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In this episode, we tackle SEC updates and the high-stakes world of IPO readiness. Market dynamics are shifting from rigid quantitative thresholds to a new era of professional judgment. Financial reporting expert Chelsea Hall unpacks recent SEC signals on materiality and the potential for significant tariff refunds. Then, Josh Gertsch joins to discuss the massive backlog of unicorn companies and a capital markets explosion sitting on the sidelines. 

Key Discussion Points: 
Materiality Overhaul: Why the SEC is moving away from the 5% or 10% rules and toward a crisp, digestible MD&A. 
Tariff Refund Opportunity: Evaluating accounting models for potential recoveries following a Supreme Court ruling. 
The Deal Accelerator: How AI is cutting weeks and months off due diligence and registration drafting. 
The Rule of 40: Why investors are prioritizing companies where combined revenue growth and profit margin exceed 40%. 

Timestamp Highlights:
0:00 - Intro 
01:50 – Moving away from quantitative materiality thresholds 
02:20 – The Supreme Court and tariff refund opportunities 
03:55 – Why risk factors have become a "CYA" exercise 
17:00 – The IPO quality bar and the return of the rule of 40 
19:30 – Leveraging technology and AI in the deal cycle 
24:40 – The shift in readiness strategy for private companies 

"The question isn't whether Blockbuster was famous. It's whether it's famous enough now for trademark law to care in the same way." —Ivan Moreno 

Guest spotlight:
Ivan Moreno, senior reporter at Law360®, breaks down the Blockbuster trademark case against a Mississippi animal feed company. He discusses why heritage brands must fight to stay legally relevant even when they no longer lead the market. 

Then Alana Chartier, Sustainability Analyst at Workiva, explains the $81 trillion blind spot in global company valuation. She argues that a 21st-century economy cannot run on 20th-century reporting systems that classify human capital and AI as costs instead of assets. 

Timestamps:
0:00 Introduction 
03:30 The Blockbuster trademark case vs. Southern Seed and Feed 
05:40 Dilution by blurring: Can you protect a legacy name? 
08:30 Accounting for brand value: Acquisition vs. internal builds 
11:00 Reputation as a corporate credit score 
18:40 The orchard analogy: Why we only count the fruit 
21:30 Integrated reporting: Connecting financial and non-financial data 

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We explore how the office of the CFO is taking the lead, shifting sustainability from a values-driven initiative to a finance-led sustainability strategy anchored in financial materiality. Learn how to build a data backbone that delivers assurance-ready sustainability data for global mandates like CSRD and ISSB.

Key moments:
00:00 Introduction
02:15 Identifying the narrative reality gap in today's market 
05:40 Green hushing vs. green quitting: What the data says 
09:10 Why the controller's office is the new home for sustainability
12:50 Moving beyond a check-the-box compliance mindset 
17:45 Using assurance-ready sustainability data to optimize the cost of capital 

"Companies getting it right treat the disclosure as a byproduct of good decision-making, not an output of something that was ... machine built to produce PDF outcome." —Grant Harrison, VP of Sustainable Finance and ESG at Trellis Group 

Find past conversations at workiva.com/podcast/the-pre-read
#Sustainability #CFO #ESG #FinanceStrategy #Workiva

The traditional quarterly cycle is under the microscope. We explore the potential shift to semi-annual reporting and why "less" disclosure often results in more work for finance, legal, and IR.

What we cover:

» The Capital Gap: Will investors penalize companies that choose to say less?

» The 8-K Surge: Why voluntary filings might become the new 10-Q.

» The Governance Risk: Navigating longer "dark periods" and insider trading exposure.

» Decision-Grade Data: Why you can't afford to lose the discipline of a quarterly close.

The Insight:

"Never has an investor asked for less information." — Mike Rost,SVP & Chief Strategy Officer, Workiva

Timestamps: 
00:00 Intro
02:21 Highlights and Key Risks
04:23 IR Transparency Tradeoffs
07:39 Eight-K Takes Center Stage
10:43 Finance Governance and Data
13:54 Reg FD and Guidance Pressure
14:50 Insider Trading and Litigation
22:15 Final Takeaways and Readiness
26:06 Europe and UK Real-World Model

#SEC #CFO #InvestorRelations #Governance #ThePreRead #Workiva

Recorded in Davos, this episode digs into the human side of transformation. We sit down with global leaders to unpack why the human in the loop is being rewritten and why change management has become a core executive capability.

