., Corporate Regional Team Leader, Marsh   Production and engineering provided by Podfly.  

Live from The Hyderabad Public School, a private high school in India which features notable alums 1) Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, 2) Adobe CEO Shantanu Narayen 3) former Mastercard CEO Ajay Banga, 4) Fairfax Financial CEO Prem Watsa, and 5) Procter & Gamble CEO-designate Shailesh Jejurikar, it's an all-new Terrific Tuesday edition of Business Pants, featuring Analyst-Hole Matt Moscardi! On today's Lead Independent Turkey called November 25th, 2025: the Who Do You Blame? Game!Our show today is being sponsored by Free Float Analytics, the only platform measuring board power, connections, and performance for FREE.DAMIONCampbell's Places VP on Leave Following Viral 'Poor People' RantMartin Bally, Campbell Soup Company's vice president and chief information security officer: “"We have s--- for f---ing poor people. Who buys our s---? I don't buy Campbell's products barely anymore. Bioengineered meat — I don't wanna eat a piece of chicken that came from a 3-D printer."He also allegedly made derogatory comments about Indian coworkers and – according to the recording – claimed he sometimes came to work under the influence of marijuana: "F---ing Indians don't know a f---ing thing," the voice on the recording says. "They couldn't think for their f---ing selves."The statement follows claims made by former Campbell's security analyst Robert Garza, who filed a lawsuit in Wayne County Circuit Court alleging that Bally launched into an hour-long tirade during what was meant to be a discussion about Garza's salary.Campbell's: “We are proud of the food we make, the people who make it and the high-quality ingredients we use ... The comments on the recording are not only inaccurate—they are patently absurd.Campbell's also noted that Bally is not involved in food development. “Keep in mind, the alleged comments are made by an IT person, who has nothing to do with how we make our food,” the statement concluded.WHO DO YOU BLAME?The founding families:Voting power: (35%) Mary Alice D. Malone - 18% Bennett Dorrance- 15% Archbold D. van Beuren - 2%Board influence (76%): Mary Alice Dorrance Malone (61%; board member since 1990); Archbold Dorrance van Beuren (9%; wealth management); Bennett Dorrance (6%: bachelor's degree in art history from Princeton University and a master's degree in sustainable leadership from Arizona State University); Mary Alice Dorrance Malone Jr (accomplished equestrian, and a luxury fashion entrepreneur) MMInvestors: 11/18/2025 AGMAverage director support 98% (9 over 99%): 43% yes simple majority vote; regenerative agriculture program including pesticide reduction outcomes 11% yes; say on pay 99% yesAn unserious food board of 9 non-family board members:No food: Fabiola R. Arredondo (family investment trust); Howard M. Averill(former Time Warner CFO); Maria Teresa (Tessa) Hilado (former CFO Allergan); Grant Hill (NBA); Sarah Hofstetter (e-commerce sales); Marc B. Lautenbach (global shipping); Chair Keith R. McLoughlin (appliances); Kurt T. Schmidt (weed and pet food); CEO Mick J. Beekhuizen: 13 years with Goldman Sachs in roles including Managing Director in the merchant banking divisionAmerican pop-artist Andy Warhol for somehow making Campbell's Food company eternally relevant Q3 2025 Gender Diversity IndexLittle Movement on Boardroom Gender Diversity: 30% of Russell 3000 board members are women, a figure that has stayed within a narrow 30% to 30.3% range over the past five quarters.Percentage of Boards with 50% Women: Across the Russell 3000, 6% (175) of boards are composed of at least 50% women, while the remaining 94% (2,736) have less than 50% female representation.New Female Director Appointments Hit Record Low: 22.3% of new directors on Russell 3000 boards are women. This represents the lowest percentage recorded in the study (since Q12017)WHO DO YOU BLAME?The anti-DEI MAGA movementNominating Committees, specifically their Chairs MMPassive Investors (BlackRock, Vanguard, etc)The proxy experts: ISS, Glass Lewis, etc.Previous female board members who retired or died: if they were immortal maybe the numbers would be better?OpenAI announces shopping research tool in latest e-commerce pushOpenAI announced a new tool called “shopping research” that will generate detailed, in-depth shopping guides.The guides include top products, key differences between the products and up-to-date information from reliable retailers, OpenAI said.“With these new abilities, we can have shared prosperity to a degree that seems unimaginable today; in the future, everyone's lives can be better than anyone's life is now.”WHO DO YOU BLAME?The sycophants: open letter sent to the board of directors“We are unable to work for or with people that lack competence, judgement and care for our mission and employees,” the letter continues before demanding that “all current board members resign,” appoint “two new lead independent directors.”signed by a whopping 700 of the company's 770 employees — including CTO Mira Murati, who the board briefly named interim CEO only to be replaced just a few days later, and Altman's fellow cofounder Ilya Sutskever, who initially appeared to be one of the forces behind his ousterNew Initial Board (Nov 2023)Bret “Salesforce” Taylor (Chair), Larry “Epstein” Summers, and Adam “voted to fire him in the first place” D'AngeloNew Board Members (Mar 2024)Sue Desmond-Hellmann (former CEO, Bill “Epstein” & Melinda Gates Foundation); Nicole “Iran Contra” Seligman (former Sony GC); Fidji Simo (CEO of Instacart) MMThe wafflers: Ilya Sutskever and Adam D'AngeloNOT Helen Toner: Director of Strategy at the Georgetown Center for Security and Emerging Technology and Tasha McCauleySam:San Francisco, CA (Russian Hill): A historic mansion purchased for $27 million in 2020.San Francisco, CA (Adjacent Homes): Three adjacent houses purchased for $12.8 million each (totaling $38.4 million) in January 2024. These purchases appear to be consolidating a potential mega-compound next to his original Russian Hill home.Kailua-Kona, Hawaii (Big Island): A large, 22-acre oceanfront estate, quietly purchased in 2021 for $43 million (later listed for $49 million in 2025). It features multiple houses, a private marina/beach, helipadNapa, CA (Ranch): A 950-acre ranch, reportedly purchased for $15.7 million in 2020.Kohl's names Michael Bender as permanent CEO after a turbulent year and sales declines. WHO DO YOU BLAMEAshley Buchanan: On May 1, 2025, Kohl's board terminated Buchanan “for cause” following an outside investigation overseen by its Audit Committee. The investigation found that Buchanan directed Kohl's to do business with a vendor founded by someone with whom he had a personal relationship. He also caused Kohl's to enter into a multimillion-dollar consulting agreement involving that same person. Crucially, he did not disclose this personal relationship, which was a violation of Kohl's code of ethics.Golden hello: $17m equity and $3.75m cashFormer director Christine Day: Shortly after Buchanan was fired, Day resigned, citing “lack of transparency” and governance concerns. Day said she was frustrated that not all board members were kept informed of risks and that decisions seemed centralized (“Michael ‘handles' everything … then ‘tells' everyone what the decision is”). Kohl's strongly disputed her characterization, saying her resignation was not “due to any disagreements” over operations or practices.Investors: chair Bender named interim CEO 4/30/25… AGM 5/14/2595% yes bender; 55% yes pay; 89% yes Prising; 92% average; new chair 91% John E. Schlifske (2011-, longest-tenured)Compensation Committee: “regularly and actively reviewing and evaluating our executive management succession plans and making recommendations to the Board with respect to succession planning issues”Chair Jonas Prising (2015-)Member Michael BenderMichael Bender, who was the Board Chair and sat on COmp Committee and director since 2019, was named interim CEO$1.475M/175% target up to 350%/$9.5M equity ($500k more than ashley) target/$200k aircraft (up from $180k for ashley)/$160k relocationone-time award of restricted stock units (“RSUs”) valued at $3,775,000The glass cliff: women and POC promoted to precarious leadership positions, such as the CEO or a board seat, during times of crisis, organizational turmoil, or poor performance MMMATTWatchdog group warns AI teddy bear discusses sexually explicit content, dangerous activities. This is the $99 Kumma bear made by FoloToy using OpenAI's service. OpenAI said it was suspending Folotoy for violations of usage of ChatGPT. WHO DO YOU BLAME?:Folotoy, who's founder and CEO Larry Wang calls himself “Chief Geek Officer” and has a background in child psychology and behavioral science… oh, wait, not, he has background in computer science and was founder of a tech telecomm company and was a software developer for insurance before that. But he's obviously qualified to do this: “Kumma, our adorable bear, combines advanced artificial intelligence with friendly, interactive features, making it the perfect friend for both kids and adults. From lively conversations to educational storytelling, FoloToy adapts to your personality and needs, bringing warmth, fun, and a little extra curiosity to your day.”OpenAI - obviously Sam Altman's commitment to “the benefit of humanity” stopped short of “sex advice from baby toys,” even though he says having kids of his own will help him not destroy humanity. I assume he's not getting Sammy Jr a Kumma bear? DROpenAI's board - obviously if they had fired Sam Altman, there wouldn't be sex bears using ChatGPT. But Helen Toner was forced out by the rest of the board, investors, and public pressure - she's since said, “But for years, Sam had made it really difficult for the board to actually do that job by withholding information, misrepresenting things that were happening at the company, in some cases outright lying to the board,” and that Altman gave them, “inaccurate information about the small number of formal safety processes that the company did have in place.” Perhaps Altman said, “no, that teddy bear didn't just say he loved oral sex, that's just a misinterpretation.”Microsoft - Satya, despite misgivings from Bill Gates, threw $10bn at OpenAI in January 2023. In November 2023, the board removed Sam Altman. Turns out Microsoft had released a version of ChatGPT in India that Altman sanctioned outside of safety protocols - the board should have signed off, but Altman lied to them and hid it. But rather than Microsoft pulling back the release and recognizing the damage it could do, they swooped in and “hired” Sam Altman 3 days after his firing. Their $10bn investment might have been the first cog in a sex bear wheel.I'm the Chief People Officer at Walmart. I always wake up to the same U2 song and watch the 'Today' show. That is Donna Morris listening to U2's “Beautiful Day”, the first thing she does is go online, she doesn't drink coffee but drinks Diet Coke (“I've just never been a hot drink type of girl, I guess. I try to limit myself to two Diet Cokes a day, although every once in a while, I sneak in a third.”), she likes buying cookbooks but doesn't use them. Not mentioned: Walmart's DEI rollback, the new CEO coming in, working for a family dictatorship, and any of her colleagues - as chief people officer, there are almost zero people mentioned. WHO DO WE BLAME FOR THIS EXISTING?Professional Conservative Snowflake Robby Starbuck - he claimed Walmart as his first “victory” after Trump's election in the DEI rollback. Post-Starbuck snowflake-ism, Morris might have had a job managing humans, but now her job is basically to send pink slips and make sure there aren't TOO many swastikas in the bathroom stall. A few is fine, but c'mon. So to pass the time, Morris is stuck giving interviews to Business Insider.Business Insider, who must have known Morris had the potential to give an insipid review of her day when this was her excuse for Walmart's DEI rollback: "When you talk about diversity, equity, inclusion, all in part, there can be communities, and often the largest communities, that step back and say, 'Geez, I'm not sure if I'm even actually included'," Morris explained of the decision. Which echoes… ROBBY FUCKING STARBUCK, who said to anyone who would listen: "This is the biggest win yet for our movement to end wokeness in corporate America. This won't just have a massive effect for their employees who will have a neutral workplace without feeling that divisive issues are being injected but it will also extend to their many suppliers."Donna Morris, because as only we covered here when discussing the corporate move to blame the employees for every problem and getting fired, had this to say of her biggest red flag on an employee: “Nobody wants [to hire] a Debbie Downer. [Someone who is] constantly negative. You know they're going to show up [and] they're going to bring the problem, never the solution.” Literally, the JOB of HR is to field COMPLAINTS from employees about how their managers treat them - or is it too Debbie Downer to complain about racial discrimination of employees?Walmart's board - they must have signed off on Morris getting hired, right? Or a Walton? Someone somewhere thought this was a good idea? Take your pick:CFO of OpenAI Sarah Friar (who said OpenAI would need a government backstop, then clarified)Brian Niccol, the CEO of Starbucks who was given a golden hello, a golden parachute, and probably a golden shower, who just named to a “worst CEO” listThe current AND former CEO of WalmartSteuart Walton, who couldn't bother to even be named “Stuart” (he had to spell it with an extra “E”) with a claim to fame of marrying a Baywatch reboot actress, and Greg Penner, the son-in-law of a different Walton and snuck his way onto the board AND as co-owner of the Denver BroncosTom Horton, retired American Airlines CEO who was CFO of American for years right before they declared bankruptcy, but somehow is remembered for “restructuring” them instead of bankrupting them?Marissa Mayer - yes, that Mayer, formerly of YahooNot one, but TWO different consultantsRandall Stephenson, ex AT&T CEO, who, if I'm honest, seems to have actual integrity and I'm not sure why he's here, plus two DEI directors (because they're not white, so probably not qualified)

