Wolfe Tone & Heather Gates (Deloitte): Insights on Private Company Governance

from Boardroom Governance with Evan Epstein · host Wolfe Tone, Heather Gates, Evan Epstein

(0:00) Intro(1:12) About the podcast sponsor: The American College of Governance Counsel.(1:59) Start of interview. (2:57) Heather Gates' "origin story."(5:17) Wolfe Tone's "origin story."(10:23) On the governance of privately-owned businesses. Distinction with having "outside investors." (15:20) On the nuances of family-owned businesses. *Reference to my podcast series on Succession show.(18:28) On growth of LLC structures.(20:53) On VC-backed company governance. *Note UC Law SF's VCBA.(23:42) On the value of boards and good governance. When is the right time for a more formal governance structure.(27:40) Deloitte Private Company Pulse Survey on Governance (from July 2024).(31:40) On Climate Risk and ESG in private companies.(34:16) On Cybersecurity Risk.(38:20) On the evolving role of independent directors in private companies.(42:28) On the rise of the public benefit corporation (PBC) structure in AI companies(46:08) On the role of the board in developing talent.(48:38) On the future of trust as a core tenant of governance.(50:38) What are the 1-3 books that have greatly influenced your life: Wolfe:The Art of War by Sun Tzu (roughly 5th century BC)Anything by Stephen Covey.When the Game Is Over, It All Goes Back in the Box by John Ortberg (2007)Heather:The Hard Thing about Hard Things by Ben Horowitz (2014)Boundary Boss by Terri Cole (2021)The Untethered Soul by Michael Singer (2007)(51:52) Who were their mentors, and what they learned from them.(53:36) Quotes they think of often or live their life by.(54:13) An unusual habit or an absurd thing that they love.(54:40) The living person they most admire.Wolfe Tone is the leader of Deloitte Private for the US and globally, and Heather Gates is the national Emerging Growth Company (EGC) business leader for Deloitte, overseeing the firm’s EGC, Private Equity, and Deloitte Private Audit & Assurance teams. You can follow Evan on social media at:X: @evanepsteinLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/epsteinevan/ Substack: https://evanepstein.substack.com/__To support this podcast you can join as a subscriber of the Boardroom Governance Newsletter at https://evanepstein.substack.com/__Music/Soundtrack (found via Free Music Archive): Seeing The Future by Dexter Britain is licensed under a Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 United States License

What this episode covers

Wolfe Tone is the leader of Deloitte Private for the US and globally, and Heather Gates is the national Emerging Growth Company (EGC) business leader for Deloitte, overseeing the firm’s EGC, Private Equity, and Deloitte Private Audit & Assurance teams. We dive into governance practices in privately-held businesses, covering closely held corporations, LLCs, family-owned enterprises, and VC- and PE-backed companies. Additionally, we explore insights from Deloitte’s 2024 Private Company Outlook Survey, the role of independent directors, and the evolving landscape of ESG and cybersecurity. Finally, we discuss the rise of public benefit corporation structures in AI companies, board-driven talent management, and trust as a core tenet of governance. If you like this show, please consider subscribing, leaving a review or sharing this podcast on social media. You can also contribute as a Patron on the link patreon.com/BoardroomGovernancePod or you can subscribe to the Boardroom Governance Newsletter at evanepstein.substack.com This podcast is sponsored by the American College of Governance Counsel.

NOW PLAYING

Wolfe Tone & Heather Gates (Deloitte): Insights on Private Company Governance

0:00 56:38

1×

No transcript for this episode yet

We transcribe on demand. Request one and we'll notify you when it's ready — usually under 10 minutes.

Share this episode

Similar Episodes

I'm ok

Mar 26, 2026 ·1m

REMIX: Why we over-shop and compulsively acquire, and how to stop, with Dr Jan Eppingstall

Jan 9, 2026 ·61m

REMIX: OCD and hoarding disorder with Jenna Overbaugh

Jan 2, 2026 ·47m

REMIX: Therapy and hoarding disorder - what are the options? With Dr Jan Eppingstall

Dec 26, 2025 ·78m

REMIX: ADHD and hoarding disorder with Professor Sharon Morein

Dec 21, 2025 ·46m

#207 13 actionable pieces of mental health advice from six former podcast guests

Dec 12, 2025 ·53m

Similar Podcasts

MG Show MG Show The MG Show, hosted by Jeffrey Pedersen and Shannon Townsend, is a leading alternative media platform dedicated to uncovering the truth behind today’s most pressing political issues. Launched in 2019, the show has grown exponentially, offering unfiltered insights, comprehensive research, and real-time analysis. With a commitment to independent journalism and factual integrity, the MG Show empowers its audience with knowledge and encourages active participation in the political discourse. French Your Way Jessica: Native French teacher founder of French Your Way Boost your French listening skills and test your comprehension with this one of a kind series of podcasts. Get the chance to listen to a real conversation between native speakers talking at normal speed AND customise your learning experience through carefully designed sets of questions (2 levels of difficulty) available for download at www.frenchvoicespodcast.com. All interviews also come with the transcript. French teacher Jessica interviews native speakers of French from around the world who share a bit of their life and passion. Where else would you meet in one same place a French yoga teacher based in Melbourne, a soap manufacturer from Provence, or a couple cycling around the world? That Hoarder: Overcome Compulsive Hoarding That Hoarder Hoarding disorder is stigmatised and people who hoard feel vast amounts of shame. This podcast began life as an audio diary, an anonymous outlet for somebody with this weird condition. That Hoarder speaks about her experiences living with compulsive hoarding, she interviews therapists, academics, researchers, children of hoarders, professional organisers and influencers, and she shares insight and tips for others with the problem. Listened to by people who hoard as well as those who love them and those who work with them, Overcome Compulsive Hoarding with That Hoarder aims to shatter the stigma, share the truth and speak openly and honestly to improve lives. The Small Business Startup School – Business Notes | Financial Literacy | Retail Psychology – For Professionals & Entrepreneurs The Small Business Startup School Inc. Starting or buying a small business? While personal circumstances may vary, business patterns remain timeless. On The Small Business Startup School, we explore strategies, insights, and practical solutions to help entrepreneurs confidently navigate their journey.Hosted by Ola Williams—a retail entrepreneur, fintech founder, and financial coach with over two decades of experience—this podcast marries financial awareness and retail psychology with optimism to deliver actionable takeaways.Join us to learn, grow, and connect as we uncover the keys to business success.Let’s continue to learn together and be encouraged to keep on connecting!

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is this episode of Boardroom Governance with Evan Epstein?

This episode is 56 minutes long.

When was this Boardroom Governance with Evan Epstein episode published?

This episode was published on October 28, 2024.

What is this episode about?

Can I download this Boardroom Governance with Evan Epstein episode?

Yes, you can download this episode by clicking the download button on the episode player, or subscribe to the podcast in your preferred podcast app for automatic downloads.

URL copied to clipboard!