Mandi McReynolds talks with Costi Perricos, Global GenAI Business Leader at Deloitte, Dennis Woodside, CEO of Freshworks, and Dr. Márcia Balisciano, Board Member Foundation for the UN Global Compact and CSO of RELX, about what they're seeing on the ground as roles evolve from task execution to AI orchestration.

In this episode:

04:00 Costi Pericos on agentic collaboration and why HR and AI are converging
13:10 Dennis Woodside on the execution gap and changing daily work habits
15:30 Marcia Balisciano on CFO leadership and becoming "chief environmental champions"
19:00 Conclusion: Why CFOs must architect the agentic future

"I often say you'll learn without AI first so that one day you can be the human in the loop, coordinating and governing AI."
— Costi Pericos, Deloitte

Enjoy this episode? Find more at workiva.com/podcast/the-pre-read

Jatin Dalal, Chief Financial Officer, Cognizant; Mike Rost, Chief Strategy Officer, Workiva; Jonathan Zanger, Chief Technology Officer, Check Point; and Jennifer Steinmann, Global Sustainability Business Leader, Deloitte gathered to talk about: 
The ROI heresy: Why waiting for a fixed ROI is like using an obsolete map for a moving target 
The 3x productivity jump: Why a 300% increase is the new starting point for AI 
Security risks: Understanding white font attacks and AI doppelgangers in HR systems 
Strategic insights: How predictive analytics and earth observation are changing risk valuation 

Timestamps:
00:00—Multiplying traditional productivity by three 
02:15—The Davos panel: AI promise and peril 
04:10—Why ROI is an irrelevant measure for AI 
05:40—Security alerts: The white font attack 
07:15—The $3.8 trillion insight at stake 
08:20—The Monday morning mandate 

"Whatever you thought about traditional productivity multiplied by three at minimum, and that should be a starting point, not the end point." —Jatin Dalal, CFO of Cognizant 

Find past conversations at workiva.com/podcast/the-pre-read 

We kick off a Davos miniseries with Workiva CSO Mandi McReynolds, bringing perspectives straight from the World Economic Forum in Davos.

Mandi sits down with Ami Badani, CMO of Arm, Rob Fisher, Global Head of Advisory at KPMG, and Robin Hodess, CEO of Global Reporting Initiative, to break down brand risk, workforce pressure, and why transparent, trusted data is now a leadership mandate.

In this episode:

04:00 Defending information certainty and proactive brand protection
09:30 The "dollar for dollar" rule: Investing equally in tech and people
18:00 Why reporting is becoming a frontline risk tool
21:00 Preview: The rise of cybersecurity doppelgangers

"For every dollar on the tech, you should be spending a dollar on the workforce transformation."
—Rob Fisher, Global Head of Advisory, KPMG

Enjoy this episode? Find more at workiva.com/podcast/the-pre-read

#Davos2026 #GlobalRisk #CFO #AIStrategy #WorkforceTransformation

In this episode of The Pre-Read, we sit down with Lori Defnet, ESG Controller at The Hershey Company, to define the core remit of this emerging role. While traditional controllers guard the known, ESG controllers manage ambiguity. Lori shares how she navigates moving targets in the regulatory landscape and why curiosity and adaptability are the most critical skills for the next generation of finance leaders.

Key moments:
02:45—Defining the core remit of an ESG controller 
05:30—The data challenge: ERP systems vs. supplier surveys 
08:15—A "crawl, walk, run" approach to limited and reasonable assurance 
11:40—Stakeholder management: Education and empathy 
13:50—Will the ESG controller role eventually merge with finance?
17:15—Curiosity and adaptability in succession planning 

"I think the role of that ESG controller is that translator to help teach the business and teach the finance organization how to get there." —Lori Defnet 

Find past conversations at workiva.com/podcast/the-pre-read

#ESG #Accounting #Sustainability #FinanceTransformation #Workiva

Global C-suite executive Amina Razvi joins us to explain why decision-grade data is the foundation of modern CFO risk management. She breaks down how integrating financial and non-financial data changes how companies manage volatility, price risk, and build long-term resilience.

In this conversation, we cover:

Why waiting for perfect data is a risk in itself
How sustainability data quality drives innovation, not just compliance
What CFOs gain by connecting financial, operational, and supply chain data
Why working pre-competitively can reduce risk across entire industries

Enjoying the show? Find past conversations at workiva.com/podcast/the-pre-read
Subscribe for more insights on leadership, data, and risk.

Alan Wilson and Chelsea Hall join the conversation to break down these new FPI director and officer reporting obligations and why the SEC has a tight deadline of March 18 to implement the rules. We discuss the sudden loss of exemptions, the need for individual EDGAR® codes, and the risks of missing the two-day filing window.