(0:00) Intro(1:30) About the podcast sponsor: The American College of Governance Counsel(2:16) Start of interview(3:01) Erik's origin story(6:10) His role at the Tippie College of Business at the University of Iowa.(7:49) Exploring his book Catching Cheats(9:39) About the field of forensic economics(11:00) The Challenge of Private Market Data and Fraud *Reference to our Startup Litigation Digest(16:24) Board Responsibilities in Fraud Detection(19:03) Challenges for private company boards(21:22) Insights and red flags from the Madoff Case(26:30) Insider Trading and Its Challenges(31:29) The Role of Whistleblowers in Fraud. Reference to E142 with Tyler Shultz and E130 with Mary Inman (whistleblower attorney)(35:44) Cultural Perspectives on White-Collar Crime(39:59) The Intersection of Vision and Fraud(41:27) Fraud problems in academia(44:00) The Impact of AI on Fraud Dynamics *suggested read: The Trillion Dollar Governance Reckonings(49:46) The role of directors in the stock backdating scandals "they were happy beneficiaries"(51:03) Books that have greatly influenced his life:Animal Farm by George Orwell (1945)Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer (1997)(53:45) His mentors *discussion about the Norges Bank Investment Mgmt Fund ($2T AUM) and its ethical issues.(56:23) Quotes that she thinks of often or lives her life by.(57:10) An unusual habit or an absurd thing that she loves. (58:08) The living person he most admires: Bill Gates.Erik Lie is the Amelia Tippie Chair in Finance and Professor at the Tippie College of Business at the University of Iowa. His new book, Catching Cheats: Everyday Forensics to Unmask Business Fraud, offers a compelling look at how forensic economics and data-driven analysis can help identify wrongdoing that remains hidden in plain sight.  You can follow Evan on social media at:X: @evanepsteinLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/epsteinevan/ Substack: https://evanepstein.substack.com/__To support this podcast you can join as a subscriber of the Boardroom Governance Newsletter at https://evanepstein.substack.com/__Music/Soundtrack (found via Free Music Archive): Seeing The Future by Dexter Britain is licensed under a Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 United States License

In this week's episode, we revisit our interview with Shawn McCormick. Shawn has 30 years of financial expertise and operational experience in the medical device and life sciences industry. Most recently, he was the Chief Financial Officer of Aldevron, a private equity-backed CDMO. Shawn joined Aldevron in 2020 and remained until February 2022, following the sale of the company to Danaher, Inc. in 2021. He served as the Chief Financial Officer of Tornier N.V. and Tornier, Inc. from September 2012 until the completion of the merger with Wright Medical in October 2015. He also served as Tornier's Principal Accounting Officer. Mr. McCormick served as Chief Operating Officer of Lutonix Inc. from April 2011 to February 2012, when Lutonix was sold to C.R.Bard.  He served as Chief Financial Officer and Senior Vice President of ev3, Inc. from January 2009 to July 2010 and as its Principal Accounting Officer. ev3 was sold to Covidien in July 2010. Mr. McCormick held various positions of increasing responsibility at Medtronic, Inc. from 1992 to 2009, including Vice President of Corporate Development from May 2008 to January 2009 and Vice President of Finance for the Spinal, Navigation, and ENT business from 2002 to 2007.  He has been a Director of Nevro Corp. since September 2014 and Inspire Medical Systems Inc. since January 2017. He also served on the board of Surmodics, Inc from December 2015 to December 2020 and the board of Entellus Medical from December 2014 to February 2018, when Entellus was sold to Stryker. Mr. McCormick serves as the Audit Committee Chair for both Nevro and Inspire and previously for Entellus. He also served as a Surmodics' audit committee and governance and nominating committee member. Mr. McCormick served on the board of LANX from August 2010 to November 2013, serving on the Compensation Committee and Audit Committee before LANX was sold to Biomet in November 2013.  Mr. McCormick is a Certified Public Accountant (non-active license). He holds a B.S. in Accounting from Arizona State University and an M.B.A. from the University of Minnesota's Carlson School of Management. 

This week on The Audit Podcast, we're joined by Matthew Oleniuk, founder of The Risk Insider and former Chief Audit Executive in the public sector. Matthew shares lessons from 15 years as a CAE, what he's most passionate about right now, and his perspective on how to predict whether public sector projects will succeed—or fail.   Be sure to connect with Matthew on LinkedIn.   Also, be sure to follow us on our social media accounts on LinkedIn, Instagram, and TikTok.   Also be sure to sign up for The Audit Podcast newsletter and to check the full video interview on The Audit Podcast YouTube channel.   Timecodes:   2:20 – How Matthew Uses LLMs 5:28 – Advice for CAE Leaders 11:20 – The Dynamics of Building an Audit Committee 15: 35 – The Mindset of Empowering the Team 25:03 – What Matthew Is Especially Passionate About Right Now 29:17 – Why Public Sector Projects Fail 33:21 - Final Thoughts   *   This podcast is brought to you by Greenskies Analytics, the services firm that helps auditors leap-frog up the analytics maturity model. Their approach for launching audit analytics programs with a series of proven quick-win analytics will guarantee the results worthy of the analytics hype.  Whether your audit team needs a data strategy, methodology, governance, literacy, or anything else related to audit and analytics, schedule time with Greenskies Analytics.      

About this episode: Through the summer, the city of Phoenix consistently hits temperatures upwards of 110 degrees, creating dire conditions for vulnerable populations like outdoor workers and those with substance use disorders. In this episode: Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego and City Councilwoman Kesha Hodge Washington detail the city's extreme heat challenges, how other communities can deal with rising temperatures, and the successful cooling interventions championed by local leaders in the Valley of the Sun. Guest: Kate Gallego is the 62nd mayor of Phoenix, AZ. During her time in office, she has focused on diversifying the city's economy, investing in infrastructure, and forwarding sustainability. Kesha Hodge Washington is the District 8 city councilmember for the city of Phoenix. She serves on the Audit Committee, the Economic Development and Housing and Transportation Infrastructure and Planning Subcommittees. Host: Stephanie Desmon, MA, is a former journalist, author, and the director of public relations and communications for the Johns Hopkins Center for Communication Programs. Show links and related content: How Climate Change and Extreme Weather Can Hurt Your Health—U.S. News & World Report Drop in Heat-Related Deaths Show Importance of Heat Relief Sites Efforts—City of Phoenix Extreme Heat Hazards—Hopkins Bloomberg Public Health Magazine Transcript information: Looking for episode transcripts? Open our podcast on the Apple Podcasts app (desktop or mobile) or the Spotify mobile app to access an auto-generated transcript of any episode. Closed captioning is also available for every episode on our YouTube channel. Contact us: Have a question about something you heard? Looking for a transcript? Want to suggest a topic or guest? Contact us via email or visit our website. Follow us: @‌PublicHealthPod on Bluesky @‌JohnsHopkinsSPH on Instagram @‌JohnsHopkinsSPH on Facebook @‌PublicHealthOnCall on YouTube Here's our RSS feed Note: These podcasts are a conversation between the participants, and do not represent the position of Johns Hopkins University.

This Flashback Friday is from episode 345, published last November 5, 2013. Karen Hudes studied law at Yale Law School and economics at the University of Amsterdam. She worked in the US Export Import Bank of the US from 1980-1985 and in the Legal Department of the World Bank from 1986-2007. She established the Non Governmental Organization Committee of the International Law Section of the American Bar Association and the Committee on Multilateralism and the Accountability of International Organizations of the American Branch of the International Law Association. In 1999 Karen reported the corrupt take-over of the second largest bank in the Philippines. The Bank's Country Director in the Philippines reassigned Karen when she asked him to sign a letter warning the Philippines' government that the Bank could not disburse its loan. Two days after informing the Board's Audit Committee of the cover-up in the Philippines, Karen was reprimanded and placed on probation. The Chair of the World Bank's Audit Committee requested an inquiry into the World Bank's Institutional Integrity Department. The Senate Committee on Foreign Relations followed up with three letters to the World Bank. The World Bank forged documents and fired Karen in contempt of Congress. In 2007 Karen advised the US Treasury Department and US Congress that the US would lose its right to appoint the President of the World Bank if the current American President of the World Bank did not play by the rules. The 66 year old Gentlemen's Agreement that Europe would appoint the Managing Director of the IMF and US would appoint the World Bank President ended in 2010.   Follow Jason on TWITTER, INSTAGRAM & LINKEDIN Twitter.com/JasonHartmanROI Instagram.com/jasonhartman1/ Linkedin.com/in/jasonhartmaninvestor/ Call our Investment Counselors at: 1-800-HARTMAN (US) or visit: https://www.jasonhartman.com/ Free Class:  Easily get up to $250,000 in funding for real estate, business or anything else: http://JasonHartman.com/Fund CYA Protect Your Assets, Save Taxes & Estate Planning: http://JasonHartman.com/Protect Get wholesale real estate deals for investment or build a great business – Free Course: https://www.jasonhartman.com/deals Special Offer from Ron LeGrand: https://JasonHartman.com/Ron Free Mini-Book on Pandemic Investing: https://www.PandemicInvesting.com  

The Institute of Internal Auditors Presents: All Things Internal Audit Tech In this episode, Mike Levy and Shontelle Mixon discuss the growing risks tied to fourth-party relationships. They discuss how internal auditors can leverage technology, enhanced contracts, and cross-functional collaboration to pinpoint, track, and reduce those downstream risks. They break down how internal audit's role is evolving in a world shaped by cybersecurity, AI, and shifting regulations. HOST:Mike Levy, CIA, CRMA, CISSPCEO, Cherry Hill Advisory GUEST:Shontelle Mixon, CPADivisional SVP, Internal Audit and Special Investigations, Healthcare Service Corporation KEY POINTS: Introduction [00:00–00:00:38] What Is Fourth-Party Risk? [00:00:38–00:01:52] Evolution of Risk and Offshoring Trends [00:01:52–00:02:32] Mitigating Fourth-Party Risks [00:02:32–00:03:47] Steps for Maturing a Vendor Risk Program [00:03:47–00:04:50] The Challenge of Shadow IT [00:04:50–00:05:54] Data Mining and Continuous Monitoring [00:05:54–00:06:59] Beyond the SOC Report [00:06:59–00:08:27] Getting Started Without Tech [00:08:27–00:09:32] Cybersecurity as a Starting Point [00:09:32–00:10:44] Educating the Audit Committee [00:10:44–00:12:00] Real-Time Monitoring and Vendor Audits [00:12:00–00:13:09] Misconceptions About Outsourcing Risk [00:13:09–00:13:56] Preparing for the Future [00:13:56–00:15:32] Pitfalls in Contracting [00:15:32–00:16:38] First Step for New Audit Functions [00:16:38–00:17:12] Aligning with Organizational Risk Priorities [00:17:12–00:18:36] Getting Executive Buy-In [00:18:36–00:20:06] Supporting Smaller Audit Shops [00:20:06–00:21:14] Final Advice [00:21:14–00:21:58] THE IIA RELATED CONTENT:  Interested in this topic? Visit the links below for more resources: 2025 International Conference Learning Solutions: Navigating Third and Fourth Party Risks Learning Solutions: Auditing Third-Party Risks Visit The IIA's website or YouTube channel for related topics and more. Follow All Things Internal Audit: Apple PodcastsSpotify LibsynDeezer

