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 24, 2024 • 27min
Merging Sustainability with Financial Performance
Garrett Quinn, group chief sustainability officer at Smurfit Kappa Group, one of the leading providers of paper-based packaging, and Robert Eccles, a leading authority on sustainability, join co-host Andie Wood on the latest ESG Talk episode. Listen in as they explore the intricacies of navigating sustainability and financial performance, achieving sustainability targets, and Smurfit Kappa's journey with implementing the Taskforce for Nature-related Financial Disclosures.
May 17, 2024 • 29min
Leadership in a New Era of Accounting and Sustainability
Shivaram Rajgopal, chair of the accounting division at Columbia Business School, and Gihan Hyde, founder and CEO of Communique, join co-host Mandi McReynolds on the latest episode of ESG Talk. Listen in as they discuss their advice for current and emerging leaders as well as how sustainability adds soul to accounting and could attract more people to the profession.
May 10, 2024 • 22min
The Journey to Carbon-Free Data Centers
Eric Alam, CEO of RPD Energy, and Chris Pennington, director of energy and sustainability for Iron Mountain, join co-host Mandi McReynolds on ESG Talk to discuss the journey to carbon-free data centers. Listen in as they explore the surging electricity demands of modern data centers and the decisions that led Iron Mountain to pursue 24x7 carbon-free energy.
May 3, 2024 • 25min
The Digitization of ESG Reporting
Join John Turner, CEO of XBRL International, and Wes Bricker, Vice Chair at PwC US, as they delve into the transformation of ESG reporting through digitization. They discuss how XBRL taxonomies enhance data accessibility and clarity, improving regulatory decision-making. The conversation covers the significance of interoperability in sustainability, the need for reliable digital reporting standards, and how technology, including AI, boosts transparency. Discover the pivotal role of proactive planning and advanced tech in refining sustainability disclosures.
Apr 26, 2024 • 31min
Harnessing Climate Data for Transparency
In this episode of ESG Talk, Steve Manocchio, head of global financial compliance and risk management at Cisco, meets with Workiva's Steve Soter to discuss incorporating climate data into financial disclosures and how assurance, technology, and community advance ESG initiatives.
Apr 19, 2024 • 24min
Audit Standards and Sustainability
Anthony Pugliese, president and CEO of the Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA), joins co-host Mandi McReynolds to discuss global internal audit standards and their impact on corporate governance, risk management, and ESG reporting. From enhancing collaboration among teams to leveraging technology for audit programs, tune in as they discuss how organizations can adapt to today's dynamic business environment. To register for IIA's Sustainability Audit Risk Assurance Virtual Conference on June 20, visit: https://www.theiia.org/en/events/conference/virtual-conferences/esg-virtual-conference/
Apr 12, 2024 • 29min
Navigating Data Gaps
In this episode, we welcome back to the show Alex Edmans, professor of finance at London Business School and author of May Contain Lies, to discuss data gaps, including ESG metrics, with co-host Andie Wood. They delve into the complexities of data interpretation, the nuances of ESG reporting, and the importance of contextualizing data within a broader narrative for effective communication and decision-making.
Apr 5, 2024 • 23min
Insights on ESG Ratings
Julian Kölbel, assistant professor at the University of St. Gallen and a research affiliate at the MIT Sloan School of Management, joins co-host Mandi McReynolds for a discussion on ESG rating agencies. Listen in as they delve into his research on sustainable investing with a focus on ESG ratings, the disagreement between different rating agencies, and how it affects investors and companies. For more information on Julian's work, check out his research: Aggregate Confusion: The Divergence of ESG Ratings.
Mar 29, 2024 • 21min
Driving ESG with Supply Chain Intelligence
Miguel Sossa, vice president and sustainability GTM lead for Capgemini Americas, joins co-host Andie Wood to discuss the role supply chains play within ESG. They explore the pragmatic approaches necessary to advance towards a more sustainable world, tackling the urgent need for sustainable supply chains, and the challenge that Scope 3 emissions pose in measuring a company's carbon footprint.
Mar 22, 2024 • 22min
Harnessing ESG Reporting for Progress
In this episode of ESG Talk, host Andie Wood looks back on a conversation with Nadja Picard, partner and global reporting leader at PwC Germany. The duo explores how ESG reporting can drive operational change, the advantages of interoperability in standards, and the pivotal roles of CEOs and CFOs in spearheading ESG initiatives.