Chapters:
00:00–Introduction: A Regulatory Ground Shift The hosts introduce the end of long-standing exemptions for FPIs and the era of regulatory accommodation.
05:15–Breaking Down FPI Section 16 Reporting Alan Wilson explains the nuances of Form 3, 4, and 5 requirements, noting that while reporting is mandatory, short-swing liability (Section 16b) currently does not apply.
06:45–The Surprise of Congressional Speed Analysis of why Congress moved faster than the SEC and what this bipartisan unity signals for future securities rulemaking.
09:30–Future Outlook: Beyond Section 16 Insights into potential further changes, including updates to the FPI definition and the convergence of IFRS and US GAAP.
13:15–Infrastructure for Resilience Why investing in stability and agility is the only way to meet rapidly approaching deadlines like the March 18 cutoff.
17:30–Closing Thoughts: The Complexity of Compliance Final debate on whether this is a "big lift" for FPIs and how the market might react to potential moves toward quarterly reporting.

Enjoy this episode? Find past conversations at workiva.com/podcast/the-pre-read

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Workiva CEO Julie Iskow joins Steve Soder and Alyssa Zucker to unpack what 2025 taught executives and how to prepare for 2026. This conversation goes beyond headlines to explore how leaders can stay grounded while moving faster, make data a strategic asset, and meet rising board expectations with confidence.

In this episode:

Redefining resilience: Why stability and agility must coexist

Data integrity as strategy: Turning trusted data into a competitive advantage

AI readiness: Why governed, audit-ready data is the foundation for safe AI adoption

The evolving boardroom: How expectations are shifting toward deeper, more frequent engagement

Chapters
0:00 Defining resilience for 2026
3:15 Stability vs. agility in volatile markets
7:40 Data integrity: From compliance to strategy
11:20 When bad data becomes AI risk
15:00 The new expectations of the boardroom
18:30 Julie's word for 2026: Clarity

Enjoy this episode? Explore more conversations at the intersection of finance, risk, and sustainability at workiva.com/pre-read-podcast.

Finance and accounting leaders are split on whether moving from quarterly to semiannual SEC reporting will simplify processes or compound risk. In this episode, industry expert Tom Schneiders joins to unpack what a reduced cadence would really mean for teams, investors, and market stability.

We cover:

• The hidden risk of doubling the data window—from three months to six
• Why most finance teams aren't asking to report less frequently
• How quarterly reporting strengthens risk management and operational discipline
• What's fueling the new momentum in the IPO pipeline
• Why generative AI is moving from experiment to essential for the C-suite

If you want to understand how reporting cadence shapes trust, transparency, and executive decision-making, this conversation is for you.

What you will learn in this episode:
Why "total organizational intelligence" is a survival imperative for the modern enterprise
How orchestrating your data across the organization is a huge unlock for immediate revenue opportunities
The most common and foundational AI use case: standardized knowledge management powered by large language models
How to build a clear, defensible AI roadmap to avoid "AI washing" and drive real, long-term impact
Beyond large language models: Using advanced machine learning for complex optimization 

Find past conversations at workiva.com/podcast/the-pre-read. Subscribe to catch all our upcoming episodes.

#Leadership #FinancePodcast #AITransformation #OrganizationalIntelligence 

Jonathan Johnson, former chairman and CEO of Overstock and current member of various boards, joins the show to unpack one of the most debated proposals to SEC reporting. They explore whether fewer formal filings would help management teams stay focused on long-term enterprise value instead of reacting to quarterly earnings swings.

In this episode:
• How a semiannual cadence could affect a company's time horizon
• Whether companies would still feel pressure to share quarterly updates
• The gap between GAAP metrics and the metrics leaders actually use to run the business
• Why the growing length of 10-Qs and 10-Ks is fueling this debate
• The role XBRL® tagging plays in machine and AI analysis—and what could shift
• Whether board oversight and accountability would meaningfully change

Jonathan also points out that semiannual reporting already works in markets like Europe and Australia.

Catch this episode for a candid executive view on one of the biggest potential shifts in public-company reporting.

Timestamps
00:00 Introduction
01:15 Why semi-annual reporting is back in the spotlight
03:10 CEOs vs. CFOs: What the WSJ poll revealed
06:30 How quarterly reporting shapes internal rigor
08:00 Jonathan Johnson joins the conversation
08:20 Does quarterly reporting really drive short-term thinking?
13:00 Why internal reporting cadences won't change
15:20 Are 10-Qs simply too long?
18:00 Board oversight: What would actually change?
20:00 Should executives rethink their processes?
21:50 Semi-annual reporting around the world

Subscribe to The Pre-Read for more conversations at the intersection of finance, reporting, and leadership.

