For some reason, when I add my name to articles and such I use a more full version of my name – J. Mike Jacka. I guess it is to distinguish me from all the other Mike Jackas out there. (You laugh – there is a real estate agent in Minnesota named Mike Jacka. You can Google him. I learned about him when I accidently got one of his slot club cards while I was at the Rio Hotel and Casino in Vegas. But that’s a story for another time.) 

Standing in line at the Starbucks located at the conference hotel, I was privy to a fascinating exchange. I headed over to wait for my espresso. A person in front of me was given his freshly heated wrap. The lady who had been waiting before him was quite distraught. This was based on the perceived slight that she had been their first and that she had not gotten her bagel. 

Not surprisingly, I have heard some interesting  things during the international conference. In particular, a lot of people have been trying to come to grips with what it is internal audit’s customers want.

Monday’s first general session was Neil Jacobsohn speaking on “Naked Leadership”. The session focused on the degree of change that is occurring because of the impact technology has on communication. That impact is leading to greater and greater transparency – hence the title "Naked Leadership".

This week I will be attending the IIA’s International Conference in Boston.   For those of you who have never attended, let me say that it is an opportunity to hear some of the top speakers within the profession, learn about emerging trends and issues, meet colleagues old and new, and (surprisingly to most) have a pretty good time

As I write this, (at least the first draft) I am sitting on a plane looking at a small, bluish-silver bag which contains an amalgam of unrecognizable foods which are themselves amalgams of undecipherable ingredients. The description on the bag offers no help with its reference to blends of corn products and cheese bits and almonds. (I did, indeed, find the almond. It refused to come out. I was forced to go in after it. It might have been worth the battle if it had not tasted of hints of corn products and cheese bits.) In spite of meals that are somewhat short of heaven, in spite of hours clocked waiting for delayed flights, and in spite of dead batteries, flat tires, and rattle-trap rental cars – I really like to travel.