Technical excellence has always been table stakes forinternal auditors, but in today’s environment of complexity, technology, and ambiguity, it’s no longer what separates those who advance from those who stall.

In this opening episode of the SparkPoint Pro Podcast,host Matt Wood explains what this podcast is about, who it’s for, and why many highly capable auditors struggle to translate strong work into real influence.

Drawing on more than 25 years of experience across internalaudit, IT, GRC, and executive leadership roles, Mattexplores a pattern he’s seen repeatedly: auditors don’t get stuck because they lack skill — they get stuck because their work doesn’t clearly inform decisions.

This episode covers:

• What SparkPoint Pro is (and is not)
• Why accuracy and documentation alone don’t create influence
• How leadership expectations of audit have changed
• The difference between reporting issues and enabling decisions
• Why judgment, framing, and clarity matter more than ever

This is not a how-to episode on audit methodology. It’s areframing conversation for auditors who want to move beyond technical execution into trusted advisory and leadership roles.

If you’ve ever felt that your work was solid but your impactwas limited, this podcast — and this episode — is for you.

Most people think internal audit is about checklists, testing, and reports.

It isn’t.

At its highest level, audit is about judgment, influence, and trust.

SparkPoint Pro is a leadership podcast for internal auditors who are ready to move beyond execution and start operating at the level their role truly demands.

Hosted by Matt Wood — a former Chief Audit Executive with 25+ years of experience across banking, IT audit, and global operations — this podcast explores the real-world leadership skills that separate auditors who do the work from auditors who shape outcomes.

Each episode dives into:

• The mindset shift from executor to trusted advisor

• Leadership and communication skills most audit training never teaches

• Real audit scenarios where judgment matters more than checklists

• The psychological side of influence, credibility, and professional presence

If you’re a mid-career auditor who feels capable of more — but hasn’t been shown how to step into it — you’re in the right place.

New episodes coming soon.