In this episode, we explore:
• How Texas' corporate growth sparked the idea for a new national exchange
• Why the TXSE focuses on helping companies become better public companies—not louder ones
• Legislative wins in Texas that curb excessive litigation and the weaponization of governance
• Why decentralization has made the physical location of an exchange less relevant
• The roadmap for building investor confidence through ETF/ETP listings and a physical exchange launch
• Why this is about practical rules that impact a company's bottom line, not loosening governance

Timestamps:
01:00 | Why Texas? Corporate growth and diversification
03:50 | The TXSE philosophy and vision
08:30 | Litigation, governance, and reporting costs
10:15 | Business judgment rule and D&O insurance benefits
14:30 | The exchange's national and global ambitions
18:00 | Decentralization and the future of trading
20:15 | Building investor confidence
23:45 | Advice for private companies preparing for an IPO

Subscribe for more conversations at the intersection of finance, sustainability, governance, and strategy.

In this episode of The Pre-Read, we break down how finance and sustainability leaders are aligning around programs like sustainability-linked bonds, why a long-term mindset matters, and how AI is helping organizations make sense of fragmented, non-standardized information.


• Why sustainability data is more complex than financial data
• The need for integration—top-down from the board and across every business unit
• How companies build data confidence through external assurance
• The two-pillar reporting model: impact (GRI, SDGs) and value (ISSB, TCFD, TNFD)
• Why brave leadership and a growth mindset are essential for adopting new technology

Featuring:
Esther An, CSO, City Developments Limited
Andrea Amozurrutia Casillas, Finance and Sustainability Director, Grupo Herdez

Read the full report on how professionals are building value with AI: workiva.com/pr-building-value

Key Segments:
01:00 | Why sustainability data is more complex
03:50 | The two-pillar approach: Impact + value
08:30 | Esther An on board sign-off and assurance
15:30 | Long-term view in a volatile environment
18:00 | Andrea Amozurrutia Casillas on sustainability-linked bonds
25:30 | Why AI matters for data chaos

Find more conversations at workiva.com/podcast/the-pre-read
Subscribe for upcoming episodes.

In this episode of The Pre-Read, Workiva Chief Sustainability Officer Mandi McReynolds sits down with Serena Oppenheim, co-founder of Fin-Erth, to discuss the need for a tighter integration between the CFO and the CSO, framing sustainability as enterprise risk management.

Serena Oppenheim explains why genuine community, not transactional networking, is the key to tackling big business problems. Learn about the power of the small ask—focusing on manageable tasks that impact business and society. Mandi and Serena also share:
Why the CFO, CSO, and CIO worlds are starting to work together
The growing frustration when the sustainability function sits in a silo
How to build your own "table" with people who will challenge your thinking
The importance of asking different questions in a new executive role

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction 
01:50 Climate Week takeaways: The partnership of the CFO and CSO 
03:30 Framing sustainability as enterprise risk management 
04:20 Serena Oppenheim on building trust and community 
05:15 The power of the small ask 
07:10 Why traditional networking is awful for introverts 
09:40 The accidental birth of Thin Earth as a community 
12:50 Being intentional with C-suite relationships 
17:00 How to build your own table with dissenters 
20:45 Leaning into a different perspective at the executive table 
25:00 Finding your business superpower to build your table 2
8:00 Driving strategy by looking at financial and sustainability data together 

As progression analysis evolves and web traffic declines, traditional forecasting and investment models are losing their edge. This episode breaks down what modern finance and marketing leaders must do to keep pace.

You'll learn:

Why the old CFO-CMO disconnect is no longer sustainable

How AI's data disruption is forcing a new model of collaboration

Why credibility and transparency are now the most valuable data currencies

What separates a caretaker CFO from a truly transformative one

Watch the full episode for practical insights on data trust, financial transformation, and redefining success in the age of AI.
00:00 Introduction
01:14 Rewriting the Marketing Playbook with AI
02:42 The Changing Role of CFOs in the AI Era
06:25 The Future of Marketing and Finance Collaboration
10:14 Closing Thoughts 

In this episode of The Pre-Read, recorded live at Amplify 2025 in Washington, D.C., finance and accounting leaders share unfiltered takes on how AI is changing the way teams think, work, and lead.

