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
May 26, 2023 • 6min
The Executive Guide to ESG Ratings
Join host Mandi McReynolds as she describes Workiva's approach to ESG ratings and rankers, how to identify which matter the most to your organization, and the benefits of communicating progress against ESG goals on an ongoing basis.
May 19, 2023 • 20min
Responsible Investing for a Sustainable Economy
Erin Bigley, chief responsibility officer at AllianceBernstein, pulls back the curtain on transparency and decision making in asset management. Erin and Mandi McReynolds, Workiva's vice president of global ESG, discuss the realities of corporate greenwashing, measuring and managing social risks, and more.
May 12, 2023 • 17min
Understanding Stakeholders for Better Governance
Matthew Sekol, ESG and sustainability advocate at Microsoft, joins Mandi McReynolds on the latest episode of ESG Talk. Sekol explains why he believes understanding stakeholders is a critical component of the "G" and why governance is too often overlooked in the world of ESG. Resources: ESG Advocate Newsletter: https://esgadvocate.substack.com/
May 5, 2023 • 26min
Managing Risk Through Scenario Analysis
Mandi McReynolds looks back on her discussion with Jared Forman, managing partner of ESG and climate risk at FORVIS. The two discuss risk management and ESG, including scenario analysis and how Workiva benefited from a FORVIS risk scenario workshop in this episode of ESG Talk. Resources: FORVIS ESG & Climate Risk - https://www.forvis.com/services/esg-climate-risk
Apr 28, 2023 • 26min
The ROI of Sustainability, Part II
Tensie Whelan, director of the NYU Stern Center for Sustainable Business, and Kelly Fisher, head of corporate sustainability at HSBC Bank USA, discuss case studies on driving financial performance with sustainable investments. They emphasize the importance of measuring sustainability, implementing circularity in industries like apparel, and banks prioritizing sustainability. They also call for every person within a company to tackle climate change and social inequity.
Apr 21, 2023 • 9min
Trust and Assurance for ESG Reporting
Ernest Anunciacion, a certified internal auditor, discusses the critical role of GRC in ESG reporting and the importance of assurance, governance, and compliance. He highlights how companies can meet the SEC's climate disclosure ruling through independent assurance and applies lessons from financial reporting control environments to ESG programs.
Apr 12, 2023 • 9min
Reflections from Reuters' Responsible Business
Host Mandi McReynolds shares insights from Reuters' flagship event, Responsible Business USA 2023, where she moderated a panel on collecting audit-ready ESG data. Mandi shares key takeaways from her time in New York, including using technology to balance business and societal impact and aligning ESG and financial statements. Previous ESG Talk episodes on SEC regulation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A4D4YjU7MUE https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HHcLVwXUL_4
Apr 7, 2023 • 27min
Applying an Economic Lens to ESG
Alex Edmans, finance professor at London Business School and leading expert on sustainable finance, joins Mandi McReynolds, vice president of ESG at Workiva. Alex and Mandi discuss sustainability and long-term value creation, including the importance and limitations of data and executive compensation.
Mar 24, 2023 • 24min
SEC Climate Disclosure: Predictions and Preparation
In this episode of ESG Talk, David Kanarek, vice president and managing counsel at American Express, joins Workiva's Mark Mellen and Steve Soter to discuss the SEC's climate disclosure proposal. Mark and Steve predict what will make it into the final ruling while David shares how his finance and sustainability teams are preparing for the new regulation.
Mar 22, 2023 • 19min
Finding Opportunity in Risk
Denise Vaughn, vice president of ESG at Ferguson Enterprises, and Christopher Lindsay, vice president of government relations for the International Association of Plumbing & Mechanical Officials, join Workiva's Mandi McReynolds. They explore the business and societal risks associated with water, how their organizations are coming together to address the water crisis in the United States, and the importance of pilots, process, and partnership for driving ESG strategy.
