Inspiring Women in Audit

Ep 28 When The Business Starts Calling You

When The Business Starts Calling You Kara Falco [https://www.linkedin.com/in/kara-falco-cia-crma-9a45a793/] has spent over 20 years in audit – and built something most CAEs only dream about: a team the business actually comes to. As Chief Audit Executive at a Fortune 500 company that still runs like a family business, Kara knows that building the team and building the trust are the same job. She turned a function once seen as the police into the most trusted partner in the room – and in this episode, she shares exactly how she did it. Kara talks about what relationship-building really looks like in practice, how she empowers her team, and why the message matters just as much as the finding. She also gets into AI – and her team has the numbers to back it up: the internal audit function ranked as the highest AI users in the entire company! Kara explains how that happened and what it has freed them up to do. And then there's what she learned from her dad – about showing up with grace, staying grateful, and never losing your sense of humor, no matter what. If you want to see what a high-trust, high-performing audit team looks like from the inside, this is the episode to listen to. Episode Breakdown 1:39 - Stepping Back to Move Forward 5:29 - From Fixer to Advisor 9:22 - Retiring the Audit Police 11:17 - It’s All About the Message 17:22 - Freedom to Chase Value 25:48 - The Advisory Balance 28:20 - Grace Under Pressure 31:48 - No One Builds Alone 35:00 - Leading the AI Shift 39:22 - Turning Purpose into Action 42:44 - The First Rule of Leadership 47:50 - Opportunities, Not Deficiencies Be sure to connect with Kara Falco [https://www.linkedin.com/company/inspiring-women-in-audit/] on LinkedIn. And be sure to follow Inspiring Women in Audit on LinkedIn, and connect with Tracie. Join the Exclusive Inspiring Women in Audit LinkedIn Group [https://www.linkedin.com/groups/14463302/]: This group is dedicated to empowering and uplifting women in the internal audit profession, providing a supportive space for women to share their journeys, insights, and expertise. By fostering meaningful connections, we aim to inspire, encourage, and drive transformative change within the industry. Join us to celebrate the achievements of women in audit and to be part of a community that values and amplifies your unique perspectives and experiences. Sign up for our newsletter! [https://tracieaudit.com/newsletter] ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ This podcast is brought to you by i4 Global Results Limited and Amplify Your Audit Results, the audit communication experts dedicated to transforming your audit reporting and your audit results through communication, optimization, and collaboration. Schedule time with us. [https://api.leadconnectorhq.com/widget/bookings/book/a/call/with/tracie/marquardt]

Ep 27 When Audit Shapes Global Decisions with Silvina Coria

When Audit Shapes Global Decisions In this episode of Inspiring Women in Audit, we’re joined by Silvina Coria [https://www.linkedin.com/in/silcoria/] - a CPA and audit leader whose career has taken her from Buenos Aires to The Hague, and from the private sector to one of the most distinctive governance environments in the world: the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons. At the time of recording, she leads internal audit at the OPCW, where 193 member states and a mission built around global security mean the stakes are anything but abstract. Silvina's path wasn't a straight line. She started out trying to avoid her family's CPA legacy, ended up falling in love with audit anyway, and spent years building expertise across Latin America, Europe, and beyond – including training women entrepreneurs in emerging markets on how to fight corruption – before making the move to the international public sector. In this conversation, Silvina talks about building a career across Latin America, Europe, and the international public sector; what independence really looks like inside a multilateral system; and why she thinks audit needs to stop documenting history and start shaping the future. Episode Breakdown 2:58 – Choosing Audit Instead 12:35 – The Path to the UN 22:00 – Guarding Independence Globally 30:33 – Leadership With Global Consequences 38:10 – AI in the Audit Trenches 50:26 – Inside the UN Audit Room 58:06 – Resilience: The Argentinian Way 1:08:00 – Stop Waiting Start Building Be sure to connect with Silvina Coria [https://www.linkedin.com/in/silcoria/] on LinkedIn. And be sure to follow Inspiring Women in Audit on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/inspiring-women-in-audit/], and connect with Tracie. [https://www.linkedin.com/in/traciemarquardt/] ⁠Join the Exclusive Inspiring Women in Audit LinkedIn Group:⁠ [https://www.linkedin.com/groups/14463302/] This group is dedicated to empowering and uplifting women in the internal audit profession, providing a supportive space for women to share their journeys, insights, and expertise. By fostering meaningful connections, we aim to inspire, encourage, and drive transformative change within the industry. Join us to celebrate the achievements of women in audit and to be part of a community that values and amplifies your unique perspectives and experiences. Sign up for our newsletter! [https://form.inspiringwomeninaudit.com/newsletter] ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ This podcast is brought to you by i4 Global Results Limited and Amplify Your Audit Results, the audit communication experts dedicated to transforming your audit reporting and your audit results through communication, optimization, and collaboration. Schedule time with us. [https://api.leadconnectorhq.com/widget/bookings/book/a/call/with/tracie/marquardt]