You'll learn:

Why fear of losing data lineage and control slows AI adoption
How AI is driving teams to strengthen data processes—even before they deploy it
Why emotional resilience and communication are essential for transformation
Real-world AI use cases freeing up time for high-value work
How to lead through uncertainty with confidence and trust

Time stamps:
00:00 Introduction
01:43 AI in Finance: Leaders' Perspectives
03:23 Concerns and Benefits of AI Adoption
08:24 Navigating Uncertainty with AI
14:11 Broader Uncertainty and Leadership
16:56 Optimizing Team Efficiency with AI
18:22 Addressing AI Fears and Human Value
19:21 Maintaining Team Resilience and Progress
22:55 The Importance of Check-ins and Communication
24:45 Embracing AI as a Team Companion
28:19 Navigating Rapid Change and Continuous Improvement

Hosted by Steve Soter and Alyssa Zucker.
Learn more at workiva.com/podcast/the-pre-read

Watch to learn:

How the "jagged frontier" changes AI's reliability
Why some workers thrive with AI while others falter
The hidden risks of treating AI like a teammate
What leaders can do to create a culture of safe experimentation

In this episode of The Pre-Read, Radical Compliance's Matt Kelly and Shane Negangard, Senior Director of Internal Audit at Workiva, join hosts Steve Soter and Alyssa Zucker to discuss:
✅ Why "shadow AI" is a real compliance threat
✅ How governance and internal controls must evolve
✅ The risks of AI in employee training and internal audit
✅ How auditors can move from reactive to proactive in an AI world

Timestamps
00:00 – Intro: The real risk of "shadow AI" in audit and compliance
02:10 – Why AI is rewriting governance faster than policies can catch up
05:25 – The blurred line between automation and accountability
09:40 – What internal auditors are seeing on the ground
14:05 – How CFOs and CAOs can partner with marketing and data teams on AI
17:30 – Governance, controls, and the need for real-time oversight
21:15 – Why culture and education matter more than ever
25:10 – The future of AI governance and trust in reporting

If you're in audit, risk, compliance, or finance, this episode is your playbook for governing AI responsibly—without slowing innovation.

00:00 Introduction
02:20 Early Career and Transition to Workiva
03:58 Building Workiva from the Ground Up
05:09 Becoming the CFO: Challenges and Insights
10:06 Reflections and Career Advice
14:43 Conclusion and Farewell

Episode Highlights:
* 0:00 Introduction 
* 01:00 Is AI a copywriter or a core part of corporate reporting?
* 03:50 The biggest gaps in data readiness and why you can't trust what you can't trace.
* 08:30 Best practices for integrating AI: Start small and scale with confidence.
* 10:15 The 'ARES' framework for responsible AI governance.
* 14:30 The power of a human intelligence and artificial intelligence hybrid model.
* 18:00 The critical skills teams need to develop beyond basic AI training.

00:00 Introduction

01:45 Types of risks in carbon projects

03:20 Why carbon projects are resilient to short-term political shifts

05:00 How profitability and ROI drive climate technology

06:40 The future of the voluntary carbon market

08:30 How executives can reframe sustainability as a financial metric

10:00 Why water is a critical business resource

11:30 Rethinking wastewater as a business opportunity

13:00 The financial and reputational risks of poor water stewardship

15:45 Metrics that prove ROI in wastewater management

17:00 Advice for leaders on making their operations more resilient

#CFO #Sustainability #ESG #CarbonMarkets #ClimateFinance #RiskManagement

In this episode of The Pre-Read, we sit down with Workiva Chief Accounting Officer Junko Swain and Chief Information Officer Kim Huffman to discuss the implications of the Workiva 2025 Global Practitioner Survey. We explore why the C-suite is uniquely positioned to set the foundation for a successful and secure AI strategy.

Timestamps: 
01:00 ROI and the lack of AI governance

04:00 Defining high-quality data

06:30 The role of AI in data quality

08:00 The importance of role-specific training

10:45 The difference between generic and specialized AI tools

12:30 How the C-suite can set the foundation for AI strategy

Read more from the survey at workiva.com/PR-BuildingValue

The Pre-Read hosts Steve Soter and Alyssa Zucker dig into AI, sustainability, and how leaders can harness the transformative power of one to unlock the game-changing impacts of the other. 

Keep listening because there is an obstacle to twin transformation that may surprise you.

0:00 Intro

02:33 Meet Professor Michael Wade

03:36 The two mega trends of the decade

04:28 The ties that bind

07:22 The best-positioned sectors to take advantage

08:44 OK, so what are the blockers?

