WMIIA May 2024 Virtual Event: Addressing Cognitive Bias: From Recognition to Response

Event Date: Wednesday, May 8, 2024 (12:00 pm - 1:00 pm). 

Cost: $10.00 Member, $15.00 Non-Members.

Location: Virtual via Zoom

Event Summary:

Everyone has cognitive biases that influence how they process information and make decisions. What happens when bias, either unconscious or conscious, influences how auditors work? How does it impact their ability to remain independent and objective? Cognitive bias presents in all elements of an auditor’s work environment, including talent management, audit plan development, and audit engagement oversight. Auditors must understand how to effectively respond to and minimize the impact of bias in these settings.

In this session, participants will:

• Learn what cognitive bias is and determine how it impacts auditor independence and objectivity.

• Reflect on how to recognize the existence of their internal biases.

• Identify examples of cognitive biases that occur in audit settings and determine their impacts.

• Explore tangible proven methods to respond to cognitive biases in audit settings.

Speaker Profile:

Safia Bana is an Internal Audit Manager at Steelcase, a $3.75 billion manufacturer of furniture, seating, and space solutions. She is responsible for working collaboratively with leaders to advise on their risk management strategies. Previously, she was an Internal Audit Manager for seven years at Corewell Health, a $14 billion integrated healthcare system, and a Senior Auditor at Plante Moran for five years. Bana is a DEI champion and has experience guiding the formation of a division-led diversity council.

Daisha Ngo is the Senior Manager of IT Audit at Centene, where she supports the organization’s Sarbanes-Oxley 404 IT audit work and IT operational audits. She previously spent 12 years with Spectrum Health, overseeing audits for the organization’s health plan, delivery system operations, and corporate functions. Ngo has extensive experience in operational, financial, and technology audits. In addition to audit activities, she actively advises the organization in governance, risk, and control, focusing on governance, third party, and IT risk management. Earlier in her career, Ngo worked in public accounting, performing IT general and business process control audits and internal control consulting within the healthcare, chemical, and manufacturing industries.