AI, Efficiency, and ROI: The New Era of Internal Audit for Private Companies

Heather Gates is a managing director with Deloitte & Touche LLP and has more than 30 years of experience working in the startup and private company space, including 18 years at Deloitte. She serves as both the national Emerging Growth Company (EGC) business leader and the Audit & Assurance Private Growth leader overseeing the firm’s EGC, Private Equity, and Deloitte Private Audit & Assurance teams. She has spent her career cultivating and maintaining strong relationships throughout the private company and investor communities in the San Francisco Bay Area and beyond. In her role as the national leader, she brings the power of the firm to key markets throughout the US. With her vast personal network and knowledge of the industry, Heather has unique insight into the people, institutions, and technologies that shape Silicon Valley. She regularly meets with entrepreneurs and venture capitalists, and has expanded Deloitte's services to leading companies based in the Bay Area and nationally. She also serves as a board member and treasurer for the Churchill Club, a leading Silicon Valley business and technology forum.

Michael is a partner in the Audit & Assurance practice at Deloitte & Touche LLP with 25 years of experience delivering internal audit services to Deloitte’s largest clients. He serves as Deloitte’s Internal Audit (IA) offering leader, overseeing a team of professionals supporting internal audit functions across the full IA life cycle, including risk assessments, audit planning and execution, and reporting to audit committees and key executive stakeholders. Additionally, as the Global IA Innovation Leader, Michael leads Deloitte’s efforts to modernize third-line functions through technology-enabled innovation. In this role, he helps internal audit functions adapt their people, processes, and technology to keep pace with evolving business models and emerging risks.