12:21 Transformation is closer than you think

12:23 The playbook

Subscribe to catch all our upcoming episodes, including episodes about the latest conversations in all things #accounting #finance #sustainability #audit and #risk.

On this episode of The Pre-Read, Workiva Industry Principals Chelsea Hall and Grant Ostler join for a roundtable to discuss what's broken and what's worth saving. We examine the push to dismantle the board and roll its responsibilities into the SEC. We also discuss what executives need to keep in mind, the importance of maintaining investor confidence in financial reporting, and how leveraging technology can streamline compliance and reduce the burden of documentation.

0:00 Introduction

01:40 What's going on with the PCAOB?

03:20 Is this political theater or a real threat?

05:00 Why the PCAOB matters to the C-suite

06:30 The value of audits as a foundation for capital markets

08:00 Where the PCAOB may have missed the mark

10:15 The cost of compliance

13:30 Investor concerns on regulation and efficiency

16:15 How companies can prepare for change

17:30 Finding the balance between regulation and efficiency

Enjoy this episode? Find past conversations of us surfing the uncharted waters of accounting, finance, risk, and wherever else the waves take us at workiva.com/pre-read-podcast.

Subscribe to catch all our upcoming episodes, including episodes about the latest conversations in all things finance, sustainability, audit, and risk.

Our own CFO, Jill Klindt, spills the beans about how finance teams can use AI to make their jobs better, not replace them. Think augmenting expertise and making those tedious tasks disappear. She's also got the inside scoop on why data quality is like gold for AI success and why CFOs should lead the charge when it comes to experimenting with this new tech. 

Plus, Alan Wilson, Partner at WilmerHale, gives us the straight talk on the legal side of things. He emphasizes getting your legal team involved early, treating AI just like any other business risk, and keeping an eye on how regulatory accountability is already shaping up. It's a must-listen for anyone ready to navigate the exciting, and sometimes head-scratching, world of AI. 

 
Timestamps:

02:30 Jill K. on AI: Enhancing human expertise versus automating the mundane. 

05:10 Unlocking value: Where AI fits into your income statement. 

08:00 Inside Workiva's AI strategy: Collaborating to build better tech. 

10:45 Why clean data is the secret sauce for AI success. 

13:30 Jill K's candid advice for executives embracing the AI future. 

15:45 Alan W. on looping in legal when implementing AI. 

18:30 Public perception: How to talk about AI without overselling it. 

21:00 Navigating the legal maze: Agencies, juries, and the "AI washing" problem. 

24:30 Peering into the crystal ball: Unforeseen risks and the future of AI. 

Read more about the Sustainability Institute's research here: https://www.msci-institute.com/.

This episode was recorded prior to Siemen's departure from GM.

Check out the full report.

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/  

For more information on Julian's work, check out his research: Aggregate Confusion: The Divergence of ESG Ratings.

Read the 2023 Workiva's Global Practitioner Survey: https://www.workiva.com/resources/2023-global-esg-practitioner-survey

Access virtual Amplify sessions here: sm.workiva.com/amplify-podcast

Watch ESG in the C-Suite here: sm.workiva.com/esg-csuite    

Looking for more? Join Workiva for "ESG in the C-Suite," a free, virtual session at Climate Week on Tuesday, September 19 at 2:00 pm EDT.

Register here: sm.workiva.com/climate-week-2023

Read the report: workiva.com/2023-ESG-Survey

Register for our LinkedIn Live: sm.workiva.com/linkedin-live

Learn more about the ESI: https://www.honeywell.com/us/en/company/sustainability/environmental-sustainability-index

Resources:

ESG Advocate Newsletter: https://esgadvocate.substack.com/

Resources:

FORVIS ESG & Climate Risk - https://www.forvis.com/services/esg-climate-risk

Previous ESG Talk episodes on SEC regulation:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A4D4YjU7MUE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HHcLVwXUL_4

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 

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 

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 

Resources:

1) Federal Supplier Climate Risks and Resilience Proposed Rule - https://www.sustainability.gov/federalsustainabilityplan/fed-supplier-rule.html 

2) CDP questionnaire to add ISSB's climate disclosure standard - https://www.corporatesecretary.com/articles/esg/33225/cdp-questionnaire-add-issb%E2%80%99s-climate-disclosure-standard 

3) The Chat: Questions Emerge at COP27 - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/esg-talk/id1622905439?i=1000586406377 

4) Shaping the Global Climate Transition for All ft. Simon Mundy - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/esg-talk/id1622905439?i=1000578677697

Resources:

1) ESG Pro Group - https://www.progroups.org/about-us/about-us/esgprogroup-about-us   

Resources:

1) COP27 - https://cop27.eg/#/ 

2)President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi Opening Speech - https://www.sis.gov.eg/Story/172566/President-El-Sisi's-Speech-at-the-Opening-Session-of-COP-27?lang=en-us 

Resources:

1) NYU Stern Center for Sustainable Business Return on Sustainability Investment (ROSI™) - https://www.stern.nyu.edu/experience-stern/about/departments-centers-initiatives/centers-of-research/center-sustainable-business/research/return-sustainability-investment-rosi 

2) Harvard Business Review: ESG Reports Aren't a Replacement for Real Sustainability - https://hbr.org/2022/07/esg-reports-arent-a-replacement-for-real-sustainability 

3) NYU Stern Center for Sustainable Business - https://www.stern.nyu.edu/sustainability

Resources:

1) DICK'S Sporting Goods 2021 Purpose Playbook - https://investors.dicks.com/news/sideline-report/blog-story-details/2022/A-TEAM-EFFORT-INTRODUCING-THE-2021-PURPOSE-PLAYBOOK/default.aspx

2) DICK'S Sporting Goods Foundation Sports Matter program - https://www.sportsmatter.org/ 

3) Sandy Hook Promise - https://www.sandyhookpromise.org/ 

Resources:

1) Flex - Our Sustainability - https://flex.com/company/our-sustainability 

2) Flex Foundation - https://flex.com/company/our-sustainability/flex-foundation 

3) McKinsey & Company - https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/operations/our-insights/building-sustainability-into-operations 

Resources:

1) Principal Financial Group ESG Strategy - https://www.principal.com/sustainability/esg-strategy 

2) Global Financial Inclusion Index - https://www.principal.com/financial-inclusion 

3) Edelman Trust Barometer - https://www.edelman.com/trust/2022-trust-barometer

Resources:

1) World Economic Forum article - https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2022/09/what-start-ups-think-about-esg-and-why-it-matters/ 

2) UN Global Compact participants - https://www.unglobalcompact.org/what-is-gc/participants

3) UN Global Compact resources - https://www.unglobalcompact.org/take-action/leadership 

4) Kevin O'Leary on ESG: Straight Talk from Mr. Wonderful - https://www.workiva.com/blog/kevin-oleary-esg-straight-talk-mr-wonderful  

Resources:

1) Purpose and Profit - https://www.amazon.com/Purpose-Profit-Business-Lift-World/dp/1400230357/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr= 

2) Harvard Business School Profile - https://www.hbs.edu/faculty/Pages/profile.aspx?facId=15705 

Resources:

1) ESG – A Defense, A Critique, And A Way Forward: An Evidence-Driven Pragmatic Perspective - https://www.forbes.com/sites/shivaramrajgopal/2022/08/21/esg--a-defense-a-critique-and-a-way-forward-an-evidence-driven-pragmatic-perspective/ 

2) ESG – A Defense, A Critique (part 2), And A Way Forward: An Evidence-Driven Pragmatic Perspective - https://www.forbes.com/sites/shivaramrajgopal/2022/08/28/esg--a-defense-a-critique-part-2-now-and-a-way-forward-an-evidence-driven-pragmatic-perspective/ 

3) ESG – A Defense, A Critique, And A Way Forward (part 3): Evidence-Driven Pragmatic Perspective - https://www.forbes.com/sites/shivaramrajgopal/2022/09/01/esg--a-defense-a-critique-and-a-way-forward-part-3-now-evidence-driven-pragmatic-perspective/ 

4) Website - https://www.shivarajgopal.com/ 

Resources:

1) ESG Decoded Podcast - https://climeco.com/esg-decoded-podcast/ 

2) Sustainability Decoded Podcast - https://link.chtbl.com/SustainabilityDecoded-McReynolds

Resources:

1) Race for Tomorrow - https://www.simonmundy.com/book

2) Financial Times Moral Money - https://www.ft.com/moral-money

3) Simon Mundy YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/c/SimonMundy

4) Website - https://www.simonmundy.com/

Resources:

1) FORVIS ESG & Climate Risk - https://www.forvis.com/services/esg-climate-risk

2) Global Association of Risk Professionals (GARP) - https://www.garp.org/

3) ESG Today - https://www.esgtoday.com/

Resources:

1) LinkedIn Poll on Sustainable Business Travel - https://www.linkedin.com/posts/mandimcreynolds_esgtalk-esg-sustainability-activity-6961001859696259072-M2kt/