DAMIONLet's start with a softball: Tesla's Europe sales plunge 49% on brand damage, rising competition. Who Do You Blame?ElonLiberals Who Hate ElonTrump 2.0The Tesla board (I'm looking at you Robyn and Kimbal)Apathetic Tesla investorsNobody. Share price is king. MMISS backs Dynavax directors in board fight with Deep Track CapitalDeep Track Capital, which is Dynavax's second largest shareholder with a nearly 15% stake, is pushing on with a proxy fight and wants new directors to prioritize development of the company's hepatitis B vaccine instead of pursuing new acquisitions."Vote for all four management nominees," ISS wrote in a note to clients that was seen by Reuters. "The dissident has failed to present a compelling case that change is necessary at this meeting."Despit that "There has been a stall in momentum" and that "the market has in no way rebuked the company's strategy" even though Dynavax's stock price has fallen 18% over the last 12 months.Who Do you Blame?ISS, for an inability to articulate big ideas with data.Dynavax's current board knowledge profile: while pretty balance overall with science-y stuff like Medicine and Dentistry (14%); Biology (15%) along with a reasonable amount og Economics and Acounting (12%), the board notably lacks Sales and Marketing (0%).Deep Track Capital nominee probably fits that bill: an experienced drug development and commercialization professional most as interim CEO/COO at Lykos Therapeutics, including overseeing the commercialization of Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine and marketing and sales at Sanofi PasteurISS, again, for ignoring the presence of 15-year director and Nominating Committee chair Daniel Kisner. Why is this guy allowed to maintain dominance over the selection of new directors?Especially consider the presence of fellow long-tenured director Francis Cano on the committee who is 80 and has served for 16 yearsCano had 29% votes against in 2018, but then only 4% in 2021 and 8% in 2024 The board's atrocious lack of annual elections. While the company celebrities the appointments of two new directors in early 2025, one of them, Emilio Emini, will not be up for shareholder review until the 2027 AGMCan I blame DeepTrack (14%), BlackRock (17%), Vanguard (7%), and State Street (6%) = 44%PepsiCo Is Pushing Back its Climate Goals. The Company Wants to Talk About ItPepsiCo said Thursday it pushed back by a decade its goal to achieve net-zero emissions from 2040 to 2050, as well as a handful of delays on plastic packaging goals, to name a few of the shiftsJim Andrew, chief sustainability officer, said PepsiCo's ability to make progress at the rate it would like to “is very very dependent on the systems around us changing.” He added the “world was a very different place” when it was working on these goals in 2020 amid a completely different political and regulatory landscape.Who Do You Blame?Pepsi's very large board of 15 directorsmost governance experts and research converge around an ideal range of 7 to 11 directors. Which really means 9?Beyond 11, boards often suffer from slower decision-making and diluted accountability.Pepsi's completely protected class of directorsAccording to MSCI data: no current director has received more than 9% votes against since the 2015 AGM. Average support is over 97%Despite hitting .400 overall (peers hit .581): .396 carbon (vs. 473) and .180 on controversies (vs. 774)The fact that the company is named Pepsico and not Pepsi which is kinda irritatingPepsi's Gender Influence Gap of -11%In fact, of the top 7 most influential directors, 6 are men with 68% aggregate influenceThe woman is Dina Dublon (11%), the former CFO at JPMorgan Chase, who has been on the board for two decades. I guess her experience as a director on the Westchester Land Trust is not enough to sway the gentlemen.The Land Trust is chaired by Wyndham Hotels director Bruce Churchill, whose experience at DirectTV must really be crucial in the protection of the natural resources of Westchester CountyWhat Makes a Great Board Director? It's Hard to Define, but It Has Rarely Been More Crucial. Who Do you Blame?The WSJ for still failing to define it appropriately despite being the effing WSJ!Proxy advisory firms, for not having the data that could better inform shareholdersThe SEC/listing exchanges for not requiring data that could better inform shareholdersEvery person in the world who does not use Free Float Analytics data2025 U.S. Proxy Season: Midseason Review Finds Sharp Drop in Shareholder Resolutions on BallotTrump 2.0Darren Woods and ExxonThe anti-ESG shareholder proponents for depressing us with their political theaterApathetic investorsMATTBall CFO to depart after less than 2 years in roleHoward Yu: The departure is not related to any disagreement with the Company on any matter relating to its accounting practices, financial statements, internal controls, or operations.Because everyone leaves in less than 2 years when they're happy? Who do we blame!:Ball's Audit Committee - only 29% of company influence, but maybe they're too busy to pay attention to the CFO at all? We know audit committee roles are hugely time consuming, so Cathy Ross (ex CFO FedEx) on two audit public audit committees, John Bryant (ex CEO of Kellogg) on FOUR audit committees, Michael Cave (ex Boeing exec from 787 Max days) on just Ball audit, and Todd Penegor (current CEO of Papa Johns) on THREE boards AND an acting CEOBall's Nominating Committee - 48% of company influence, maybe they suck at their jobs? Stuart Taylor, who's been on the board since 1999, Dune Ives, Aaron Erter, and… Cathy Ross and John Bryant, also on the audit committeeHoward Yu, who departed unrelated to “any disagreement with the Company” on anything he actually did thereCEOCathy Ross and John Bryant93% of U.S. Executives Desire Board Member ReplacementsOld people: There are 14,440 non executive directors in the US on boards with an average age of 63 years old and 2,569 executive directors with an average age of 58.298 companies in the US have at least ONE director over the age of 80. Directors over the age of 80 have on average 9% influence on the board and on average 19 years of tenure - old and no one actually listens to them.Two US directors - Tommy Thomson (82 years young) and John Harrington (87 years young) are on THREE boards eachMeyer Luskin is 100 years old on the OSI Systems board - he is UCLA class of 1949 and has 6% influence after 35 years on the boardMilton Cooper is 95 years old on TWO boards - Getty Realty and Kimco Realty, where he has 53 and 34 years of tenureImagine being a 58 year old CEO and chair of your board and showing up to have to listen to John Harrington and Meyer LuskinOutlandishly outsized influencersOf 24,000 US directors, 591 have more than 50% influence on their boards. Those boards average 7 other people - is there a point to those 7? Connected directors hating on unconnected directorsThere are 575 directors on boards who are connected to 50% or more of the board… A fun example - at Target, 92% of the directors are connected through other boards or trade associations - that's 11 out of 12 directors. Do you think the board just hates Dave Abney for having no obvious connections to them?Shrill womenThere are 7,450 female directorships on US public boards596 have advanced degrees from elite schools80 of them are non executives at widely held corporations with no ties to the company or family with zero known connections to the existing board membersDon't the other directors just wish they weren't there being smart asses?Meta Buys 650 MW of Renewable Energy to Power U.S. Data CentersAES, the woke Virginia based energy company with 5 women and 6 men on the board where 63% of the board has advanced degrees and four of the board members aren't even AmericanArkansas, the woke state that allowed solar energy to get built thereMeta AI, because AI can't even discriminate against renewable energy because it's so wokeMark Zuckerberg, the dual class dropout dictatorMark Zuckerberg, the government ass kisser, MAGA convert, and attendee at the oil state Qatari meetup with Trump who set up this purchase, like, BEFORE the world hated woke, so it's not his fault because he's REALLY super into oil and stuff

This week on The Audit Podcast, we're joined by Shagen Ganason, Group Chief Auditor, and Chief Audit Executive at Liva Group.   In this episode, Shagen shares the inspiration behind his new book, The Storyteller's Ledger, and why he believes storytelling is one of the most powerful tools internal auditors can develop. From rethinking traditional audit reports to presenting to the board, Shagen offers a practical framework for transforming audit communication—complete with templates, examples, and coaching strategies he's used with his own teams.   Be sure to connect with Shagen on LinkedIn.   Also, be sure to follow us on our new social media accounts on LinkedIn, Instagram, and TikTok.   Also be sure to sign up for The Audit Podcast newsletter and to check the full video interview on The Audit Podcast YouTube channel.   Timecodes:   4:30 – Keeping the Audit Committee Engaged 6:28 – Why Audit's Influence Matters 10:16 – Traditional vs. Story-Driven Audit Findings 13:48 – Turning Audit Reports Into Compelling Stories 16:55 – Highlighting Cause and Effect Clearly 20:16 – Storytelling to the Audit Committee 26:06 – Delivering a Clear and Confident Message 30:15 – Helping Your Team Master Storytelling 34:50 – Final Thoughts   *   This podcast is brought to you by Greenskies Analytics, the services firm that helps auditors leap-frog up the analytics maturity model. Their approach for launching audit analytics programs with a series of proven quick-win analytics will guarantee the results worthy of the analytics hype.  Whether your audit team needs a data strategy, methodology, governance, literacy, or anything else related to audit and analytics, schedule time with Greenskies Analytics.

DAMION1White House blasts Amazon over tariff cost report: ‘Hostile and political act'The White House on Tuesday slammed Amazon for reportedly planning to display the cost of President Donald Trump's tariffs next to the total price of products on its site.“This is hostile and political act by Amazon,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters. “Why didn't Amazon do this when the Biden administration hiked inflation to the highest level in 40 years?” Leavitt asked.The Trump administration's aggressive swipe came in response to a report that Amazon will soon show consumers how much of an item's cost comes from tariffs. The amount added as a result of tariffs will be displayed right next to each product's total listed price, a person familiar with the plan told the news outlet.WHO DO YOU BLAME?CEO Andrew Jassy.He's the “boss.”Maybe he feels emasculated?Lowest overall batting average (.308)only 6% influence compared to his boss, Jeff Bezos (67%)Not paid like traditional CEOs (relying instead on his $275M in unvested equity) and the $38M that vested last year; so when he's hanging out withHis buddies like Target CEO Brian Cornell ($20M) eBay CEO Jamie Iannone ($22M) have the total summary compensation bragging rights. Not to mention the sad, unmanly CEO Pay Ratio which is listed as 43:1 for Jassy and 753:1 for the DEI-hating Cornell Jeffrey Preston Bezos (67%)I mean he's the actual boss, right?Executive Chair, founder, former CEO, superstar.Hangs out with people like Katy Perry, has a newspaper, sends penis rockets to nowhere, has pretend funds named after himself like the Bezos Earth Fund and the Bezos Day One FundBoard member and former Pepsi CEO Indra NooyiOr maybe this is a DEI problem? Amazon's Audit Committee is tasked with stuff like operational risks, and legal and regulatory matters. Indra chairs this committeeIndra is also involved with very woke-y/DEI-y:stuff like science (Trustee of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center)Stuff like math (Member of the Dean's Advisory Council at MIT's School of Engineering)Stuff like art (Trustee of the National Gallery of Art)And stuff like giving a shit about people, stakeholder-y capitalism stuff (Director of Partnership for Public Service, whose mission is to inspire a new generation of civil servants and to transform the way government works)Former President Joe BidenAmazon later clarified that the plan to show tariff surcharges was “never approved” and is “not going to happen.” Trump personally called Bezos on Tuesday morning to express his displeasure about the initial report that spurred the heated response from the White House.Trump world's Laura Loomer takes aim at a 'woke' Lockheed Martin and its $2 trillion F-35 programLaura Loomer, the far-right activist who has a direct line to President Donald Trump, criticized Lockheed Martin's F-35 program over the weekend, decrying the US defense giant as "woke" and lashing out against the expensive stealth aircraft.In a lengthy post on X, Loomer suggested Lockheed Martin is delivering F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighters that "are simply not ready for combat.""The F-35 program, one of the most expensive weapons programs in history, is plagued by delays, defects, & downright incompetence," she wrote Saturday. She said the US Air Force is accepting jets that lack "functional" radar systems, without offering evidence.She also claimed that Lockheed is "increasingly obsessed with pushing a woke agenda." Like many other US defense contractors, Lockheed scrapped its diversity, equity, and inclusion programs in January after Trump returned to the White House.The $2 trillion F-35 program is an appealing target for activists and officials seeking to slash government spending, and it has a well-documented list of problems. The Pentagon's top weapons tester said earlier this year that the program had problems delivering functional software and had fallen behind schedule to test upgraded mission systems.WHO DO YOU BLAME?The 2025 Proxy Statement that mentions “diversity” five times!Of course all five of those instances were in the anti-woke/anti-DEI shareholder proposal introduced by the Bahnsen Family Trust.Not sure how this even made the proxy after Lockheed's anti-DEI move in January: “As we publicly stated following the issuance of President Trump's January 2025 Executive Order on DEI, we will not have goals or incentives based on demographic representation or Affirmative Action Plans. We are actively reviewing our workforce-related policies to ensure they are, and remain, compliant and aligned with the Executive Order and all related applicable legal precedent.”The three-headed white guy leadership group (53% influence)CEO/Chair James Taiclet (25%): $24M in payLead Independent Director and Nominating Committee chair Thomas J. Falk (13%)“Independent” since 2010David Burritt (15%)Longest-tenured director (2008-)Busy beaver: two committees (Audit and Pay); CEO of US. SteelSince this is a woke/DEI issue: the black guy:Nevermind, there are no black people on this boardA woman? It would have to be Debra Reed-Klages (17%)While she has no leadership roles she does sit on the board of Caterpillar, which also removed its DEI policies. What, what?Investors. They should have been holding Lockheed accountable, right?According to MSCI data, average support since 2015 is 95%; no director has even received less than 92% since 2017Say on Pay support is routinely over 90%Starbucks union rejects company's recent offer of at least 2% annual pay raiseStarbucks union delegates involved in contract bargaining voted to reject the coffee chain's latest proposal that guaranteed annual raises of at least 2%, Workers United said. Out of the 490 baristas representing the company's more than 550 unionized U.S. stores, 81% rejected the proposal, which did not offer any changes to economic benefits such as healthcare or any immediate pay hike.WHO DO YOU BLAME?The union, for being greedy.The company pays its baristas about $19 an hour on average currently. That's $39,520 before taxes. A 2% raise would result in an increase of $790.40!InvestorsAverage director support of 96% over past 2 yearsEven 86% support for new CEO Brian Niccol's $96M, including $5M in funny munny cashAnd a devilishly perverse CEO pay ratio of 6,666 to 1.Not to mention Use of Starbucks aircraft for travel between city of primary residence and Starbucks headquarters AND up to $250,000 in personal non-commuting travel per yearWhich brings us to the CEO, Brian Niccol, a guy so wonderful that they scrapped the independent chair nonsense and gave him both titles: CEO and ChairLead Independent Director and Nominating Committee chair Jørgen Vig KnudstorpAveraged over 10% votes against over the past 3 AGMs: which is essentially an investor revolutionHis favorite drink–the Caramel Macchiato–is 250 calories with 33g of sugar: the American Heart Association recommends that women consume no more than 25 grams per dayMATT1Novavax appoints Charles Newton to board of directorsChuck Newton has a background from BofA Merrill, Credit Suisse, Morgan Stanley, and Lehman as an investment banker, and is now CFO at a pharma company. He got his education in business administration and “arts”.Who do we blame for the appointment of Chucky?John Jacobs, CEO and highest influence on the board at 23%New board chair and nom committee chair Margaret McGlynn, who will inherit retiring director James Young's 16% influence to become the most influential person on the board?Too much science?Actual knowledge of pharmaceutical science - Young's retirement means there are only 2 actual scientists left on the board of the 9 members - 6 have finance backgrounds, and 1 is a lawyer.DEI - while Novavax's SEC disclosure says that the 9 person board has 1 male with 2 or more races and 2 women, they actually didn't feel white ENOUGH so they added Charles Newton to have a 100% white board (because black people don't even get malaria, COVID, or flu)They actually claim to have 10 board members when they really have 9Investors - who actually hate this board and can't possibly like it more now?Classified board, last year the new board chair (promotion!) got 52% votes for, the PhD got 58% for, and the guy from the family foundation got 53% for - and yes, exactly 35% of the shares are owned by State Street, Vanguard, BlackRock, and Shah CapitalSam Altman says OpenAI will fix ChatGPT's ‘annoying' new personality as users complain the bot is sucking up to them“ChatGPT's new personality is so positive it's verging on sycophantic—and it's putting people off.”Who do we blame for AI being a big fat suckup?Sam Altman, for being a big fat Trump suckupSam Altman, for having an insipid tech bro personality desperately seeking the fame and attention of the earthSam Altman, for firing his non-suckup board membersSam Altman, for putting himself on the board and surrounding himself with board suckups

