Out of Port, Into Purpose: Risk and Audit on the Bridge with Norman Marks

In this episode of Risk Is Our Business, host Michael Rasmussen sets course with Norman Marks, renowned author, former chief audit executive, and one of the most respected minds in the risk and audit universe, for a conversation that ventures well beyond compliance into the stars of strategy and purpose.

Drawing from his acclaimed books Auditing That Matters and World-Class Risk Management, Norman argues that risk management isn’t about playing it safe, it’s about enabling intelligent, informed decisions that propel the enterprise forward. Quoting Thomas Aquinas, Michael reminds us, “If the highest aim of a captain were to preserve his ship, he would keep it in port forever.” But in a world of shifting risks and high-stakes missions, the goal isn’t to anchor—it’s to voyage.

Together, Rasmussen and Marks explore why every objective has its own risk appetite, how to distinguish world-class internal audit from box-checking mediocrity, and what it means to embed risk into the helm of strategic decision-making.

If you’re ready to audit at warp speed and leave the port behind, this episode is your star map.