2) Antea Group: Engaging Supply Chain on Scope 3 for Strategic Advantage - https://us.anteagroup.com/news-events/blog/engaging-supply-chain-on-scope-3-for-strategic-advantage

3) Antea Group:10 Ways Your Business Can Reduce Its Carbon Footprint - https://us.anteagroup.com/news-events/blog/10-ways-business-reduce-carbon-footprint

Resources:

1) Farrell Associate's Talent Roots Project - https://www.farrellassociates.com/our-impact

2) LinkedIn Article: Please can we collectively stop saying there is an 'ESG Talent War'? - https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/please-can-we-collectively-stop-saying-esg-talent-war-lotti-hawkins/

3) ESG Meme - https://twitter.com/followalisont/status/1362994652396335118

4) PwC study on CSOs - https://www.reuters.com/business/sustainable-business/number-company-sustainability-officers-triples-2021-study-2022-05-04/

Resources:

1) ESGT Megatrends Manual 2022-2023 Edition - https://issuu.com/medauras/docs/esgt_megatrends_report_2022-2023

2) Gloom to Boom: How Leaders Transform Risk Into Resilience and Value - https://gecrisk.com/gloom-to-boom/

3) ESG Plus T: Tech as ESG Issue, Risk, and Value Influencer - https://www.diplomaticourier.com/posts/esg-plus-t-tech-as-esg-issue-risk-and-value-influencer

4) Harvard Business Review: The C-Suite Skills That Matter Most - https://hbr.org/2022/07/the-c-suite-skills-that-matter-most

Resources:

1) Manulife Impact Agenda - https://www.manulife.com/content/dam/corporate/global/en/documents/pas/MFC_impact_agenda_2022_en.pdf

2) Manulife Investment Management Timberland and Agriculture - https://www.manulifeim.com/timberland-agriculture/global/en

3) Manulife - https://www.manulife.com/en/about/sustainability.html

4) 2021 Manulife Environmental, Social and Governance Report - https://www.manulife.com/content/dam/corporate/global/en/documents/pas/MFC_ESGR_2022_EN.pdf/

Resources:

1) KPMG IMPACT - https://home.kpmg/xx/en/home/insights/2021/12/kpmg-impact-and-esg.html

2) The Trusted Imperative - https://home.kpmg/content/dam/kpmg/xx/pdf/2022/01/trusted-imperative-whitepaper.pdf

3) The KPMG Survey of Sustainability Reporting 2020 - https://home.kpmg/xx/en/home/insights/2020/11/the-time-has-come-survey-of-sustainability-reporting.html

4) 2022 Global Leaders in Consulting: Rob Fisher - https://www.consultingmag.com/2022/02/20/2022-global-leaders-in-consulting-rob-fisher/

Resources:

1) ESG During the 2022 AGM Season - https://corpgov.law.harvard.edu/2022/05/05/esg-during-the-2022-agm-season/

2) World Economic Forum - https://www.weforum.org/

Resources:

1) 2022 LinkedIn Top Voices in the Green Economy - https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/linkedin-top-voices-green-economy-15-creators-follow-us-/?trackingId=t6qqRcT0SkKFatb6C7maQQ%3D%3D

2) ESG and Climate News - https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/6773642479246831618/

3) Changing Business from the Inside Out: A Treehugger's Guide to Working in Corporations - https://www.amazon.com/Changing-Business-Inside-Out-Corporations/dp/1609946405

4) LinkedIn Poll - https://www.linkedin.com/posts/mandimcreynolds_esgtalk-sustainability-esg-activity-6930551184088784896-d8vG?utm_source=linkedin_share&utm_medium=member_desktop_web

5) Harvard Business Review 'Does Your Company Need a Chief ESG Officer?' - https://hbr.org/2022/02/does-your-company-need-a-chief-esg-officer

6) Forbes 'The 10 Traits of Great Innovators' - https://www.forbes.com/sites/rebeccabagley/2014/01/15/the-10-traits-of-great-innovators/?sh=286144234bf4

Resources:

1) Turning to One Another - Margaret J Wheatly https://margaretwheatley.com/books-products/books/turning-one-another/

2) Investors Demand ESG Data They Can Trust: Survey Results https://www.workiva.com/resources/investors-demand-esg-data-they-can-trust-survey-results

3) What is the #1 Business Value Driver for ESG in 2022? Linkedin Poll https://www.linkedin.com/posts/mandimcreynolds_sustainability-esgstrategy-esg-activity-6914319328553099264-ZHJM?utm_source=linkedin_share&utm_medium=member_desktop_web