Ep. 238 - Talent Isn't the Problem, Exposure Is - Arpna Aggarwal

What does it take to build a credible internal audit function when you're working with a small team?In this episode I sit down with Sandeep Das, Head of Internal Audit at Elysium Healthcare, and John Johnson, Partner at Core Audit Partners, for a panel discussion on the unique challenges small audit shops face:- Establishing influence without an implicit mandate- Winning hearts and minds, and- Knowing the difference between output and assurance.

"The issue was never talent; it was exposure."IT auditor Arpna Aggarwal joins AUDIT 15 FUN to talk about building a community for women in audit and tech across Tanzania and beyond, and why AI governance conversations are missing African voices. Join me in the discussion as she lays out her call to action on the issue.

Meet the DTCC Hackathon silver medal team: Rich Penfield, Ashes Basnet, Jamie Ontiveros, Wesley Raider, and Marina Tieman (missed Kaine Kenerly).The team reveals why they joined the AI hackathon, how we built a powerful tool in days (no coding background needed), and the biggest takeaways: start small, don’t fear AI, and collaborate.Fast, fun, and an inspiration for auditors ready to innovate.

Tokenization. Context windows. Lost in the middle. Silent failures. RLHF. Anthropomorphism. Quantization. Top-P and Top-K. RAG. Deterministic checks.If you haven’t heard of some of these topics, this podcast episode is for you.

Former Secret Service agent Richard LaTulip joins the podcast to discuss cybercrime investigations, undercover operations, and the human factors that can derail even the biggest cases.He shares how a simple printer fix launched his cyber forensics career, the realities behind tracking global hackers, and lessons from Operation Carter Kaos, including a $75,000 undercover deal that nearly collapsed because of bureaucracy.Book here: Operation Carder Kaos (Security, Audit and Leadership Series): LaTulip, Richard K.: 9781041077497: Amazon.com: Books

Small team? No problem.Sandeep Das explains how lean audit functions drive real impact, without more budget or headcount.1) Scale smart (co-source, analytics, guest auditors)2) Build systems to move faster3) Build influence with leadership4) Stop waiting. Start doing.Buy your copy here: www.routledge.com/Audit-Alchemy-Small-Teams-BIG-Impact---A-Guide-to-Internal-Audit-Excellence/Das/p/book/9781032856520

A 24-hour global audit conference.No travel.No time zone excuses.The Audit Research Center is pushing the profession forward with a live, nonstop conference across every region. This episode breaks down what’s coming:30+ sessions spanning macro risk to real AI use casesPractical applications: planning, fieldwork, reporting, and beyondIf you want real use cases, not theory, this is it.

Former Iowa Lottery CEO Terry Rich shares how a suspicious claim turned into a multi-state investigation, exposing an insider who rigged the system.This episode goes beyond the headline:• The hot dog clue that cracked the case• How tiny red flags exposed a massive fraud• Why transparency increased trust and sales• The real-world power of auditorsIf you think controls are boring, this story will change your mind.

Most leaders hit a moment where they feel stuck.Dr. Benjamin Ritter works with CEOs and senior executives at those exact crossroads.In this episode, he shares what he’s learned about leadership growth, overcoming impostor syndrome, and why the best leaders focus on coaching, delegation, and honest feedback.

Busy does not equal better.In this episode, I sit down with Eduardo Briceno, author of The Performance Paradox, to explore why constant execution can actually hurt performance.We break down the performance zone vs. learning zone and what leaders can do to help teams stop grinding, and start improving.A must-listen for auditors and leaders who want smarter results, not just more work.Eduardo's TED Talk: Eduardo Briceño: How to get better at the things you care about | TED