This week on The Audit Podcast, we're joined by Rob Clark Jr., Chief Auditing and Compliance Officer at Howard University. In this episode, Rob breaks down the one skill that separates good auditors from great ones: communication. He pulls back the curtain on how he preps, practices, and performs, whether it's a team meeting, a presentation, or a high-stakes conversation. Be sure to connect with Rob on LinkedIn.   Also, be sure to follow us on our new social media accounts on LinkedIn, Instagram, and TikTok.   Also be sure to sign up for The Audit Podcast newsletter and to check the full video interview on The Audit Podcast YouTube channel.   Timecodes:   5:00 – Using ChatGPT to Learn About Cybersecurity 9:20 – Why Communication Skills Matter More Than Technical Know-How 15:30 – A Practical Approach to Building Confidence in Meetings 23:29 – How to Recover When a Presentation Doesn't Land 25:51 – Getting Started with Public Speaking 32:17 – How to Strengthen Your Presentation Skills 43:33 – Key Conversations Throughout the Audit Lifecycle 50:53 - Final Thoughts   *   This podcast is brought to you by Greenskies Analytics, the services firm that helps auditors leap-frog up the analytics maturity model. Their approach for launching audit analytics programs with a series of proven quick-win analytics will guarantee the results worthy of the analytics hype.  Whether your audit team needs a data strategy, methodology, governance, literacy, or anything else related to audit and analytics, schedule time with Greenskies Analytics.

This week, we interviewed Lori Chmura, the Chief Executive Officer and Board Director at Nyra Medical, an innovative medical device company developing a next-generation transcatheter mitral valve repair technology. Before joining Nyra Medical, she served as Chief Executive Officer, and Board Director at Soundbite Medical Solutions and Dune Medical Devices, where she led the restructuring of both businesses resulting in a cross-border licensing deal at one company, and an acquisition of the other. In addition, Lori brings leadership experience in several large multi-national medical device companies, including positions with Medtronic, Covidien and Johnson and Johnson, where she led the growth of the businesses in the United States and globally. Lori previously served as the Chairman of the Board of Directors at Bluestem Medical. She has also served on the Board of Directors, Audit Committee and Deal Team at OpSens Medical (TSX- OPS), which was acquired by Haemonetics (NYSE-HAE) in 2023, and on the Board of Standard Molecular. Ms. Chmura holds an MBA from Duke University and received her Bachelor of Science in nursing from Southern Connecticut State University.

This week on The Audit Podcast, we're joined by Eric Wilson, Director of Internal Audit & Chief Audit Executive of Gulfport Energy Corporation.   In this episode, we discuss how to build an effective audit committee dashboard. Eric explains how he created a Power BI dashboard that connects to his audit management system. This tool helps track progress, highlight issues, and answer important questions before they arise.   Eric shares the key benefits of using this dashboard to improve decision-making and efficiency in audit committees.   Be sure to connect with Eric on LinkedIn.   Also, be sure to follow us on our new social media accounts on LinkedIn, Instagram, and TikTok.   Also be sure to sign up for The Audit Podcast newsletter and to check the full video interview on The Audit Podcast YouTube channel.   Timecodes:   4:42 - Innovative Applications of ChatGPT 7:56 - Integrating Analytics Throughout the Audit Lifecycle 10:00 - AI and Analytics Plans for 2025 15:27 - New Technology in 2025 26:21 - How Audit Can Have More Influence 37:06 - Audit Committee Dashboards in Action 49:26 - Final Thoughts   *   This podcast is brought to you by Greenskies Analytics, the services firm that helps auditors leap-frog up the analytics maturity model. Their approach for launching audit analytics programs with a series of proven quick-win analytics will guarantee the results worthy of the analytics hype.  Whether your audit team needs a data strategy, methodology, governance, literacy, or anything else related to audit and analytics, schedule time with Greenskies Analytics.  

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Live from a pile of dark chocolate-dipped kittens, it's an all-new Terrific Tuesday edition of Business Pants. Joined by Analyst-Hole Matt Moscardi! On today's calorie free Double Big Mac called February 4th 2025: the Who Do You Blame? Game!Our show today is being sponsored by Free Float Analytics, the only platform measuring board power, connections, and performance for FREE.DAMION1Who Do You Blame? GameWells Fargo CEO Charlie Scharf Gets Pay Bump To $31.2 Million CEO Charlie Scharf: for being greedy. His pay ratio was already an alarming 325:1 last year.Shareholders: Say on Pay 57% approval in 2021; 73% approval in 2022. Despite policy tweaks which resulted in 92% support in 2023 and 93% in 2024: the song remains the same: the CEO's pay steadily and magically increases annually: $21M, $25M, $26M, and now $31MPay Committee chair Ronald Sargent: why on earth would you ask the former CEO of Staples to control setting the pay of a fellow S&P 500 CEO brother? It's an immediate conflict of interest.Female board power: at -19% this is a board that chooses to underpower female leadership. 5 women control an aggregate 20% influence while the top 5 men control 68%Citi bucks back-to-office trend and embraces hybrid workingThe board: 8 of 14 directors are womenThe CEO: In 2021, Jane Fraser became Citi's CEO and the first woman to lead a major U.S. bank Shareholders: 26% in 2024 supported a SHP requesting a report on the effectiveness of Citi's policies and practices in respecting Indigenous Peoples' rights in Citi's existing and proposed financingChief Human Resources Officer Sara Wechter: Sara serves on the board of Onex Corporation (relatively rare for CHROs and is not afraid in her Citigroup bio to state that “she has championed diversity, equity and inclusion efforts across Citi, leading the firm in exceeding its original 3-year aspirational representation goals set in 2018 for women globally and black talent in the U.S.”McDonald's Shamrock Shake returns — and so does Grimace's uncleThe CEO: Chris Kempczinski's CEO pay ratio of 1,212:1 proves he doesn't care what anybody thinks.The Chair: oh wait, that's also Chris KempczinskiThe Lead independent Director: Miles White, clearly not independent having served on the board since 2009The Sustainability & Corporate Responsibility Committee Chair: The Committee that monitors strategies covering food, sourcing, the environment, human rights, community engagement, philanthropy, and DEI is Paul Walsh. A man who sold alcohol (former CEO at Diageo) and is currently the Executive Chair at a company that sells expensive racing cars (McLaren Group).OpenAI files a trademark application for humanoid robots and VR headsets as Sam Altman teases big hardware ambitionsThe CEO: Sam Altman the guy who refused to be fired for his board while subverting the company's mandate and mission.The Chair: Bret Taylor, the guy who comes from Twitter/Facebook/Google and is clearly disinterested in what humanity actually needs.The board: for allowing a CEO who was previously fired partly for lying to the board to sit on the board as a director.The two women who nearly fired Sam Altman: former OpenAI directors Helen Toner and Tasha McCauleyTarget hit with national boycott call over decision to drop DEI initiativesThe CEO: Brian Cornell's CEO pay ratio of 719:1 proves he doesn't care about anybody but himself.The double DEI-hating director: Dmitri Stockton also on the board of Deere The lead independent director: woman of color Monica Lozano, former CEO of The College Futures Foundation, whose “commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion is paramount to its vision for advancing a racially, socially, and economically just California where generations of learners can thrive.”The chair of the committee responsible for Human capital management, specifically “DE&I in support of our business”: Compensation & Human Capital Management Committee chair Monica LozanoCoca-Cola and Novartis's CEOs don't care if ‘ESG' has become a toxic phrase among someNovartis CEO Vasant (Vas) Narasimhan: whose ego is so strong and secure he doesn't even need to serve on the board responsible for his oversight.Coca-Cola CEO James Quincey: for having the strength to say it:“If ESG becomes toxic as a phrase, which it basically has in the U.S., it doesn't matter to me. I'm just going to stop saying ‘ESG.' But the idea that for my basic product, I want to be water positive, I want to have a circular economy on my packaging, and I want to grow our business with less sugar—you can call it anything you like, but no one with common sense says those are bad ideas.“My business strategy is constant and clear and centered around the business and the things that consumers care about and that fix societal problems. If people want to attach labels to it, that's their issue. I'm saying this business will be great if I fix these problems, and it will be good for shareholders and be good for society.”Coca-Cola's Lead Independent Director and Corporate Governance and Sustainability Committee chair Maria Elena Lagomasino: maybe some of the woke messaging of Disney movies altered her conscience?Female board power at Coke: 49% influenceMATT1Ryder's $2.5M Settlement Brings 4-Year Governance Overhaul: What's Changing for Shareholders - suit alleged Ryder's management team and board artificially inflated the values of certain Ryder assets and made materially misleading statements regarding those values - suit alleged breach of fiduciary duties, unjust enrichment, and waste of corporate assets. Board has to create a Corporate Risk Steering Committee, company must hire a Chief Compliance Officer, a Management-level “Disclosure Committee”, at least two Audit Committee members must be financial experts, they have to hire a third party to do market research, they have to have a “pricing” team to examine market prices, they have a clawback, and they have a non-retaliation policy.CEO Robert Sanchez - CEO since 2013, the Man in the ChairThe Audit Committee - a FIVE person audit committee, all of whom they disclosed in 2020 were “financial experts”, all but one of whom was a CEO at another company that made them a “financial expert” (the fifth was an accounting professor), one of whom was the lead independent director who had been there since 2002Dmitri Stockton! The director who now has the wonderful distinction of having sat on the Deere board the flipped on DEI, the Target board that flipped on DEI, Stanley Black and Decker who was sued for not disclosing executive perks, and the Ryder board who was sued for sucking at being a board - all while he was there!DEI! Dmitri Stockton is BLACK and Robert Sanchez SOUNDS MEXICAN!US Steel Flags Trump DEI Order as Risk Factor for InvestorsRacist old white guys and tech bros! The order was written, ostensibly, by Stephen Miller, Trump, and Musk, the three horseman of the brownpocolypse, and US Steel is now including Trump's DEI order as a material risk to the companyThe lawyers! The company said in its annual report last year that it aims “to have an engaged and diverse workforce to promote new ideas and innovation, reflect the communities where we operate, and deliver exceptional customer service.” This year, that same sentence omitted a reference to having a “diverse” workforce. That sounds like Duane D. Holloway, chief ethics and compliance officer and general counsel, right?DEI! Duane Holloway… is BLACK! Mr. Holloway serves on the board of directors of the Minority Corporate Counsel Association (MCCA), the Carnegie Hero Fund Commission, the Allegheny County Parks Foundation and Gilman School. He also serves as Executive Sponsor of U. S. Steel's SteelPARENTS Employee Resource Group. That all sounds exceedingly woke and DEIish.The board! US Steel managed to find 8 white males for their 12 person board, 3 white woman, and 1 black woman… so people of color have a whopping 6% influence on the board. It DOES feel risky to talk about them though, right?Walgreens stock plunges. Its dividend payout changes are to blameRoz Brewer! She was a DEI hire after all, right? Can't we pin this on her tenure as fake CEO?Steffano Pessina! The man with 61% of board influence, the man who fired Roz Brewer, the man who we'll find out today won re-election despite cratering the company as executive chair!DEI! Did you see this line in the announcement about the dividend cessation? “In fiscal 2024, WBA scored 100% on the Disability Equality Index for disability inclusion”. SO WOKE.

