The Pre-Read
Workiva
Just like the slides you get before a big meeting, The Pre-Read gets CFOs and other decision-makers ready for what's next. This is the global podcast built for the modern office of the CFO, where finance, sustainability, audit, and risk come together.
Designed for financial leaders navigating transformation at scale, the show features sharp, unfiltered conversations with insiders at the forefront of business, regulation, and enterprise strategy. Each week, hosts Alyssa Zucker and Steve Soter, along with our bench of expert segment reporters, connect the dots between financial performance, regulatory demands, and long-term value creation.
From new disclosure mandates to AI and assurance readiness, The Pre-Read helps you track the forces reshaping business. We cover what matters globally, cross-functionally, and with just enough candor to keep it real. If you're making decisions at scale, or need to understand the leaders who are, you're in the right place.
Designed for financial leaders navigating transformation at scale, the show features sharp, unfiltered conversations with insiders at the forefront of business, regulation, and enterprise strategy. Each week, hosts Alyssa Zucker and Steve Soter, along with our bench of expert segment reporters, connect the dots between financial performance, regulatory demands, and long-term value creation.
From new disclosure mandates to AI and assurance readiness, The Pre-Read helps you track the forces reshaping business. We cover what matters globally, cross-functionally, and with just enough candor to keep it real. If you're making decisions at scale, or need to understand the leaders who are, you're in the right place.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Aug 4, 2023 • 24min
A Sustainable Shift: From CSR to ESG
AT&T's Chief Sustainability Officer discusses the evolution of their ESG program, the importance of integrating sustainability into business operations, preparing credible data for audits, the impact of external governance on materiality assessment, and envisioning the future of ESG reporting with standard frameworks and increased focus on social impact reporting.
Jul 28, 2023 • 22min
Overcoming Challenges in ESG Reporting
Maura Hodge from KPMG and Neetha Ravikumar from Microsoft discuss challenges in ESG reporting, including manual data collection, discrepancies in standards, delays in reporting, and ensuring product certifications. They also delve into the impact of ESG reporting on decarbonization, strategies for accurate and consistent reporting, and the value of utilizing ESG data for reducing carbon footprint and understanding business risks.
Jul 21, 2023 • 18min
Jumpstarting Sustainable Innovation
Noel Kinder, chief sustainability officer at Nike, and Brian Matt, head of ESG advisory at the New York Stock Exchange, join Workiva's Mandi McReynolds on the latest episode of ESG Talk. The trio talk about ESG as a catalyst for product innovation and finding value in collaboration and learning from others.
Jul 14, 2023 • 25min
Getting Ready for the CSRD
Guests Amelia Pan and Diana Tidd discuss the challenges and changing nature of the CSRD reporting requirements, the importance of resource allocation, stages and milestones in preparing for CSRD, integrating ESG factors into strategy, the role of Chief Sustainability Officer, implications of the reform of the Financial Reporting Council, and the positive aspects of ESG regulations.
Jul 7, 2023 • 18min
An Auditor's Perspective on ESG
Workiva's Ernest Anunciacion sits down with Nancy Jordan, vice president of internal audit at Cornerstone Building Brands, and Tom Rams, senior director of SOX and internal audit at 8x8. Tom and Nancy share lessons they've learned about ESG and assurance and discuss the importance of breaking down silos to foster the collection of more consistent, accurate data.
Jun 30, 2023 • 7min
Preparing for an Internal Audit
Whether it's your first time or you're a seasoned pro, this quick primer from ESG Talk host Mandi McReynolds will help you prepare for your organization's next internal audit. Listen as she explores best practices for ESG reporting and how auditors and sustainability teams can come together on the pathway to assurance.
Jun 23, 2023 • 17min
Beyond Scope 3: How HASI Tackles Avoided Emissions
This episode of ESG Talk features Chad Reed, vice president of strategic initiatives and ESG at HASI, the first public company to report avoided emissions. Chad shares how his team calculates its "carbon count" metric, the critical role coalitions play in sustainability reporting, and why HASI has doubled down on double materiality.
Jun 16, 2023 • 21min
Digital Transformation and ESG
Honeywell's chief sustainability officer, Evan Van Hook, and Shelly Kramer, Futurum Research's principal analyst, join host Mandi McReynolds to discuss the Environmental Sustainability Index (ESI), a quarterly comparison of sentiment and progress on ESG initiatives, and the role technology will play in their success. Learn more about the ESI: https://www.honeywell.com/us/en/company/sustainability/environmental-sustainability-index
Jun 9, 2023 • 12min
The Global Impact of CSRD
Andie Wood, vice president of regulatory strategy at Workiva, shares a primer on the CSRD (Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive), new ESG regulation adopted by the European Commission impacting thousands of companies worldwide. Andie also explores the context surrounding its adoption and its impact on integrated reporting.
Jun 2, 2023 • 21min
The Future of ESG Reporting
Allyson Anderson Book, Chief Sustainability Officer at Baker Hughes, discusses the company's transparency efforts and the significance of obtaining quality data for decision-making. They explore the advantages of ESG reporting in strengthening stakeholder relationships and meeting net zero goals, while also discussing challenges such as building human capital. The importance of board engagement and the changing landscape of board committees embracing ESG are also highlighted.
