

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

Oct 11, 2024 • 57min
Data-Driven Change: Navigating ESG Challenges with the C-Suite
Recorded live at Amplify Americas, this special episode of ESG Talk features Ron Insana, award-winning journalist from CNBC, moderating an insightful discussion with industry leaders: Katherine Neebe, Chief Sustainability Officer at Duke Energy; Alexander Davis, Deputy Chief Financial Officer at Pie Insurance; Maura Hodge, KPMG's U.S. sustainability leader; and Kim Huffman, Chief Information Officer at Workiva. Together, they explore how reporting professionals can leverage data and foster cross-functional collaboration to effectively navigate the rapid changes shaping the ESG landscape.

Oct 4, 2024 • 30min
Closing the Sustainability Skills Gap Through Employee Development
In this episode of ESG Talk, Tom Rayner, founder of Sillion, a transition consultancy focused on corporate ESG, and Ian Plummer, the commercial director of Auto Trader Group, the largest automotive marketplace in the United Kingdom join Andie Wood. Tune in as they discuss the sustainability skills gap and share practical advice and lessons learned from successfully implementing a carbon literacy program for over 1,000 professionals.

Sep 27, 2024 • 16min
How to Partner with Impact Start-Ups for Innovation
In this episode of ESG Talk, Sara Kappelmark, Co-CEO of Norrsken Foundation, and host Mandi McReynolds explore how startups are driving transformative change across industries. Sara shares insights from the foundation's 2024 Impact 100 list, highlighting groundbreaking solutions in renewable energy, carbon-free cement, and healthcare.

13 snips
Sep 20, 2024 • 29min
Navigating Scope 3: Estée Lauder's Path to Carbon Reduction
In the fourth and final episode of the ESG Talk Climate Week series, Nancy Mahon, chief sustainability officer of the Estée Lauder Companies, joins host Alyssa Zucker to discuss the company's approach to Scope 3 measurement and reporting. They cover the impact of consumer sustainability preferences and the unique challenges of leading sustainability efforts across a diverse portfolio of brands.

Sep 13, 2024 • 28min
Scope 2 Challenges: SBTi and Swiss Steel on Decarbonization
Frank Koch, CEO of Swiss Steel Group, a leader in electric steel production, joins Alberto Carrillo Pineda, CTO of the Science Based Targets initiative, a key player in climate target frameworks. They delve into the crucial role of the steel sector in achieving net-zero goals and the urgent need for innovative low-carbon technologies. The discussion covers strategies for transparency in emissions, the impact of renewable energy, and the importance of collaboration among stakeholders to drive sustainable practices in the industry.

Sep 6, 2024 • 24min
Decarbonizing Flight: Delta's Approach to Scope 1 Emissions
In the second episode of the ESG Talk Climate Week series, Amelia DeLuca, Delta Air Lines' chief sustainability officer, speaks with Andie Wood about Delta Air Lines' strategies for reducing its direct carbon emissions and efforts to increase sustainable aviation fuel production within the airline industry.

Aug 30, 2024 • 30min
The Fundamentals of Carbon Accounting
In this special Climate Week episode, ESG Talk and The Week in Sustainability team up to demystify greenhouse gas emissions. Join us as hosts Steve Soter, Andie Wood, and Alyssa Zucker kick off a four-part series focused on practical solutions for carbon accounting, management, and achieving net-zero goals.

Aug 23, 2024 • 24min
How Amalgamated Bank Uses Tech to Make a Positive Impact (Part Two)
In part two of this special 100th episode series of ESG Talk, we continue our conversation with Amalgamated Bank's CEO, Priscilla Sims Brown, and CFO, Jason Darby, to discuss how they use technology to drive the company's mission-driven business model and share actionable insights for other organizations.

Aug 16, 2024 • 26min
Beyond the Bottom Line: A Century of ESG Leadership (Part One)
In this special 100th episode of ESG Talk, we kick off a two-part series with Priscilla Sims Brown, CEO of Amalgamated Bank, Jason Darby, CFO, and special guest host Kim Huffman, CIO of Workiva. Discover how the bank has aligned its entire organization around a century-old mission, while driving a modern, socially responsible business.

Aug 9, 2024 • 28min
The Investor's Role in Sustainable Finance
In the second installment of a series exploring sustainable finance, co-host Andie Wood meets with Maria Lettini, CEO of the US Sustainable Investment Forum (SIF), and Kevin Thomas, CEO of the Shareholder Association for Research and Education (SHARE), to discuss how sustainable investors influence corporate sustainability strategy and ESG reporting.