Jorge Titinger is a seasoned executive and board member with over 35 years of experience in the high-tech industry, focusing on strategy, corporate transformations, and leadership development. As the founder and CEO of Titinger Consulting, Jorge provides strategic advisory services, guiding companies through complex M&A processes, digital transformations, and cultural alignment initiatives. His expertise is sought after by organizations ranging from multi-billion-dollar corporations to innovative startups. Jorge has an impressive track record of board service across public, private, and non-profit sectors. He currently serves as the Chairman of the Board at Axcelis (NASDAQ: ACLS), where he also chairs the Compensation Committee and was a member of the Audit Committee. In addition, he is an independent board member at FormFactor (NASDAQ: FORM) and Ichor Systems (NASDAQ: ICHR), leading key committees including Nominating & Governance, Compensation, and Cyber Security & AI. He has been recognized for his Board service as one of the NACD 100 in 2023 and 2024. His past board experience includes roles at CalAmp, COHU, HTGC, Xcerra, SGI, Verigy, Electroglas, and Thermawave, where he has played pivotal roles in governance, strategic planning, and corporate oversight. Jorge's contributions to board governance are well-recognized, particularly his leadership in Compensation/Human Capital, Nominating and Governance, and Cyber Security committees. Jorge's board involvement extends beyond the corporate realm into the non-profit sector, where he has served on the boards of the Hispanic Foundation of Silicon Valley, the Stanford Children's Hospital, Innovate Public Schools, Nashville Entrepreneur Center, and Valor Academy. His commitment to community service is further reflected in his role as Chairman of the Board at the Hispanic Foundation of Silicon Valley, where he led initiatives to improve the lives of the Hispanic community in Silicon Valley. Jorge's executive leadership experience includes his tenure as President, CEO, and Director of Silicon Graphics (SGI) and Verigy Inc., where he successfully led turnarounds that culminated in high-value acquisitions. His strategic leadership has been instrumental in driving operational excellence, fostering innovation, and building high-performing teams. An award-winning author, Jorge co-wrote "Differences that Make a Difference" with Pedro Espinoza, capturing insights from over 100 top executives on the positive impact of diversity and inclusion on business success. His expertise in DEI, innovation, and corporate strategy makes him a sought-after speaker and thought leader in these areas. Jorge holds a B.S. and M.S. in Electrical Engineering and an M.S. in Engineering Management and Business, all from Stanford University. A former accomplished athlete, Jorge captained both the Stanford Varsity soccer team and the USA national indoor soccer team. He remains passionate about education, leadership, and contributing to the success of businesses and communities.

Did you enjoy this episode? Text us your thoughts and be sure to include the episode name.In each episode of our Year-end toolkit series, our guests share insights on key areas of the year-end accounting and reporting process. The conversations are relevant for all finance teams, even if it's not year-end close time. And it's relevant even for those not engaged in the company's closing process – the episodes have something for everyone. In this episode, we talk about the audit committee from the perspective of management. We discuss strategies for finance teams as they prepare for audit committee meetings to elevate their effectiveness, along with the top issues audit committees are focused on for 2025.  In this episode, we discuss:  2:31 – Strategies for improving management communication and collaboration with audit committees5:00 – Key issues finance teams should prepare to address with audit committees in 2025, including:5:23 – Impacts of the presidential administration change8:03 – Best practices for managing the board agenda12:50 – The role of technology transformation and AI in business17:09 – Navigating mergers and acquisitions effectively   22:40 – Strengthening risk oversight and enhancing disclosures26:22 – Insights into core areas of audit committee oversight, including financial reporting and controls36:33 – Trends and best practices in public company audit committee disclosures Additionally, follow this podcast on your favorite podcast app for more episodes.About our guest:Stephen Parker is a partner in PwC's Governance Insights Center, which strives to strengthen the connection between directors, executive teams, and investors by helping them navigate the evolving governance landscape. With more than 30 years of experience, Stephen has advised boards of directors on a variety of complex financial reporting matters. Stephen's client service experience includes energy and utility companies, financial services companies, and nonprofits. About our host:Guest host Kyle Moffatt is PwC's Professional Practice leader, leading a team responsible for working with standard setters and regulators as well as delivering brand-defining thought leadership and educational materials. He also consults with engagement teams and audit clients on SEC reporting matters. Before PwC, Kyle spent almost 20 years with the SEC, most recently as Chief Accountant and Disclosure Program Director in the Division of Corporation Finance.  Transcripts available upon request for individuals who may need a disability-related accommodation. Please send requests to us_podcast@pwc.com. 

Today, I am delighted to welcome Sophia Ruffolo, General Counsel and Head of Compliance for the Zell Family Office, a division of Chai Trust Company, LLC. With over 20 years of experience in Estate and Tax Planning, Investment Management and Fiduciary Oversight, Sophia is a seasoned leader in law, fiduciary risk management, compliance, and governance. Sophia is a member of the Board of Directors and Audit Committee of Metropolitan Family Services and co-founder of femmebought, a social enterprise dedicated to supporting women-owned businesses and promoting gender equity in the global marketplace. Sophia and the Chai Trust Company are long-time valued members of FOX and are very generous and insightful contributors to the FOX community. In the family wealth and family office space, most of the advisors and family office professionals serving multigenerational families are acting in a fiduciary role on behalf of their clients. Sophia talks about what it means to be a fiduciary and how this concept and its practice have evolved over the recent decades and years, as families and the world around them have evolved. One challenge fiduciaries and their clients face is an ever-changing external environment and an ever-evolving and more complex families and family enterprises. Sophia shares her thoughts on how fiduciaries can keep things evergreen in the face of all this change and disruption – how they should think about the design of their role and how they perform their duties day to day in service of the family. Sophia offers some practical suggestions and tips for advisors, and especially those in a fiduciary role, to ensure they are fulfilling that role in the best possible way for the families they serve. She then tuns her focus on the clients themselves and provides useful advice for family principals on how they can best engage with their fiduciary advisors to ensure the family goals are achieved and the family and its members are happy and flourishing in the long run. Don't miss this deeply insightful conversation with a uniquely experienced expert and family office professional serving one of the most prominent and sophisticated enterprise families in the US.

Mindy has lived in Gladstone for over 30 years (and grew up in North Portland), prior to moving to Gladstone along with husband Steve they spent 12 years moving across states with the US Navy. They have 2 children and 5 grandsons. Mindy has spent her career dedicated to service. Working with and for the public has enabled Mindy to form relationships with professionals from other cities in and around the area. She has been at her current job for over 30 years. Mindy has worked alongside Gladstone residents to champion parks and green-spaces and she has served on the Parks Board and the Budget and Audit Committee. Prior to her elected position in 2020, she served for a year with the By-Laws committee and now champions other cities to ‘get those bylaws updated'! She believes the most valuable asset Gladstone has is the People and the Parks. ‘If we care for them everything else that is good will follow'.  Currently a liaison to the Clackamas County Library Board, stating she has gained a deep respect for the libraries and their patrons. Partnering with Clackamas County, Gladstone has just opened a brand-new Library building right on main street. This new building along with a new Public Works building and City Hall/Police Station has solidified Gladstone's commitment to work on their downtown core focusing on revitalization. Mindy has served in many other liaison appointments, as this will be her second 4-year term with the City. Changing liaison appointments each year has given her insights to the wants and needs of the residents in Gladstone. She served as Vice-Chair of the Women's Caucus in 2024 and will serve as President for the 2025 year. She has been with the Women's Caucus almost since its beginning during COVID. She says; the LOC has opened many avenues for learning and growth, friendships and mentors and so much more! Serving with and learning from people all across Oregon plus the LOC staff has been the most unexpected and needed addition to her elected position. When not at work or at a city meeting you can find her on any Golf Course, in the Parks with other community members, in her yard trying to bring in the butterflies and bees, at Church, volunteering at Gladstones transitional housing facility, Tukwila Springs and helping efforts with the non-profit group The Friends of Gladstone Nature Park. She believes; family time is a gift, quiet time is a blessing and faith is a must. She is a volunteer at heart and truly appreciates a good conversation. Thank you to our podcast sponsor, Allied Video Productions!

In one of our final Travillian Next episodes of 2024, join our Head of Bank Strategy, Michael Perito, for this can't-miss conversation with one of the original architects of Banking-as-a-Service, the “Godfather” Brad Hanson. Brad's career in banking and payments is vast, beginning at BankFirst, which later became The Bancorp, Inc. (TBBK), where he started a mortgage division and later a payment card division that became one of the largest in the country. He also was a key architect of building out a similar BaaS platform at Meta Financial Group, now Pathward Financial (CASH), where he lastly served as President and Chief Executive Officer. Brad more recently has started a bank venture in Mexico and serves on various Boards, including as Chair of the Audit Committee at MoneyLion (ML). In this episode, we start at the beginning, discussing why the BaaS business was built out initially and what value proposition it was looking to solve. We also cover the current state of the regulatory regime for innovative banks, what the future of banking could look like, and how the BaaS niche has changed in the last twenty-plus years. Brad has a unique and independent perspective of the current environment, and bankers across the country looking for motivation to innovate take Brad's advice and “run where others aren't.”

