Avani_Desai

Avani Desai CPA, CISSP, CISA, CIPP, CCSK

Chief Executive Officer, Schellman

Avani Desai is a Partner and Chief Executive Officer at Schellman, the largest niche CPA firm in the world that focuses on technology and security assessments. She also sits on the board of Cogent Bank, a Florida based community bank, as a Director and the head of the Technology Committee. 

Avani started her career working at a Big 4 accounting firm (KPMG) for over 10 years, where she led a team and oversaw IT Risk Management and Privacy across national service-lines. In addition, Avani managed the development of internal and external privacy programs and related practices, leveraging her deep knowledge with healthcare and emerging technologies, such as blockchain, cloud computing, artificial intelligence, internet of things, and virtualization. Now at Schellman, Avani has been focusing on growth strategies, strategic client and market development, industry analysis, and new services for the last seven years. 

She has been featured in Forbes, CIO.com, and the Wall Street Journal, and is a sought-after speaker as a voice on a variety of emerging topics, including security, privacy, information security, future technology trends, and the expansion of young women involved in technology. In 2017, Avani, a crypto enthusiast, launched MyCryptoAlert, an app that provides a mobile solution for the alert and portfolio problems crypto investors face and a tool to buy and sell coins on arbitrage. 

Also passionate about strategic philanthropy, Avani sits on the board of Arnold Palmer Medical Center, Philanos, Audit Committee chairwoman at the Central Florida Foundation, and is the co-chair of 100 Women Strong, a female-only venture capitalist based giving circle that focuses on solving community-based problems specific to women and children by using data analytics and big data. Avani is also an avid runner, always looking to sign up for the next Disney marathon. 

With all that being said, Avani still considers her greatest accomplishment to be personal rather than professional-she is the proud mother to her 13-year-old son, Sahil, 10-year-old daughter, Sareena, and 3-year-old son, Hastin. Certifications: CPA, CISA, CIPP, CCSK, CRISC, CIA, ISO Lead Auditor.


Appearances

  • Thumbnail for What are Power Skills and Why are they Important for Women (All Tracks)
    Identification
    ENG2311
    Date
    June 5, 2023
    Once called “soft skills,” power skills are vital for success for an individual and business alike…

    Speaker

    Speaker Image for Carla McCall
    Managing Partner, AAFCPAs

    Panelists

    Speaker Image for Orume Hays
    Orume A. Hays, CPA, CGMA, MST
    Founder & CEO, Hays CPA
    Speaker Image for Avani Desai
    Avani Desai, CPA, CISSP, CISA, CIPP, CCSK
    Chief Executive Officer, Schellman

    Moderator

    Speaker Image for Jeannine K Brown
    Chief Executive Officer, Everyday Lead
    $4900
    Standard Price
  • Thumbnail for Women Supporting Women: From Toxic Boss to Cheerleader
    Identification
    WOM2306
    Date
    November 13, 2023
    Toxic bosses are everywhere…

    Moderator

    Speaker Image for Jeannine K Brown
    Chief Executive Officer, Everyday Lead

    Speakers

    Speaker Image for Rashada Whitehead
    National Managing Principal of Culture, Immersion & Inclusion, Grant Thornton
    Speaker Image for Avani Desai
    Avani Desai, CPA, CISSP, CISA, CIPP, CCSK
    Chief Executive Officer, Schellman
    Speaker Image for Amy Vetter
    CEO, The B3 Method Institute
    $4900
    Standard Price
  • Thumbnail for Reimagining the Digital Firm of the Future
    Identification
    TCH2402
    Date
    June 3, 2024
    A powerful combination of technologies is currently fueling the next iteration of the internet and will significantly impact the way firms operate and conduct business, both internally and with customers…

    Speakers

    Speaker Image for Christopher Cromer
    Director of Operations, CPA.com
    Speaker Image for Hannes Hapke
    Principal Machine Learning Engineer, Digits
    Speaker Image for Avani Desai
    Avani Desai, CPA, CISSP, CISA, CIPP, CCSK
    Chief Executive Officer, Schellman
    $4900
    Standard Price
  • Thumbnail for AI Adoption Roadmap: Top Considerations
    Identification
    DCPA2313
    Date
    December 5, 2023
    The adoption of AI in accounting came slowly then all at once, as they say. It is no longer a matter of if, but how quickly firms and their clients embrace the technology as a tsunami of AI enabled tools and use cases envelopes the profession…

    Speakers

    Speaker Image for Kevin Au
    Vice President, Product Management, BILL
    Speaker Image for Avani Desai
    Avani Desai, CPA, CISSP, CISA, CIPP, CCSK
    Chief Executive Officer, Schellman
    Speaker Image for Hannes Hapke
    Principal Machine Learning Engineer, Digits
    $4900
    Standard Price
  • Thumbnail for AICPA Town Hall Live
    Identification
    DCPA2430
    Date
    December 11, 2024
    Live from Digital CPA, the award-winning AICPA Town Hall Series is the profession’s resource for timely and critical information which includes real-time interpretation and analysis, along with a broader discussion on strategies and capabilities to drive long-term success…

    Speakers

    Speaker Image for Erik Asgeirsson
    President & CEO, CPA.com
    Speaker Image for Lisa Simpson
    Lisa Simpson, CPA, CGMA
    VP - Firm Services, AICPA & CIMA
    Speaker Image for Lexy Kessler
    Lexy Kessler, CPA, CGMA
    Vice Chairman | Mid-Atlantic Regional Leader & Partner, AICPA & CIMA Board of Directors; Aprio, LLP
    Speaker Image for Avani Desai
    Avani Desai, CPA, CISSP, CISA, CIPP, CCSK
    Chief Executive Officer, Schellman
    Speaker Image for Rachel Dresen
    Senior Director of Congressional & Political Affairs, AICPA & CIMA
    Speaker Image for Pascal Finette
    Co-founder, be radical Group
  • Thumbnail for The Future of AI: A Fireside Chat
    Identification
    WOM2402
    Date
    November 11, 2024
    Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a hot topic cutting across every industry imaginable. Whether government, business to business, or consumer-driven; every sector is now considering how to engage with AI and understanding how engagement can give them a competitive advantage…

    Speakers

    Speaker Image for Avani Desai
    Avani Desai, CPA, CISSP, CISA, CIPP, CCSK
    Chief Executive Officer, Schellman
    Speaker Image for Korynne Bernard
    Principal, Internal Audit, Deloitte & Touche

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