Ep 26 The Buck Stops With You with Katie Hall

The Buck Stops With You In this episode of Inspiring Women in Audit, I’m joined by Katie Hall [https://www.linkedin.com/in/katiehall2/] – Head of Internal Audit and a passionate community builder who is quietly transforming how women and emerging leaders in the profession connect, grow, and find their footing. We explore the mindset shift required to move from manager to leader – and why that shift is less about authority and more about accountability. Katie speaks openly about building confidence through community, founding regional Women in Audit and Future Audit Leaders Forum networks to close the development gap for auditors outside major city hubs. For her, support isn’t a soft skill – it’s a strategic advantage. In this conversation, we also discuss the evolution of internal audit in an AI-driven world. Katie shares her perspective on staying relevant, embracing change without losing independence, and creating environments where people can challenge, learn, and grow. This conversation is grounded, honest, and refreshingly practical. At its core, this episode is about ownership. Leadership isn’t about the title on your email signature. It’s about clarity in your decisions, courage in your conversations, and the responsibility to create a culture where others can thrive long after you’ve moved on. Episode Breakdown 2:24 – Falling Into the Fire 6:14 – Owning the Role 9:57 – The Mindset Shift 11:18 – Fury Became the Spark 18:12 – Beyond the North East 21:57 – Expanding the Vision 27:17 – Shared Struggles, Shared Strength 29:44 – The Signal Was Clear 34:59 – You Can’t Do Everything 39:18 – Support Is the Strategy 42:23 – Leadership, Unfiltered 45:49 – Building What Lasts Be sure to connect with Katie Hall [https://www.linkedin.com/in/katiehall2/] on LinkedIn. And be sure to follow Inspiring Women in Audit on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/inspiring-women-in-audit/], and connect with Tracie. [https://www.linkedin.com/in/traciemarquardt/] Join the Exclusive Inspiring Women in Audit LinkedIn Group: [https://www.linkedin.com/groups/14463302/] This group is dedicated to empowering and uplifting women in the internal audit profession, providing a supportive space for women to share their journeys, insights, and expertise. By fostering meaningful connections, we aim to inspire, encourage, and drive transformative change within the industry. Join us to celebrate the achievements of women in audit and to be part of a community that values and amplifies your unique perspectives and experiences. Sign up for our newsletter! [https://form.inspiringwomeninaudit.com/newsletter] ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ This podcast is brought to you by i4 Global Results Limited and Amplify Your Audit Results [https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-amplify-framework-by-tracie-marquardt/], the audit communication experts dedicated to transforming your audit reporting and your audit results through communication, optimization, and collaboration. Schedule time with us. [https://api.leadconnectorhq.com/widget/bookings/book/a/call/with/tracie/marquardt]