Kathleen K Mairella PT DPT MA FAPTAEducation:Degree: Doctor of Physical TherapyInstitution: MGH Institute of Health Professions, Boston, MA Major; Physical TherapyDate: May 2006Degree: Master of ArtsInstitution Teachers College, Columbia University, New York, NY Major: Movement Science and EducationDate: May 1992Degree: Bachelor of ScienceInstitution: Boston University, Boston MA Major: Physical TherapyDate awarded: May 1978Employment and Positions Held:Professor Emerita, Rutgers University, 2022-presentDirector of Clinical Education and Assistant Professor, Rutgers University, School of Health Professions, Doctor of Physical Therapy Program, Newark NJ, 2016-2022Assistant Professor, Rutgers University, School of Health Professions, Doctor of Physical Therapy Program, Newark NJ, 2014-2016Assistant Director of Clinical Education and Assistant Professor, Rutgers University (University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey prior to July 1,2013), School of Health Related Professions, Doctor of Physical Therapy Program, Newark NJ , 2006-2014Physical Therapist, Brookdale Physical Therapy, Nutley, New Jersey, 2007-2008Instructor, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey/School of Health Related Professions, Doctor of Physical Therapy Program, Newark, New Jersey, 2004-2006Adjunct Instructor, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey/School of Health Related Health Professions, Doctor of Physical Therapy Program, Newark, New Jersey, 2002-2004Practice Development Facilitator, Atlantic Health System/Morristown Memorial Hospital, Morristown NJ, 2001-2002Academic Coordinator of Clinical Education, Fairleigh Dickinson University Physical Therapist Assistant Program, Morristown NJ, 1999-2001Adjunct Instructor. Fairleigh Dickinson University Physical Therapist Assistant Program, Morristown NJ, 1999Adjunct Instructor, Union County College Physical Therapist Assistant Program, Plainfield NJ, 1997-2000Physical Therapist, ARC Essex School, Livingston, NJ 1999Rehabilitation Supervisor, JerseyCare HomeHealth and Hospice, Belleville, NJ, 1995-1998 Physical Therapist, Independent Practice, Home Care, Nutley NJ, 1991-1995Adjunct Instructor, Teachers College, Columbia University, New York, NY, 1991-1992Staff Physical Therapist, The Valley Hospital, Ridgewood, NJ, 1985-1986Staff Physical Therapist, Welkind Rehabilitation Hospital, Chester, NJ, 1983-1984Senior Physical Therapist, Neuroscience Team, Washington Hospital Center, Washington DC, 1982-1983Staff Physical Therapist, Washington Hospital Center, Washington DC, 1981-1982Staff Physical Therapist, Georgetown University Hospital, Washington DC, 1980-1981 Staff Physical Therapist, New Jersey Rehabilitation Hospital, East Orange, NJ, 1978-1980Membership in Scientific/Professional Organizations:American Physical Therapy Association: 1976-presentChair, House of Delegates Reference Committee, 2025Member, House of Delegates Reference Committee 2023-2024 Chair, House Special Committee on Bylaws, 2019-2021 Bylaws Review Task Force, 2018-2019Director, Board of Directors, 2009-2017Board work assignments:APTA Committees and Task Forces:Best Practices in Clinical Education Task Force, chair 2016-2017Leadership Development Committee, chair 2013-2017Executive Committee, elected 5th member 2015-2016Recruitment and Retention of Early-Career Members Task Force, member 2014- 2016Public Policy and Advocacy Committee, member, 2012-2015 Finance and Audit Committee, member 2011-2013Member Engagement and Leadership Development Task Force, chair 2011- 2013Physical Therapy Classification and Payment Task Force/ Alternative Payment Task Force, chair 2013-2014, member 2012-2013CSM Review Work Group, member 2011-12Task Force on Governance Review, member 2009-2011Committee on Referral for Profit, liaison, 2009-2011Physical Therapist Centralized Application Service Advisory Group, liaison 2009- 2011Board Workgroups:Strategic Planning Board Work Group, chair 2013-2017Criteria for House Motions from the Board of Directors, member 2014-2015, Governance Proposal Board Work Group, member 2011-2013Board Work and Information Management Board Work Group, member 2011- 2012Board Workgroup on Board Performance Evaluation, member 2009-2010 Components:Student Assembly, 2011-2014Chapters:Maryland (2016-2017, 2010-2011), Nebraska (2015-2017), Nevada (2016-2017), Idaho (2011-2016). Texas (2014-2016), New York (2013-2015), Michigan (2010- 2014), Wisconsin (2011-2014), New Mexico (2009-2013), North Dakota (2009- 2011), Utah (2009-2010)Sections:Education (2014-2017), Women's Health (2015-2017), Geriatrics (2015-2016), Pediatrics (2009-2012)Councils:Chapter President Council, liaison 2011-2014APTA Mentorship Program, 2005-2010 (program discontinued) Committee to Approve the House of Delegates Minutes, 2007CEO Search Committee, 2007Committee on Chapters and Sections. 2004-2007, Chair 2006 Education Strategic Planning Group, 2004American Physical Therapy Association of Massachusetts 2022-present Chair, Bylaws Review Task Force 2023-2024Assembly Representative, 2024American Physical Therapy Association of New Jersey: 1978-80, 1983-2022 Delegate to APTA House of Delegates, 1998 -2004, 2008-2009, 2018-2022 Chief Delegate, 2004-2008Federal Affairs Liaison, 2018-2019Alternate delegate, 2017-2018Legislative Committee, 1998-2018Legislative Advisory Panel, 2007-20182009 Annual Conference Committee, 2008-2009, chairMembership Chair, 2005-2007 Executive Committee, 1996-2005 President, 2001-2005 President-elect, 2000-2001 Vice-president 1998-2001 Secretary 1996-1998Direct Access Task Force, Chair, 1996-1999Home Health Special Interest Group Workgroup 1997APTA Private Practice Section, 2000-presentAPTA Private Practice Section, Graham Sessions Planning Committee, 2021-presentAPTA Academy of Leadership and Innovation (formerly Health Policy and Administration Section), 2003-presentAcademy of Physical Therapy Education, 1999-2002, 2004-presentAmerican Academy of Geriatric Physical Therapy, 1994-2002, 2010-present APTA Orthopedics Section, 2007-2018APTA Section on Women's Health, 2002-2004, 2009-2011, 2016-2018APTA Section on Research, 2012-2015APTA Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Section, 2010-2012APTA Neurology Section, 1980s, 1993-1998, 2000-2003APTA Health Policy Section, 2002-2003APTA Section on Administration, 1998-1999APTA Home Health Section, 1993-1999New York New Jersey Clinical Education Consortium, 2006-2014, 2016-present Home Health Assembly of New Jersey, 1996-1998National Head Injury Foundation Workgroup, Washington DC, 1981-1983American Physical Therapy Association, District of Columbia Chapter Continuing Education Chairperson, 1982Service to the University/College/School on Committees/Councils/Commissions: SchoolRutgers University SHP Committee on Faculty Development, September 2015-September 2018Rutgers University (formerly UMDNJ) SHRP Faculty Chair, September 2012-September 2014Rutgers University (formerly UMDNJ) SHRP Committee on Committees, 2012-2014Rutgers University (formerly UMDNJ) SHRP Committee on Admissions and Academic Standing, 2011-2014Rutgers University (formerly UMDNJ) SHRP Committee on Curriculum Review, 2007-2010 DepartmentRutgers University SHP Newark DPT Curriculum Committee, 2015-2022, Chair January 2022- July 2022Rutgers University SHP Newark DPT Orientation Committee Co-chair, 2016-2021Rutgers University SHP Newark DPT Awards and Scholarship Committee, 2017-2022 Rutgers University (formerly UMDNJ) SHP Newark DPT Admissions Committee 2002-2019Rutgers University (formerly UMDNJ) SHP Newark DPT Program Student Activities Committee, Faculty Liaison, 2006-2019Honors and Awards:Catherine Worthington Fellow of the American Physical Therapy Association, 2023Lucy Blair Service Award, American Physical Therapy Association, 2019Outstanding Service Award, American Physical Therapy Association of New Jersey, 2013 President's Award, American Physical Therapy Association of New Jersey, 2008, 2006, 1999Peer Reviewed Publications:Sack S, Radler DR, Mairella KK, Touger-Decker R, Khan H, Physical therapists' attitudes, knowledge, and practice approaches regarding people who are obese, Phys Ther; 89(8):804- 15, 2009

Sanjay shares how to run a successful franchise by following brand processes and adjusting to the shift towards digital, loyalty-driven operations. He also discusses the value of enterprise risk management, compliance, and consistency. Welcome to Elevating Brick and Mortar. A podcast about how operations and facilities drive brand performance.On today's episode, we talk with Sanjay Jain, the Chairman of the National DCP Board of Directors and independent franchise business owner. NDCP brings global expertise in strategic sourcing, distribution, restaurant solutions, business services, and supply chain to serve Dunkin', one of the world's leading restaurant brands.Guest Bio:Sanjay Jain serves as the Chairman of the National DCP Board of Directors. He brings 35 years of Accounting, Finance, and Information Technology experience with Fortune 500 companies to the supply chain management cooperative.Jain joined the NDCP Board in 2016, representing Series C. Prior to becoming Board Chairman, Jain served as the Treasurer, co-chaired the Sourcing Committee, and spearheaded the Internal Audit function at NDCP through his role on the Finance/Audit Committee. He currently owns a large network of Dunkin'/Baskin Robbins stores in Queens and Long Island, New York. As an elected District Advisory Co-Chair franchisee from Queens, he is actively involved with the Development Committee, Compliance, NY Sales Taxes and the Wage Group. In his capacity as a member of Dunkin's Brand Advisory Committee, he works with the Menu Management and Development Advisory Sub-Committees.Jain's work as a financial executive and certified public accountant in the retail, food and supply chain industry has included an emphasis on internal controls, financial reporting, tax, and risk management. As the Executive Vice President and Chief Internal Auditor of Abovenet Inc., Jain helped turn the Company from bankruptcy into a publicly traded company on the New York Stock Exchange by working closely with the Audit Committee and the Board of Directors. He developed their annual strategy, conducted risk analysis, and developed corporate plans for both domestic and foreign entities.He also has ten years of public accounting and consulting experience. In his role as Audit Director at Ernst & Young and BDO Seidman in the Metro New York area, Jain helped clients streamline both their operations and control processes, managing and leading groups of professional auditors worldwide that saved his clients millions of dollars. He has been actively involved as a Board member with the Institute of Internal Auditors and has presented at the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants forum.Jain has a Management Information Systems degree from the University of Hartford, a Master of Business Administration degree from Dallas Baptist University and a Master of Commerce degree from the University of Rajasthan in India. Timestamps:13:45 - About NDCP05:17 - Sanjay's venture into franchise ownership08:53 - Following brand guidelines10:24 - Handling consumer expectations20:31 - How do you ensure consistency? 28:35 - Dealing with scarce human capital33:49 - The consumer of the future39:35 - Advice for franchisees41:13 - Where to find SanjaySPONSOR:ServiceChannel brings you peace of mind through peak facilities performance.Rest easy knowing your locations are:Offering the best possible guest experienceLiving up to brand standardsOperating with minimal downtimeServiceChannel partners with more than 500 leading brands globally to provide visibility across operations, the flexibility to grow and adapt to consumer expectations, and accelerated performance from their asset fleet and service providers.Links:Connect with Sanjay on LinkedInConnect with Sid Shetty on LinkedinCheck out the ServiceChannel Website

Tammy Caputi Tammy began her first term on the Scottsdale City Council in January 2021 and is currently seeking a second term. She has lived and worked in Scottsdale for almost 25 years, and is the president and owner of Yale Electric West, Inc, a Scottsdale company.  Married for over 21 years with 3 daughters who all attend our local schools. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from Wellesley College in Wellesley, MA and a Master's in Business Administration from Simmons University in Boston, MA. Tammy is passionate about keeping Scottsdale the Gold Standard of the Valley, and is always running! Tammy Caputi website   Tom Durham Tom grew up in a small town in Iowa and attended Cornell College where he graduated Phi Beta Kappa and magna cum laude in 1977 with majors in Philosophy and History. Some of my earliest memories are of visiting my grandfather in Mesa where he had a pasture behind his house and rode horses. After graduating from Cornell, he attended NYU Law School in New York City, graduating in 1980. After graduating from NYU, Tom joined the Mayer Brown law firm in Chicago, an international law firm that specialized in tax controversy. He argued several appeals in the Circuit Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia, which is generally regarded as the second most important court in the United States.Tom's ability to analyze complex legal and factual situations and to "cut through" to the heart of the matter are essential to the City Council. During his time at Mayer Brown, I was recognized by Chambers USA as one of the top 25 tax controversy lawyers in the US. Tom retired from Mayer Brown in April 2015. Tom Durham 2024 website   MaryAnne McAllen Maryann McAllen is a 59 year resident of Scottsdale, she is a small business owner, a community leader and activist. Maryann met her husband Sam while being a summer recreation leader for the City of Scottsdale, they have four young adult children and a fun fact about Maryann she is an avid Antique Button Collector.MaryAnn McAllen website   Adam Kwasman Born and raised in Tucson, Arizona, Adam Kwasman developed a deep appreciation for community values and civic responsibility from an early age. His formative years instilled in him a commitment to service and a passion for making a positive impact on the lives of those around him. Adam earned his B.A. from Tulane University, his M.A. in economics from George Mason University, and his J.D. from Arizona State University's Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law. His academic journey not only equipped him with a strong foundation of knowledge but also fueled his desire to contribute meaningfully to society. He is a husband and father of 4 too. Adam Kwasman website   Lisa Borowsky Scottsdale native Lisa Borowsky is a lawyer, mother and community advocate. She previously served on the Scottsdale City Council from 2008 to 2012. She led the charge pushing for meaningful structural changes to the budget process, including a City Charter amendment, which moved the City Treasurer to the position of Charter Officer, reporting directly to the Council and the citizens. Lisa served on numerous boards & committees including Experience Scottsdale Board of Directors, the City's Audit Committee, the Water Subcommittee,  Scottsdale Westworld Subcommittee, Charros Foundation Board and many more. As mayor of Scottsdale, Lisa will leverage her experience as an attorney, councilwoman, and volunteer to protect Scottsdale's future, bring transparency to city government, and improve the lives of Scottsdale residents. https://lisaformayor.com/   Dave Ortega Mayor Dave Ortega is running for re-election as Scottsdale Mayor. A resident of Scottsdale for over 40 years, he owns an architecture firm in Old Town. During his current term of Mayor, Dave Ortega  supports  public safety, protecting family-friendly neighborhoods, defending Scottsdale Water from dry-lot 'wildcat" houses in the county, reinvesting in our vibrant Western legacy in Old Town, and promoting citywide economic vitality. https://www.electdaveortegamayor.com/   SUBSCRIBE on your Favorite podcast listening app. Find us on IG & FB at Scottsdale Vibes Podcast or check us out on scottsdale vibes dot media. And don't forget that we are now the proud owners of Scottsdale City Lifestyle magazine where you can read about even more of your favorite community.  

Gretchen Jacobs Gretchen Jacobs, Founder & President of Arizona of Governmental Affairs, works with the Governor's Office, Legislature & state agencies on issues of policies, appropriations & government marketing at the State Capital. Prior to starting her practice of governmental affairs, Gretchen represented corporate clients in civil court as an attorney and remains an active member of the Arizona & California State Bar Associations. Since entering the political arena in 1998, she has earned the reputation as one of the hardest working and “most effective” in Arizona.  Jacobs For SUSD Drew Hassler Drew Hassler is a lifelong resident of the Arcadia area. He is a SUSD graduate and his kids are currently attending SUSD schools as well. He's a small business owner and believes in putting students first. Drew Hassler for SUSD Jeanne Beasley Jeanne Beasley and her husband raised their 3 kids in the Scottsdale School District. Jeanne was a volunteer during her kid's time in the district and still works with the District's Audit Committee and attends School Board meetings. Her skillset as a litigation paralegal can bring value to the SUSD board with her critical thinking skills, details to problem solving and her ability to work with others   Beasley For SUSD   Calendar of Events The Polo Party In its 13th year The Polo Party at WestWorld is sure to be a great day! Plenty of fun throughout the day so come out and enjoy with friends and family.   Desert Dog Police K9 TrialsHappening at WestWorld Oct 26-27. A fun opportunity to see these K9 dogs talents as they compete against fellow 4-legged officers. You can also get up close with some the squad cars and officers.   Black Lagoon Spooky Pop-Up Only a couple weeks left to check out this spooktacular pop up at the speakeasy Sunny's Lounge. Phoenix is one of a dz or so locations throughout the U.S. hosting this event.    SUBSCRIBE on your Favorite podcast listening app. Find us on IG & FB at Scottsdale Vibes Podcast or check us out on scottsdale vibes dot media. And don't forget that we are now the proud owners of Scottsdale City Lifestyle magazine where you can read about even more of your favorite community.   

