In an era defined by digital transformation and rising corporate complexities, the importance of forensic accounting and proactive fraud prevention has never been greater. At the forefront of this mission stands Kanwaljeet Kaur Soni, a dynamic founder, visionary entrepreneur and certified forensic expert. She is the powerhouse behind the Global Association of Forensic Accountants (GAFA), a cutting-edge organization redefining how businesses detect, prevent and respond to financial irregularities.

GAFA is more than just an institution, it’s a movement. With a hands-on, case-driven methodology, GAFA merges theory with practice, building fraud-resilient cultures inside organizations. The association has built a solid reputation for integrity, practicality and forward-thinking strategies in forensic investigations and risk advisory services.

We sat down with Kanwaljeet Kaur Soni to dive deep into her journey, her leadership principles and the story behind GAFA’s rise to prominence in the world of forensic intelligence.

TFS: Kanwaljeet, welcome. It’s such a pleasure to have you here. GAFA has become a trusted name in forensic advisory. Before we dive in, can you share a bit about your story and the vision that led to founding GAFA?

Kanwaljeet Kaur Soni: Thank you so much, it’s a pleasure to be here. GAFA’s story is deeply personal. As a young girl, I was always curious. Not just about numbers or books, but about human behavior. I wanted to understand why people did what they did – especially when it came to deception. That curiosity led me into the world of forensic accounting. But once I was in the field, I realized something startling: much of what was being taught was theoretical. Investigations weren’t happening in real-time or with real context.

That’s when I asked myself – can we really learn investigation just through textbooks? The answer was no. That question became my compass and GAFA was born out of that spark. I wanted to create a platform that was not just an academic body, but a hands-on, immersive experience where investigators are shaped by real-world exposure. GAFA is an embodiment of that dream. We don’t just teach investigations, we live them.

TFS: What inspired you to start GAFA and how did your curiosity from a young age shape the company’s investigative philosophy?

Kanwaljeet Kaur Soni: Honestly, it started with a single question: “Can investigation be learnt through only theory?” I quickly discovered the truth – absolutely not. Real investigation happens in the unpredictable, unstructured spaces. It exists in human behavior, in subtle digital trails and in those pressure-filled decisions where instincts take over. As a child, I was always fascinated with what drives someone to commit fraud and more importantly, how these systems fail to catch them in time.

That childhood curiosity transformed into a professional mission. I wanted to build an organization that mirrored this real-world complexity. That’s why GAFA’s investigative philosophy is rooted in practicality. Our approach is case-based, experience-driven and reflective of how fraud actually happens, not how it’s written in books. We believe you can’t combat real-world fraud with surface-level theory. You need minds trained to think like fraudsters but who act with the highest levels of integrity.

TFS: GAFA goes beyond traditional investigations. How did you define the boundary between forensic auditing and proactive risk advisory when you first launched?

Kanwaljeet Kaur Soni: We didn’t draw a boundary, we built a bridge. Traditional forensic auditing often looks backward. It dissects what went wrong after the damage is done. Risk advisory, on the other hand, looks forward. It asks, “How do we make sure this doesn’t happen again?” From the very beginning, GAFA was designed to operate at this intersection.

We built our startup around a hybrid model that merges both functions. For us, investigations don’t end with finding the culprit. They end with fixing the root problem and reinforcing the system. GAFA’s approach ensures that our clients don’t just recover from fraud, they come out stronger. Our unique integration of auditing and advisory helps businesses evolve into proactive, fraud-resilient ecosystems.

TFS: In the early days of GAFA, what was the most difficult decision you had to make and what did it teach you about this industry?

Kanwaljeet Kaur Soni: One of the most difficult choices I made as a founder was saying no. No to projects – that promised good money but compromised on quality. No to clients – who weren’t aligned with our mission. No to team members – who didn’t embody the passion and ethics GAFA stands for.

In the early days of any startup, especially in a field as nuanced as forensic investigations, it’s tempting to accept every opportunity. But I knew early on that GAFA couldn’t afford to be a checkbox agency. We weren’t in this to just “get the job done.” We were here to raise standards. That decision taught me a critical truth about this industry, real quality is rare and people notice when it’s delivered. Because of that stand, we’ve built a client base that respects our values and trusts our work.

TFS: You emphasize “root cause” over surface-level fixes. Can you walk us through a moment when this mindset fundamentally changed the outcome of an investigation?

Kanwaljeet Kaur Soni: Absolutely. One case that stands out was initially pegged as a small embezzlement incident by a junior employee. Most would’ve stopped at blaming the individual. But our mindset urged us to dig deeper. What we uncovered was far more systemic, a flawed vendor onboarding process that had loopholes exploited at every level, right up the hierarchy.

This is why GAFA’s philosophy focuses on going beneath the surface. We don’t believe in “closing” a case until we’ve unraveled the structural weaknesses behind it. For our clients, that meant they didn’t just resolve one issue, they overhauled an entire function that was bleeding risk. That’s the power of a root-cause-driven investigation.

TFS: GAFA works as an extension of client teams. How do you maintain neutrality and objectivity, especially in sensitive workplace misconduct cases?

Kanwaljeet Kaur Soni: That’s a great question. The key lies in disciplined listening. We engage every stakeholder – employees, management, third parties, but we always stay rooted in factual evidence. We maintain a posture of professional detachment. Our loyalty is not to any side, but to the truth.

In misconduct cases, emotions run high. Objectivity becomes both a skill and a commitment. At GAFA, we train our team to avoid bias by using structured protocols and clear evidence trails. We build transparency into our process so that the facts, not assumptions, guide our conclusions. Our clients appreciate that balance of empathy and evidence.

TFS: Your team includes cyber experts, fraud examiners and forensic professionals. How do you ensure cross-functional collaboration without compromising speed or discretion?