Ep 25 Judgment Isn't Automated with Silvia Puhani

Judgment Isn’t Automated In this episode, we’re joined this week by Silvia Puhani [https://www.linkedin.com/in/silvia-puhani-b59438122/], a powerhouse in the internal audit profession with nearly 25 years of experience spanning every level of audit - from frontline auditor to Chief Audit Executive. Silvia is also the host of one of Germany’s first internal audit podcasts, where she explores the profession’s most relevant topics with a fresh, conversational approach. In addition to her leadership and media presence, she is an award-winning author, seasoned trainer, and communication coach known for her work on “revisions competence,” a holistic approach to auditing that integrates collaboration, insight, and conflict prevention. Silvia shares her unlikely journey into internal audit and the lessons she's learned through decades of leadership and transformation. She talks about her early roots in audit and what has kept her engaged in the profession for over two decades. A champion of communication, Silvia delves into the power of collaboration over compromise and how preventing conflict through dialogue has shaped her career - and her coaching philosophy. With more than 400 podcast episodes under her belt, Silvia offers unique insights into what it means to be a thought leader in audit, particularly in a European context. She and Tracie explore the persistent challenges auditors face - from lingering stereotypes of being the "police" to the urgent need for more insight and foresight in audit reporting. Silvia discusses how AI can serve as a powerful tool when used wisely and emphasizes the human judgment and contextual understanding that machines simply can't replicate. 📚 Explore Silvia Puhani’s Work Podcast: Internal Audit Podcast [https://puhani.com/podcast-puhani/] Book: Successful Audit Processes in Internal Auditing [https://www.amazon.co.uk/Erfolgreiche-Pr%C3%BCfungsprozesse-Internen-Revision-Konfliktmanagement/dp/350320962X] Website: Silvia Puhani [https://puhani.com/] Episode Breakdown 2:12 – Data Roots, Audit Rise 2:14 – Choosing Audit, Again 7:43 – Collaboration Over Compromise 16:15 – Finding My Audit Voice 22:35 – Borrowed Courage 24:33 – Built to Be Ignored 26:50 – THE FIRST 90% 30:57 – The Risk Everyone Missed 40:14 – Judgment Isn’t Automated 47:05 – Curiosity Wins 52:14 – Motivation Needs Recognition 56:16 – Quick Takes 58:46 – For the Next Women Be sure to connect with Silvia Puhani [https://www.linkedin.com/in/silvia-puhani-b59438122/] on LinkedIn. And be sure to follow Inspiring Women in Audit on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/inspiring-women-in-audit/], and connect with Tracie. [https://www.linkedin.com/in/traciemarquardt/] Join the Exclusive Inspiring Women in Audit LinkedIn Group: [https://www.linkedin.com/groups/14463302/] This group is dedicated to empowering and uplifting women in the internal audit profession, providing a supportive space for women to share their journeys, insights, and expertise. By fostering meaningful connections, we aim to inspire, encourage, and drive transformative change within the industry. Join us to celebrate the achievements of women in audit and to be part of a community that values and amplifies your unique perspectives and experiences. Sign up for our newsletter! [https://form.inspiringwomeninaudit.com/newsletter] ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ This podcast is brought to you by i4 Global Results Limited and Amplify Your Audit Results, the audit communication experts dedicated to transforming your audit reporting and your audit results through communication, optimization, and collaboration. Schedule time with us. [https://api.leadconnectorhq.com/widget/booking/YBOLSopcMB3q8gH2Bmqa]

Ep 24 People, Presence and Perspective with Karen Albert

People, Presence and, Perspective In this episode, we're joined by Karen Albert, Vice President and Head of Internal Audit at Constellium, a global leader in value-added aluminum products. With more than 25 years of experience spanning banking, manufacturing, and Big Four consulting, Karen brings a powerful combination of operational, IT, and strategic insight to the internal audit profession. She is deeply committed to service − both within her organization and the broader community − through her long-standing nonprofit board work. Known for her clarity, empathy, and people-first approach, Karen is leading internal audit into a future defined by relationship-building, innovation, and impact. Karen shares how her early foundation shaped her distinct audit lens − one grounded in curiosity, systems thinking, and empathy. As a champion of heart-led leadership, she offers tangible practices for building authentic relationships across an organization − especially in a profession that still wrestles with outdated perceptions. Karen speaks candidly about what’s working, where internal audit still struggles, and the quiet challenges many auditors hesitate to confront. Whether you lead a team of two or twenty-two, this episode invites you to think differently about your role, your impact, and the legacy you’re building every day. Episode Breakdown 2:12 – Data Roots, Audit Rise 8:21 – Through a Sociologist’s Lens 8:21 – Heart-Led Leadership 13:14 – Empathy In Action 16:22 – Creating Intentional Touchpoints 24:01 – Balanced Independence 33:22 – Redefining Audit Perception 38:05 – Future-Ready Auditing 49:03 – Audit the AI 50:37 – Leading Beyond Audit 52:44 – Step Into Service 55:10 – Relationships That Endure 57:12 – Leaving a Lasting Impression Be sure to connect with Karen Albert [https://www.linkedin.com/in/karenbalbert/] on LinkedIn. And be sure to follow Inspiring Women in Audit on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/inspiring-women-in-audit/], and connect with Tracie. Join the Exclusive Inspiring Women in Audit LinkedIn Group: [https://www.linkedin.com/groups/14463302/] This group is dedicated to empowering and uplifting women in the internal audit profession, providing a supportive space for women to share their journeys, insights, and expertise. By fostering meaningful connections, we aim to inspire, encourage, and drive transformative change within the industry. Join us to celebrate the achievements of women in audit and to be part of a community that values and amplifies your unique perspectives and experiences. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ This podcast is brought to you by i4 Global Results Limited and Amplify Your Audit Results [https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-amplify-framework-by-tracie-marquardt/], the audit communication experts dedicated to transforming your audit reporting and your audit results through communication, optimization, and collaboration. Schedule time with us.