One of the most powerful tools you can have as you navigate your career is a well-rounded network. The relationships you build with mentors and colleagues have a massive effect on your trajectory, and few know this better than Shannon Nash. Shannon is here today to offer us her insights on the power of relationships, the value of diverse perspectives in the boardroom, and the importance of following your passions, and to offer inspiration and practical wisdom for aspiring leaders across industries. This week's episode 138 of How Women Inspire Podcast is about mentorship, resilience, and the power of relationships! In this episode of How Women Inspire Podcast, Shannon Nash is sharing the importance of being present and fully committed to various aspects of life, including work, family, and personal interests, and actionable steps you can take right now to explore relationship-building in your career. Shannon Nash is a seasoned global leader, financial expert, attorney, and CPA. She serves as an independent director on the boards of NetScout Systems (Audit Committee), SoFi Bank (Risk and Chair, Compensation Committees), and Lazy Dog Restaurants (Chair, Audit Committee). Shannon brings CFO expertise from Wing (an Alphabet company), Reputation.com, and Inside Source. Recognized for her leadership, she has been honored by Accounting Today as one of the Top 100 Most Influential People in Accounting, Diversity Woman Magazine's Elite 100, and Silicon Valley's 100 Most Influential Women. Shannon holds a degree in accounting and a JD from the University of Virginia. She is also an award-winning documentary film producer and co-produced "OnBoard," the story of Black women on boards, which debuted at Tribeca.Some of the talking points Julie and Shannon go over in this episode include:The importance of finding something you're passionate about outside of work.Mentorship as a two-way street and the value of investing time in relationships.Diversity and inclusion in corporate leadership, especially in the boardroom.Investing in women-led businesses to create a better future for future generations.Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, take a screenshot of the episode to post in your stories and tag me!  And don't forget to follow, rate, and review the podcast and tell me your key takeaways!Learn more about How Women Inspire at https://www.howwomenlead.com/podcast CONNECT WITH SHANNON NASH:LinkedInX (formerly Twitter)OnBoard: The FilmCONNECT WITH JULIE CASTRO ABRAMS:LinkedIn - JulieHow Women LeadHow Women InvestHow Women GiveInstagram - HWLLinkedIn - HWLFacebook - HWL

As bot activity is impacting consumer trends, it is important for brands to be agile with technology. Welcome to today's episode where we're diving into the challenges and opportunities presented by the rise of bot activity in several key industries with Nanhi Singh, Chief Customer Officer at Thales. We'll explore the implications of the 2024 Imperva Bad Bot Report and discuss strategies for staying agile amidst these changes. Nanhi Singh is responsible for application security products and all functions that enhance customer experience and value for Imperva customers. This includes customer support, consulting, training, customer success, managed services, and renewal sales. Prior, she was SVP, Customer Retention and Renewals at Symantec. Nanhi's career spans more than decades in cybersecurity and technology, always leading customer-facing functions. Nanhi also serves on the Board of Directors of Franchise Group and serves as a member of the Audit Committee on that Board. She serves on the Board of Directors of Peninsula Open Space Trust (POST), a nonprofit public benefit corporation. She is passionate about | supporting women and minorities in the Technology industry and was previously a mentor in the Tech Women program. RESOURCES Thales website: https://www.thales Imperva 2024 Bad Bot Report: https://www.imperva.com/resources/resource-library/reports/2024-bad-bot-report/ Attend the Mid-Atlantic MarCom Summit, the region's largest marketing communications conference. Register with the code "Agile" and get 15% off. Register now for HumanX 2025. This AI-focused event which brings some of the most forward-thinking minds in technology together. Register now with the code "HX25p_tab" for $250 off the regular price. Connect with Greg on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregkihlstrom Don't miss a thing: get the latest episodes, sign up for our newsletter and more: https://www.theagilebrand.show Check out The Agile Brand Guide website with articles, insights, and Martechipedia, the wiki for marketing technology: https://www.agilebrandguide.com The Agile Brand podcast is brought to you by TEKsystems. Learn more here: https://www.teksystems.com/versionnextnow The Agile Brand is produced by Missing Link—a Latina-owned strategy-driven, creatively fueled production co-op. From ideation to creation, they craft human connections through intelligent, engaging and informative content. https://www.missinglink.company Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As bot activity is impacting consumer trends, it is important for brands to be agile with technology.Welcome to today's episode where we're diving into the challenges and opportunities presented by the rise of bot activity in several key industries with Nanhi Singh, Chief Customer Officer & GM Application Security, Imperva a Thales company. We'll explore the implications of the 2024 Imperva Bad Bot Report and discuss strategies for staying agile amidst these changes.Nanhi Singh is responsible for application security products and all functions that enhance customer experience and value for Imperva customers. This includes customer support, consulting, training, customer success, managed services, and renewal sales. Prior, she was SVP, Customer Retention and Renewals at Symantec. Nanhi's career spans more than decades in cybersecurity and technology, always leading customer-facing functions.Nanhi also serves on the Board of Directors of Franchise Group and serves as a member of the Audit Committee on that Board. She serves on the Board of Directors of Peninsula Open Space Trust (POST), a nonprofit public benefit corporation. She is passionate about | supporting women and minorities in the Technology industry and was previously a mentor in the Tech Women program.RESOURCESThales website: https://www.thalesImperva 2024 Bad Bot Report: https://www.imperva.com/resources/resource-library/reports/2024-bad-bot-report/Attend the Mid-Atlantic MarCom Summit, the region's largest marketing communications conference. Register with the code "Agile" and get 15% off.Register now for HumanX 2025. This AI-focused event which brings some of the most forward-thinking minds in technology together. Register now with the code "HX25p_tab" for $250 off the regular price.Connect with Greg on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregkihlstromDon't miss a thing: get the latest episodes, sign up for our newsletter and more: https://www.theagilebrand.showCheck out The Agile Brand Guide website with articles, insights, and Martechipedia, the wiki for marketing technology: https://www.agilebrandguide.comThe Agile Brand podcast is brought to you by TEKsystems. Learn more here: https://www.teksystems.com/versionnextnowThe Agile Brand is produced by Missing Link—a Latina-owned strategy-driven, creatively fueled production co-op. From ideation to creation, they craft human connections through intelligent, engaging and informative content. https://www.missinglink.company Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

AI-generated content has exploded into people's feeds, and with that comes greater concern over deep fakes and misinformation. As we scroll through election content this season, how can we ensure we know when something is real or fake? In this interview, IBM's Jesús Mantas addresses how his work proactively stops “fake news” and what we, as ordinary citizens, can do to spot and combat misinformation, especially AI-generated.Jesús Mantas is the Global Managing Partner in IBM Consulting responsible for Business Transformation Services, leading the $10B unit transforming and operating mission critical businesses with digital technology and AI. He also serves as an Independent Director and Chair of the Compensation and Management Development Committee in the Board of Biogen (NASDAQ:BIIB), a leading biotechnology company focused on neuroscience. He serves as a member of the Audit Committee as well. He is also a member of the World Economic Forum AI Global Council. Prior to joining IBM, Jesús was a Partner in the High Technology practice of PricewaterhouseCoopers Consulting, an adjunct professor at University of California Irvine Graduate School of Management, and an officer in the Air Force of Spain.Jesús Mantas is the Global Managing Partner in IBM Consulting responsible for Business Transformation Services, leading the $10B unit transforming and operating mission critical businesses with digital technology and AI. He also serves as an Independent Director and Chair of the Compensation and Management Development Committee in the Board of Biogen (NASDAQ:BIIB), a leading biotechnology company focused on neuroscience. He serves as a member of the Audit Committee as well. He is also a member of the World Economic Forum AI Global Council. Prior to joining IBM, Jesús was a Partner in the High Technology practice of PricewaterhouseCoopers Consulting, an adjunct professor at University of California Irvine Graduate School of Management, and an officer in the Air Force of Spain.

This week's episode, we're joined by Kim Ford, Vice President of Internal Audit at Ingersoll Rand. In this episode, Kim shares her approach to building a strong internal audit function, including a program that trains auditors before moving them into the finance department, enhancing both controls and financial insight. She also discusses the evolving expectations of the audit committee, offering insights from a recent meeting, and explores how data and automation can boost audit efficiency, providing practical takeaways for listeners.   Be sure to connect with Kim on LinkedIn.   Also, be sure to follow us on our new social media accounts on LinkedIn, Instagram, and TikTok.   Also be sure to sign up for The Audit Podcast newsletter and to check the full video interview on The Audit Podcast YouTube channel.   Timecodes: 6:56 - Building Internal Audit Functions 9:31 - People, Processes and Technology 10:35 - Kim's Training Method 15:04 - What the Audit Committee wants from a CAE 17:23 - Best Ways to Measure Success 23:19 - RPA Use Cases 25:12 - The Personal Side of DA 28:12- The BTS of the Audit Committee Quarterly Updates 32:18- Taking Analytics to the Next Level 33:29 - Final Thoughts   *   This podcast is brought to you by Greenskies Analytics, the services firm that helps auditors leap-frog up the analytics maturity model. Their approach for launching audit analytics programs with a series of proven quick-win analytics will guarantee the results worthy of the analytics hype.  Whether your audit team needs a data strategy, methodology, governance, literacy, or anything else related to audit and analytics, schedule time with Greenskies Analytics.

Jeannette is joined by Professor Anthony Khawaja, a top eye specialist at Moorfields, focusing on the topic of glaucoma. Professor Kawaja shares his journey to becoming a leading expert in the field of ophthalmology, highlighting the importance of early detection and treatment of glaucoma. He discusses the impact of genetics, lifestyle choices, and advancements in artificial intelligence on eye health KEY TAKEAWAYS Anthony's innovative approach to combining medicine and surgery in the field of ophthalmology, particularly in glaucoma, showcases his commitment to finding new solutions. Professor Khawaja's groundbreaking genetic research in glaucoma has led to significant advancements in understanding the disease and potential treatments. The emphasis on making a difference and impacting society through his work is a driving force for Professor Kawaja, motivating him to push boundaries and challenge the status quo. The importance of finding a balance between work and personal life, as well as the support of a partner like Claire, is crucial for managing the emotional toll of challenging cases and maintaining fulfilment in one's career. BEST MOMENTS "It's moved so quickly. I remember when I first started ophthalmology for some inherited, I did a clinic, you only get these clinics at Northfields where everybody has these rare genetic dystrophies" "In some cases you're dealing with death, you're dealing with potential blindness in your field."  "Glaucoma is what commonest causes of blindness. In the UK and in developed countries it's usually the second commonest cause after a condition called age-related macular degeneration."   This is the perfect time to get focused on what YOU want to really achieve in your business, career, and life. It's never too late to be BRAVE and BOLD and unlock your inner BRILLIANT. Visit our new website https://brave-bold-brilliant.com/ - there you'll find a library of FREE resources and downloadable guides and e-books to help you along your journey. If you'd like to jump on a free mentoring session just DM Jeannette at info@brave-bold-brilliant.com. VALUABLE RESOURCES Brave Bold Brilliant - https://brave-bold-brilliant.com/ Brave, Bold, Brilliant podcast series - https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/brave-bold-brilliant-podcast/id1524278970    ABOUT THE GUEST Professor Anthony Khawaja leads a data science and genomics research team at the UCL Institute of Ophthalmology and Moorfields Eye Hospital, aiming to improve the care of patients with glaucoma and other common eye diseases. He is an Honorary Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon practicing at Moorfields Eye Hospital, where he specialises in the medical and surgical care of patients with glaucoma and cataract. Anthony completed his medical training at the University of Cambridge and University College London, and his ophthalmic residency and glaucoma fellowship training at Moorfields Eye Hospital. His research training began with a Wellcome Trust funded PhD programme at the University of Cambridge, including a Masters in Epidemiology for which he won the Nick Day Prize. He was also awarded the Berkeley Fellowship which supported a period at Harvard Medical School. Anthony is currently a UK Research & Innovation Future Leaders Fellow and a Lister Institute Fellow. He holds several leadership positions including: Director of the European Society of Ophthalmology Leadership Development Programme, President of the European Eye Epidemiology Consortium, Chair of the European Glaucoma Society Screening Task Force, Chair of the Royal College of Ophthalmologists Informatics and Audit Committee, Chair of the UK Glaucoma Genetics Consortium, Chair of the UK Glaucoma Real-World Data Consortium. ABOUT THE HOST Jeannette Linfoot is a highly regarded senior executive, property investor, board advisor, and business mentor with over 30 years of global professional business experience across the travel, leisure, hospitality, and property sectors. Having bought, ran, and sold businesses all over the world, Jeannette now has a portfolio of her own businesses and also advises and mentors other business leaders to drive forward their strategies as well as their own personal development. Jeannette is a down-to-earth leader, a passionate champion for diversity & inclusion, and a huge advocate of nurturing talent so every person can unleash their full potential and live their dreams. CONTACT THE HOST Jeannette's linktree - https://linktr.ee/JLinfoot https://www.jeannettelinfootassociates.com/ YOUTUBE - https://www.youtube.com/@braveboldbrilliant LinkedIn - https://uk.linkedin.com/in/jeannettelinfoot Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/jeannette.linfoot/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/jeannette.linfoot/ Tiktok - https://www.tiktok.com/@jeannette.linfoot Podcast Description Jeannette Linfoot talks to incredible people about their experiences of being Brave, Bold & Brilliant, which have allowed them to unleash their full potential in business, their careers, and life in general. From the boardroom tables of ‘big' international businesses to the dining room tables of entrepreneurial start-ups, how to overcome challenges, embrace opportunities and take risks, whilst staying ‘true' to yourself is the order of the day.Travel, Bold, Brilliant, business, growth, scale, marketing, investment, investing, entrepreneurship, coach, consultant, mindset, six figures, seven figures, travel, industry, ROI, B2B, inspirational: https://linktr.ee/JLinfoot