Kanwaljeet Kaur Soni: We follow a simple principle: zero ego, full respect. Every team member, whether from cybersecurity, legal, finance or forensic accounting, brings deep expertise. But what binds us is mutual respect and clarity of purpose. There’s no room for turf wars in our environment, only collaboration.

We also use agile workflows. Tasks are defined, delegated and aligned to outcome-driven goals. Discretion is paramount, so access is limited on a need-to-know basis. Our coordination is not just efficient, it’s secure and structured. This keeps the entire process streamlined, even during high-pressure engagements.

TFS: What are some common misconceptions businesses have about fraud investigations and how does GAFA challenge those assumptions?

Kanwaljeet Kaur Soni: The biggest myth? That fraud always comes from outsiders. In reality, internal stakeholders those who know the system intimately, are often the root of major fraud cases. Another misconception is that hiring an investigator means admitting guilt or scandal.

We challenge these beliefs through education and reframing. At GAFA, we treat investigations as health checks – like preventive medicine for your organization. It’s not about blame. It’s about insights. When companies realize this, they stop seeing us as crisis responders and start seeing us as strategic partners.

TFS: Cyber fraud and digital forensics are evolving rapidly. What has surprised you most about recent developments in digital evidence handling?

Kanwaljeet Kaur Soni: The rise of deepfakes and AI-generated content has been a major curveball. Today, we’re not just verifying documents, we’re authenticating identities, audio, even video footage. These are no longer sci-fi challenges. They are here, now.

On the bright side, AI is also an ally. It’s helping us sift through massive datasets, flagging patterns that manual methods would miss. At GAFA, we are investing heavily in digital evidence handling tools and AI-driven forensics. This duality – AI as both a threat and a tool, is the new frontier of fraud investigation.

TFS: Confidentiality is central to your work. How do you navigate the balance between transparency with clients and legal sensitivities in active investigations?

Kanwaljeet Kaur Soni: Confidentiality is our backbone. Every investigation we handle involves deeply sensitive information. We operate with strict non-disclosure frameworks and work closely with legal counsel to ensure compliance.

That said, transparency with the client is non-negotiable. We structure our reporting so that clients receive factual, legally sound updates. We use redacted findings, risk-coded summaries and legal filters. This balance ensures our clients stay informed without crossing legal or ethical boundaries.

TFS: You’ve said GAFA doesn’t just fix problems but builds fraud-resilient futures. What does a “resilient organization” look like in your eyes?

Kanwaljeet Kaur Soni: A resilient organization isn’t one that never experiences fraud. It’s one that detects early, responds swiftly and adapts continuously. These organizations embed fraud awareness into their culture, not just their checklists.

Resilience shows up in training sessions, transparent processes, empowered whistleblowers and proactive audits. At GAFA, we help businesses internalize these practices. Resilience is not an end state, it’s an evolving mindset. And that’s what we strive to cultivate in every client engagement.

TFS: What metrics or signs tell you that your intervention has genuinely strengthened a client’s internal controls, not just patched a problem?

Kanwaljeet Kaur Soni: The most telling sign? When clients start spotting risks before we do. When red flags are raised internally, not after the fact, but in real time. We also track increased whistleblower activity, better audit readiness and cross-functional risk reporting.

These aren’t just metrics, they’re cultural indicators. They show us that our work has gone beyond compliance to influence behavior. That’s when we know our impact is real.

TFS: You’ve built a reputation for integrity and high standards. How do you instill these values into new team members joining GAFA?

Kanwaljeet Kaur Soni: We don’t just preach values, we demonstrate them. Every new team member sees integrity modeled daily in our decisions. We lead by example. We also have zero tolerance for shortcuts or ethical compromises.

From onboarding to project delivery, our standards are clear. Every task, no matter how small, is treated as a reflection of our core values. We emphasize that integrity isn’t just a value, it’s a daily discipline.

TFS: With 10+ years of impact, what’s the proudest moment of your leadership journey so far?

Kanwaljeet Kaur Soni: For me, pride doesn’t come from awards or headlines. It comes from consistency. The moment that stands out most is when someone called me “reliable.” Just that one word.

It meant that I had become someone people could count on – especially in messy, complex situations. Being seen as a steady, ethical force is the legacy I want to build. That is my most fulfilling leadership milestone.

TFS: As fraud risks evolve particularly with AI and cross-border operations, what areas is GAFA investing in to stay ahead of the curve?

Kanwaljeet Kaur Soni: We are investing in cyber forensics, AI-driven anomaly detection and global compliance training. Cross-border operations require an understanding of diverse regulatory landscapes. We’re building teams and tools to address that.

Additionally, we’re passionate about nurturing the next generation of investigators. We’re creating programs that teach future-ready skills, because tomorrow’s fraud won’t look like today’s. GAFA’s goal is not just to keep up, but to lead from the front.

TFS: If you could give one piece of advice to business leaders trying to create a more fraud-aware culture internally, what would it be?

Kanwaljeet Kaur Soni: Make fraud everyone’s responsibility, not just a compliance checkbox. Empower your teams to speak up. Train them to ask the right questions. Make sure your leadership walks the talk.

A fraud-aware culture doesn’t come from memos or audits. It comes from daily actions, conversations and leadership alignment. Silence enables fraud. Awareness and dialogue prevent it.

TFS: Kanwaljeet, thank you so much for this insightful conversation. Your story as a founder and your commitment to fraud resilience is both inspiring and incredibly relevant today.

Kanwaljeet Kaur Soni: Thank you. It’s been a pleasure sharing GAFA’s journey. If there’s one takeaway I hope resonates, it’s this: fraud prevention is a leadership responsibility. And with the right mindset, every organization can build a culture where integrity thrives.