Communicating with the Board: Turning Audit Insights into Impact

Mar 24, 2026

Fábio Pimpão, Director of Internal Audit at Whirlpool and IIA Global Board member with 20+ years in international auditing. He discusses simplifying complex risks into financial, reputational and strategic terms. He shows how storytelling and practice sharpen board presentations. He covers using AI to clarify messaging and tips for building trusted relationships across the organization.

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ADVICE

Simplify Risks And State The Risk Response

Simplify complex risks by categorizing them as financial, compliance, reputational, or strategic to make board conversations efficient.
State whether the risk will be accepted, mitigated, transferred, or eliminated and give a clear prioritized action in minutes.

ADVICE

Use AI To Translate Technical Messages

Use internal AI tools to rephrase technical findings into plain language, e.g., ask the model to explain it to a fifth grader.
Test drafts with junior staff to ensure nonexperts understand before presenting to the board.

INSIGHT

Internal Audit As Enterprise Risk Facilitator

Internal audit can elevate board focus by facilitating enterprise risk management and sharing top risks regularly.
Present top 10–15 risks with methodology and KPIs so the board sees priorities and residual risk trends each quarter.

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The Institute of Internal Auditors Presents: All Things Internal Audit

In this companion episode to the Global Best Practices' Elevating Internal Audit Communication With the Board, Rob Clark Jr. and Fábio Pimpão discuss how internal auditors can communicate more effectively with boards and executive leaders. They explore how to simplify complex risks, use storytelling to drive impact, and align messaging with what boards care about, from financial and reputational risk to strategic priorities. The conversation also covers practical tips for preparing for board presentations, leveraging AI, and building trusted relationships across the organization.

HOST:
- Rob Clark Jr., CIA, CCEP, CBM Chief Audit Executive, City of Hope

GUEST:
- Fábio Pimpão, CIA, CRMA, CCSA Director, Internal Audit, Whirlpool Corporation Director, Professional Certifications, IIA Global Board of Directors

KEY POINTS:

Introduction [00:00:40 - 00:01:46]
How Board Expectations Have Evolved [00:01:46 - 00:03:32]
Simplifying Complex Risks for the Board [00:04:19 - 00:06:00]
Why Communication Is a Critical Audit Skill [00:06:00 - 00:07:55]
Using AI to Improve Clarity and Messaging [00:07:17 - 00:08:13]
Storytelling as a Tool for Impact [00:13:15 - 00:16:05]
Preparing for Board Presentations [00:16:05 - 00:18:59]
Translating Technical Issues into Business Impact [00:21:26 - 00:25:30]
Focusing on Financial and Reputational Risk [00:25:30 - 00:26:55]
Building Trusted Relationships Across the Organization [00:27:00 - 00:31:35]
Final Advice: Priorities, Storytelling, and Driving Impact [00:31:35 - 00:32:38]

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