This week's episode, we're joined by Yasemin Agatan, Vice President and Chief Audit Executive at Clarivate. In this episode, Yasemin shares her unique journey and insights as a top executive in one of the world's most data-driven companies. She also discusses how she successfully shifted her department's focus from predominantly SOX work to a balanced mix of SOX and operational audits. Yasemin offers valuable insights into prioritizing risks, developing internal audit strategies over the years, and effectively communicating these strategies to the audit committee.   Be sure to connect with Yasemin on LinkedIn.   Also, be sure to follow us on our new social media accounts on LinkedIn, Instagram, and TikTok.   Also be sure to sign up for The Audit Podcast newsletter and to check the full video interview on The Audit Podcast YouTube channel.   Phoenix CFOLC Chapter Website: Phoenix - CFO Leadership Council  CFOLF Membership info: Membership - CFO Leadership Council    Timecodes: 5:53 - Internet Browsing History 9:25 - Taking Analytics to the Next Level 18:50 - Best Methods for Decreasing SOX and Increasing Operational Work 24:48 - Tools and Implementation 28:02 - The Benefits of Obtaining Certifications 31:27 - How to Present Strategies to the Audit Committee 35:55 - Final Thoughts   *   This podcast is brought to you by Greenskies Analytics, the services firm that helps auditors leap-frog up the analytics maturity model. Their approach for launching audit analytics programs with a series of proven quick-win analytics will guarantee the results worthy of the analytics hype.  Whether your audit team needs a data strategy, methodology, governance, literacy, or anything else related to audit and analytics, schedule time with Greenskies Analytics.

Last week, I attended the Parents Fundraising conference hosted by Cornell University. Chris McGowan (Yale's former co-chair of the Parents Leadership Council) joined me for a live audience conversation about working with parent volunteers and donors. It is worth listening to the end where we will have a live Q and A! Chris McGowan is the General Partner of CJM Ventures (“CJMV”), a Chicago growth equity and private equity investment firm. McGowan's private equity career began 29 years ago with AEA Investors in New York City, after earning an undergraduate degree in theoretical mathematics from Columbia University's College of Arts and Sciences, and following two years of mergers and acquisitions training at Morgan Stanley. After completing an MBA at Harvard Business School, he joined Madison Dearborn Partners (“MDP”) in Chicago, where he co-headed their basic industries practice for the last five years of his 12-year career there.  At MDP, he oversaw more than $2 billion of equity investments focused on buyouts and growth equity globally in the industrial, consumer, and energy & power sectors.  He continues to serve on the Board of prior MDP portfolio company Boise Cascade (former Chairman of Audit Committee, NYSE: BCC) and formerly served on or advised the boards of Smurfit Kappa Group (LN: SKG), BWAY Holdings, FirstWind, US Power Generating, OPENLANE, The Illinois Venture Capital Association, and others. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/devdebrief/support

Do you think that asking for help is a leadership superpower? Join us as we sit down with Justine Hendricks, President and CEO of FCC, to answer this thought-provoking question and many others over the course of our discussion. We start by examining the importance of curiosity, particularly for CEOs who must navigate complex crises and uncharted territories. Justine shares her thoughts on maintaining an open mind and understanding different perspectives before jumping to solutions. Additionally, we discuss the critical role of communication and accessibility in leadership, emphasizing how these qualities help leaders adapt to today's dynamic environment. Justine takes us through the evolving workplace culture, emphasizing how humility and the willingness to ask for help have become essential strengths. Reflecting on significant events like George Floyd, she illustrates the profound impact of observation and reflection in addressing the root causes of crises. We delve into the emotional aspects of organizational transformation, highlighting how clear communication and linking changes to the company's mission can build trust and resilience among employees. Finally, we explore the critical roles of authenticity and active listening in leadership. Justine shares her thoughts on the importance of balancing being true to oneself with maintaining awareness of the surrounding environment. We stress the importance of setting boundaries, celebrating small wins, and prioritizing well-being to cultivate a supportive and sustainable leadership approach. This episode offers a rich tapestry of insights, personal anecdotes, and actionable advice for anyone looking to enhance their leadership journey. What You'll Learn: • The indispensable role of curiosity in CEO success • Embracing vulnerability and the strength in asking for help • Managing the emotional landscape of organizational transformation • Authenticity as a cornerstone of genuine human connection • The underestimated power of active listening • Prioritizing well-being for sustained leadership effectiveness Podcast Timestamps: (00:00) – What Are the Essential Leadership Qualities? (13:10) - The Power of Asking for Help (21:43) - Navigating Transformation and Challenge (34:20) - The Role of Authenticity in Strong Leadership (39:55) – The Importance of Active Listening in Leadership Excellence (46:23) - Prioritizing Well-Being in Leadership More of Justine: Justine Hendricks is the President and CEO of FCC, a Canadian federal crown corporation which offers financing, insurance, software, and more to Canada's agriculture industry. With previous experience at RBC and Export Development Canada, Kristine has a wealth of knowledge to offer when it comes to building, leading, and empowering successful teams in business. She's a member of the University of Ottawa Board of Governors and currently sits on their Audit Committee. She earned an MBA from the University of Ottawa and a bachelor's degree from Carleton University. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/justine-hendricks-ab82664/ Key Topics Discussed: Leadership, Effective Leadership, Curiosity, Open-mindedness, Communication, Navigating Uncertainty, Crisis Management, Workplace Culture, Humility, Vulnerability, Asking for Help, Human Connection, Organizational Transformation, Authenticity, Active Listening, Well-being, Setting Boundaries, CEO Success More of Do Good to Lead Well: Website: https://craigdowden.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/craigdowden/ --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/craig-dowden/message

In this episode of The Silicon Valley Podcast, we delve into the dynamic world of investment banking with the esteemed Vincent Monteparte, a visionary leader with over 25 years of experience in managing strategic enterprise initiatives across various industries. Vincent Monteparte serves as a Board Director and Chair of the Audit Committee for Dalrada Financial Corporation (DFCO), a Healthcare, Technology, and Clean Energy Company. Additionally, he holds Board Director positions for Measurabl, a global sustainability SaaS Software company, and Slingshot Aerospace, a computer vision AI SaaS software company for the commercial/government satellite industry. He also serves on the boards of Pepperdine University Graziadio School of Business and the College of Business and Engineering for Embry Riddle Aeronautical University. With a background spanning mergers & acquisitions for the middle market, board leadership & governance, market expertise & positioning, and strategic business investment & planning, Vincent brings a wealth of knowledge to the table. Here are some key questions we explore with Vincent:   How early should a business owner start to talk to an investment banker for planning the sale of their business, and when should a company start to prepare for an exit? How important is it for a founder to plan for an exit? How does one think about the valuation of their company? What are some warning signs that an investment banker can see that may indicate a deal will not work? After the sale is complete, what do you want your client to say about you as an investment banker? How will investment banking change with the addition of new technology? We also touch on the evolution of investment banking over the years and explore the potential competition between Venture Capitalists and family offices for deals in the future. Join us for this enlightening discussion with Vincent Monteparte as we uncover the intricacies of investment banking and gain valuable insights into the world of finance and deal-making. Connect with Vincent Monteparte on LinkedIn

This week, our guest is Malcom, Former Senior Vice President and Managing Director for Internal Audit Digital Transformation and Data Analytics at Northern Trust. Dave recounts his mid-40s retirement journey and his subsequent decision to return with the desire to help internal auditors in his organization.   In this episode, he reveals his approach to establishing an internal audit department, discusses the expected duties of the audit committee, and underscores the credibility boost through the strategic use of data analytics to identify outliers.   Be sure to connect with Dave on LinkedIn.   Also, be sure to follow us on our new social media accounts on LinkedIn, Instagram, and TikTok.   Also be sure to sign up for The Audit Podcast newsletter and to check the full video interview on The Audit Podcast YouTube channel.   Timecodes: 5:28 - Coming Out of Retirement 9:10 - The Impact of Generative AI 10:28 - The Importance of Investing in Data Analytics 13:58 - Data Literacy 16:21 - How to Make your Audit Department Better 19:23 - What to Expect from the Audit Committee 27:27 - How to Achieve Quantitative Risk Assessments 31:00 - Final Thoughts   *   This podcast is brought to you by Greenskies Analytics, the services firm that helps auditors leap-frog up the analytics maturity model. Their approach for launching audit analytics programs with a series of proven quick-win analytics will guarantee the results worthy of the analytics hype.  Whether your audit team needs a data strategy, methodology, governance, literacy, or anything else related to audit and analytics, schedule time with Greenskies Analytics.

FRIDAY WRAP: Bans of TikTok and non-competes, ADM's audit committee, Oklahoma's anti-ESG rollback, and space junk

Stand Up is a daily podcast. I book,host,edit, post and promote new episodes with brilliant guests every day. Please subscribe now for as little as 5$ and gain access to a community of over 700 awesome, curious, kind, funny, brilliant, generous souls Check out StandUpwithPete.com to learn more Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi was elected to Congress in 2016 and is now in his fourth term representing Illinois' 8th District, which includes Chicago's west and northwest suburbs as well as the 41st ward of the city. He serves as Ranking Member of the Select Committee on the Strategic Competition Between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party, making him the first South Asian American in history to lead a Congressional Committee. He also serves on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence and the Committee on Oversight and Accountability as a member of the Subcommittee on Economic Growth, Energy Policy, and Regulatory Affairs. The Congressman is a Vice-Chair of the Equality Caucus and Co-Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) Immigration Task Force. In addition, he is the founder and Chairman of the bipartisan Congressional Caucus to End the Youth Vaping Epidemic and the bipartisan Solar Caucus. Representative Krishnamoorthi is the child of immigrants and was raised in Peoria, Illinois. He attended public schools in Peoria and was a valedictorian of his high school class. Scholarships and student loans allowed him to graduate summa cum laude from Princeton University with a degree in mechanical engineering and a certificate from the Princeton School of Public and International Affairs. He then graduated with honors from Harvard Law School and clerked for a federal judge before practicing law in Chicago. Representative Krishnamoorthi pursued public service while practicing law and was appointed by Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan as a Special Assistant Attorney General to help start the state's Public Integrity Unit created to root out corruption in Illinois. As a member of the Illinois Housing Development Authority, the Congressman chaired the Audit Committee, helping to provide thousands of low and moderate-income families across the state with affordable housing. Congressman Krishnamoorthi also served as Illinois Deputy Treasurer, where he oversaw the state's technology venture capital fund and helped make programs such as the state's unclaimed property program leaner and more efficient. After his time in the Illinois Treasurer's Office, Representative Krishnamoorthi returned to the private sector, serving as president of research-oriented small businesses developing technology in the national security and renewable energy industries. Representative Krishnamoorthi also served as the Vice-Chair of the Illinois Innovation Council and co-founded InSPIRE, a non-profit that provides inner-city students and veterans with training in solar technology. The Congressman resides with his wife Priya, a physician, and 3 children in Schaumburg, Illinois. The Stand Up Community Chat is always active with other Stand Up Subscribers on the Discord Platform. Join us Thursday's at 8EST for our Weekly Happy Hour Hangout! Pete on Tik Tok Pete on YouTube Pete on Twitter Pete On Instagram Pete Personal FB page Stand Up with Pete FB page All things Jon Carroll  Follow and Support Pete Coe Take Val Yoga Classes on YouTube