Audit Leader Forum™

Seriously. Haven't you heard enough of that already?

There's no shortage of conferences, webinars, consultants, and so-called best practices telling audit leaders what they should be doing.

But here's something I've learned after decades in Internal Audit and executive leadership:

Just because everyone is doing something doesn't mean it's the best way to do it.

Sometimes you need to question conventional wisdom, consider a completely different perspective, or simply talk through a difficult situation with people who understand what you're dealing with.

That's why I started Audit Leader Forum™ in 2018.

It's a confidential community of experienced audit leaders who aren't afraid to challenge assumptions, share real experiences, and help each other become better leaders.

No vendor pitches. No boring presentations. No pretending we have all the answers.

Just honest conversations, different perspectives, and occasionally a good laugh at some of the ridiculous things we do in our profession.

$297 per quarter. No application call required.
For internal audit leaders at the director level and above. Cancel before your next quarterly renewal.

Let's face it. Being an audit leader can be a lonely job.

You're expected to have the answers. Make difficult decisions. Navigate organizational politics. Keep the audit committee happy. Build relationships with executives. Lead your team. And somehow find time to actually get some audits done.

Oh, and don't forget to be independent, objective, strategic, agile, innovative, and whatever other buzzword happens to be popular this month.

Sound familiar?

Here's what I've learned from serving twice as a Chief Audit Executive and holding other executive leadership roles:

The toughest leadership challenges rarely have textbook answers.

And the people you work with aren't always the people you can talk to about them.

You can't discuss everything with your team. You can't always be completely candid with your boss. And your audit committee probably isn't the best place to admit you're struggling with a difficult decision.

So who do you talk to?

That's one of the reasons I created Audit Leader Forum™.

I wanted a place where experienced audit leaders could have the conversations they weren't having anywhere else.

A place to ask questions without worrying about looking stupid. Challenge conventional wisdom without someone immediately quoting a Standard. Share what's actually happening in their organizations rather than pretending everything is going perfectly.

And maybe discover they're not the only ones dealing with the same ridiculous situations.

Because sometimes the most valuable thing another audit leader can give you isn't an answer. It's a different way of looking at the problem.

There are plenty of places where you can learn about Internal Audit standards, hear about the latest best practices, and find out what everyone else is doing.

Nothing wrong with that.

But Audit Leader Forum™ is a little different.

We've Been Having These Conversations Since 2018.

Long before audit leadership communities became the latest thing, I started bringing audit leaders together to talk about the challenges they were actually facing.

Not just technical audit issues, but the messy, complicated, sometimes frustrating realities of leading people, influencing executives, navigating politics, and making difficult decisions.

Those conversations are just as important today as they were when we started.

We Don't Just Discuss Best Practices. We Question Them.

If you've been following my Rethinking Audit Leadership emails and videos, you already know I'm not afraid to challenge conventional wisdom.

Sometimes the way we've always done things makes sense.

Sometimes it doesn't.

And sometimes we keep doing things simply because somebody told us that's how Internal Audit is supposed to work.

I'd rather have a thoughtful conversation about what actually works than blindly follow what everyone else is doing.

That same philosophy is at the heart of Audit Leader Forum™.

I've Been in Your Chair. More Than Once.

I've served twice as a Chief Audit Executive, along with holding Chief Risk Officer, Chief Ethics & Compliance Officer, and Chief Information Security Officer roles.

I've dealt with difficult executives, organizational politics, challenging audit committees, staffing problems, competing priorities, and plenty of situations where the textbook answer wasn't particularly helpful.

I don't facilitate these conversations as someone who's only studied leadership.

I've lived it. And I've got a few stories to prove it.

That experience shapes the questions I ask, the perspectives I share, and the conversations we have.

Real Conversations. Not Another Sales Pitch.

This isn't a vendor-sponsored presentation disguised as professional development.

We're not getting together so someone can sell you software, introduce another framework, or walk through 75 PowerPoint slides.

We get together to talk.

Sometimes we agree. Sometimes we challenge each other's thinking. Sometimes somebody says something that makes everyone stop and reconsider what they thought they knew.

And sometimes we laugh, because if you've been in Internal Audit long enough, you've probably seen some pretty ridiculous things.

You can learn what everyone else is doing almost anywhere. Here, we also ask whether it makes any sense.

First, nobody is going to make you sit through another hour-long PowerPoint presentation.

You're welcome.

Twice each month, we get together for real conversations about the challenges and opportunities of leading Internal Audit.

Here's how it works.

We Start by Rethinking Something.

I usually kick things off with a short Rethinking Audit Leadership insight.

Maybe it's something I've experienced, a leadership challenge I've been thinking about, or a conventional practice I believe deserves to be questioned.

Sometimes I'll throw out an idea that goes against what you've been taught about Internal Audit.

Not because I enjoy stirring the pot. Well, maybe a little.

But because challenging our assumptions is often how we discover better ways of doing things.

Then the Conversation Belongs to You.

This isn't me talking at you for an hour.

Members bring their questions, challenges, experiences, and perspectives to the conversation.

Maybe you're dealing with a difficult executive. Struggling with an audit committee relationship. Trying to develop your team. Or wondering whether something you've been doing for years still makes sense.

Whatever is on your mind, there's a good chance someone else has dealt with something similar.

And because these are confidential conversations with other experienced audit leaders, you can talk about things you might not feel comfortable discussing elsewhere.

You don't have to impress anyone. You don't have to pretend you've got everything figured out.

You just have to show up and be willing to have an honest conversation.

You Take Away What You Need.

Sometimes you'll leave with a practical idea you can use immediately.

Sometimes you'll realize you're not the only person struggling with a particular challenge.

And sometimes someone will say something that completely changes how you look at a situation.

That's the value of getting different perspectives from people who've actually been there.

