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
Feb 10, 2023 • 11min
SEC Regulation is (Almost) Here
In this week’s episode of ESG Talk, Workiva’s resident accounting and regulatory reporting expert, Steve Soter, stops by to share his predictions for the SEC’s climate disclosure proposal, human capital management, and the future of ESG and financial reporting.
Feb 3, 2023 • 24min
Getting Started with ESG
Consultants Harry Etra, chief executive officer of HXE Partners, and Peylina Chu, senior vice president of ESG Business Strategy at Antea Group, join Workiva’s Mandi McReynolds to explore what it takes to launch a successful ESG program—including team building, goal setting, and learning from failure.
Jan 27, 2023 • 16min
Finding Your ESG Superpower ft. Si-Yeon Kim
This week on ESG Talk, we’re reaching back into the vault to share one of our most popular episodes from season one. Si-Yeon Kim, former chief risk and compliance officer and executive chair of ESG at American Express Global Business Travel, joins host Mandi McReynolds to share how her team transformed sustainability challenges into business opportunity.
Jan 18, 2023 • 18min
Benchmarking and Transparency ft. Paul Druckman
Global accounting expert Paul Druckman joins Workiva’s Mandi McReynolds on the latest episode of ESG Talk. Mandi and Paul discuss sustainability, accountability, and why it might be time to rethink the title “CFO.”
Jan 11, 2023 • 18min
Corporate Responsibility and Reducing Harm ft. Jennifer Hunter, Altria
Jennifer Hunter, senior vice president of corporate citizenship and chief sustainability officer at Altria, discusses how her team balances corporate responsibility and the harm associated with Altria’s products, advocating to increase the legal age for purchasing tobacco products from 18 to 21. The conversation explores Altria's commitment to reducing harm, supporting FDA regulation and cessation resources, addressing underage use, and advocating for responsible retail practices.
Jan 4, 2023 • 4min
Season Two: Taking Perspective ft. Mandi McReynolds, Workiva
To kick off our second season of ESG Talk, host Mandi McReynolds introduces our theme for the year—perspective and the diversity of thought shaping the discourse around ESG. According to Mandi, a new perspective can be an obstacle or an opportunity. Which one will you choose?
Dec 28, 2022 • 11min
Highlights From Season One
We’re taking a look back on some of our favorite moments from season one of ESG Talk. In this highlight reel, we bring together insights and advice from Fortune 500 executives and consultants to authors, reporters, and leading academics. In season two, we’re bringing you more diverse perspectives to help simplify ESG and accelerate its impact on business and society.
Dec 21, 2022 • 7min
Dynamic Materiality and Stakeholder Engagement
In this short chat, ESG Talk host Mandi McReynolds shares part of an executive presentation she gave exploring dynamic materiality. Mandi describes practical ways companies can align stakeholder engagement with dynamic materiality as well as how ESG leaders are using technology to drive both forward in 2023. Resources: 1) The Chat: Challenges and Opportunities in ESG Reporting - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/esg-talk/id1622905439?i=1000568095872 2) Gaining Trust in Your ESG Data Is a Material Issue - https://www.workiva.com/blog/gaining-trust-your-esg-data-material-issue-0
Dec 14, 2022 • 20min
Unraveling ESG Regulation ft. Andromeda Wood and Steve Soter, Workiva
In this regulatory wrap up from ESG Talk, host Mandi McReynolds is joined by her Workiva colleagues, Andromeda Wood, Vice President of Regulatory Strategy, and Steve Soter, Senior Industry Principal. Andie and Steve share their takes on ESG regulation in the EU and US, including CSRD and recent developments by the SEC. Resources: 1) Andromeda Wood, CSRD Debrief - https://www.workiva.com/blog/csrd-debrief-whos-impacted-and-how-prepare 2) Steve Soter, podcast co-host Off the Books https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/off-the-books/id1505814699 3) COP27 and What’s Next for ESG ft. Paul Dickinson, CDP - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/esg-talk/id1622905439?i=1000588129567 4) The ROI of Sustainability ft. Tensie Whelan, NYU Stern Center for Sustainable Business - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/esg-talk/id1622905439?i=1000585631997
Dec 7, 2022 • 19min
Human Capital and the Dividend of Trust ft. Bhushan Sethi, PwC
Bhushan Sethi, Joint Global Leader of People and Organization at PwC and Adjunct Professor at NYU Stern’s School of Business, joins Workiva’s Mandi McReynolds on this week’s episode of ESG Talk. Mandi and Bhushan explore building a strategy for human capital management during an economic downturn, including how transparency can breed trust and empowering employees with "voice and choice." Resources: 1) PwC Global Workforce Hopes and Fears Survey 2022 - https://www.pwc.com/gx/en/news-room/press-releases/2022/global-workforce-hopes-and-fears-survey-2022.html 2) CNN Interview: “Voice and Choice” - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AAn1PJ3h7E0 3) PwC Pulse Survey: Managing business risks - https://www.pwc.com/us/en/library/pulse-survey/managing-business-risks.html 4) CeFPro Survey: ESG State of Play: Banks' Compliance and Automated Reporting Trends - https://www.cefpro.com/esg-state-of-play-report/ 5) PwC Workforce Transformation - https://www.pwc.com/us/en/services/consulting/business-transformation/workforce-transformation.html