One good conversation can be worth more than a dozen webinars.

And Yes, We Know You're Busy.

We meet twice a month, but nobody expects you to attend every session.

You're leading an audit function. You've got a job to do.

Join the conversations when you can. Recordings are available when you can't attend live, subject to our confidentiality guidelines.

Sometimes one conversation or one new perspective is all it takes to make a difference.

Current meeting schedule: First Friday and third Thursday of each month at 9:00 AM Pacific Time.

Ready to Join the Conversation?

If this sounds like the kind of group you've been looking for, I'd love to have you join us.

I can tell you why I think Audit Leader Forum™ is valuable.

But I'm probably a little biased. After all, I created it.

Since 2018, I've had the privilege of bringing audit leaders together for conversations about the challenges, frustrations, and opportunities that come with leading Internal Audit.

Here's what some of them have said about their experiences.

Finally, a Place to Have Real Conversations

“Having other audit leaders to talk with about common problems has been a lifesaver. Roundtables are all good and fine, but they don't allow me to exchange ideas and solve problems in a confidential setting.”

Chief Audit Executive, Research Hospital

A Safe Place to Talk About the Tough Stuff

“I can’t go to anyone internally without it being seen as a weakness. This group gives me the trusted perspective and support I can’t get anywhere else. It's exactly what I've been looking for.”

Chief Audit Executive, Food Company

Sometimes You Need to Think Differently

“After years in audit, I was stuck in the same patterns of thinking. This group helped me see things differently and become a better leader because of it.”

Chief Audit Executive, Community Bank

Leadership Is About More Than Auditing

“The most vexing and challenging issues about being an audit leader are usually more about the ‘Executive’ part of the title and less about the ‘Technical’ part of the title. I love the practical advice shared in the group.”

Chief Audit Executive, Regional Bank and Insurance Company

Conversations That Matter, Not Pre-Set Agendas

“The frequency and flexibility are invaluable. We focus on real issues we’re facing—not pre-set agendas—so every session is immediately relevant.”

Chief Audit Executive, Financial Services

Relationships That Go Beyond the Meetings

“I have met and gotten to know some audit leaders in this program solely via recurring Zoom calls yet feel like I can contact any of them for a confidential chat. That has been priceless.”

Chief Audit Executive, Regional Bank

Sometimes One Conversation Is All It Takes

“The insight I got from this one group call was worth the entire investment!”

Chief Audit Executive, Insurance Company

What Would One Good Conversation Be Worth to You?

You don't have to attend every meeting. You don't have to agree with everything I say. And you certainly don't have to pretend you've got everything figured out.

In fact, if everyone agreed with me all the time, these conversations would get pretty boring.

But sometimes one different perspective, one honest conversation, or one idea you hadn't considered can completely change how you approach a challenge.

That's what Audit Leader Forum™ is all about.

You've probably spent more than $297 on a conference, a training course, or a consultant who told you something you already knew.

Here's an opportunity to invest in something different.

Real conversations. Different perspectives. Better leadership.

For $297 per quarter, you can become part of a confidential community of experienced audit leaders who challenge conventional wisdom, share what actually works, and help each other navigate the realities of executive leadership.

Your Audit Leader Forum™ Membership Includes:

• Two live group conversations each month. Talk through real leadership challenges with me and other experienced audit leaders.

• Rethinking Audit Leadership insights. I'll kick off our meetings with ideas and perspectives designed to challenge assumptions and get us thinking differently.

• Confidential, member-driven discussions. Bring your questions, challenges, and experiences. No vendor pitches or predetermined sales agendas.

• Access to meeting recordings. Can't make every call? Access available recordings when your schedule doesn't cooperate.

• A community of experienced peers. Connect with other audit leaders who understand the challenges of your position.

A Different Kind of Investment in Yourself.

$297 per quarter. That's approximately $99 per month.

No annual commitment. No complicated application process. No sales call required.

Membership is open to internal audit leaders at the director level and above.

Your membership renews quarterly, and you can cancel before your next renewal.

Join Audit Leader Forum™ — $297 per Quarter

Two meetings per month. Real conversations. Different perspectives.

One Final Thought...

You can keep trying to figure everything out on your own.

Or you can spend a little time with people who've been where you are, understand what you're dealing with, and might just help you see things differently.

I'd love to have you join us.

There's tremendous value in talking with other audit leaders who understand what you're dealing with.

But sometimes you're facing a situation where you need a little more individual attention.

Maybe you're navigating a difficult relationship with your CEO or audit committee. Making a significant decision about your team. Dealing with organizational politics. Or trying to figure out your next move as an executive.

And sometimes you just need someone you can talk to who isn't part of your organization and doesn't have a dog in the fight.

Someone who's been in your chair and isn't afraid to tell you what they really think.

That's where my individual advisory relationships come in.

Having served twice as a Chief Audit Executive, along with other C-suite roles, I've dealt with many of the challenges you're probably facing.

I won't pretend to have all the answers. But I can help you ask better questions, consider different perspectives, and think through your options.

Executive Advisory

Get individual perspective when you need it throughout the year.

Periodic confidential one-on-one conversations to help you work through important decisions, leadership challenges, and situations where an experienced outside perspective can make a difference.

Strategic Advisory

Have a trusted advisor for more regular, ongoing leadership conversations.

For audit leaders who want a deeper advisory relationship, with more frequent opportunities to discuss challenges, explore opportunities, and think strategically about their leadership and audit function.

Let's Have a Conversation.

These individual advisory relationships are separate from the standard Audit Leader Forum™ group membership.

If you're interested in more personalized guidance, let's schedule a confidential Zoom conversation to discuss what you're facing and whether working together makes sense.

No pressure. No elaborate sales presentation.

Just a conversation.

Schedule a Private Advisory Conversation