The Pre-Read

This mini-series combines two of the most popular episodes of the season: "The Future of ESG Reporting," featuring Allyson Anderson Book, chief sustainability officer at Baker Hughes, and "Reporting Led Transformation," with Nadja Picard, partner and global reporting leader at PwC Germany. Listen as both guests discuss the dynamic landscape of ESG reporting and its role in sustainable business.

ESG Talk hosts Mandi McReynolds, Steve Soter, Andie Wood, and Ernest Anunciacion come together for the first time in this special season finale. The group discusses key moments that shaped sustainability in 2023 and their predictions for 2024 — including the massive impact of global regulations and generative AI.  

Jingdong Hua, vice-chair of the International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB), and Paul Druckman, chairman of the World Benchmarking Alliance, sit down with Workiva's Mandi McReynolds to share how standards and benchmarks bring credibility to ESG reporting as well as their insights heading into COP28. 

A leading authority on integrated reporting, Robert Eccles joins Mandi McReynolds to explore how the role of the chief sustainability officer is evolving. They discuss the concept of trade-offs and resolving conflicts of interest between stakeholders as well as the deepening connection between finance and ESG.

Dina Trainor, managing director in Deloitte & Touche LLP's Controllership Practice, joins ESG Talk host Ernest Anunciacion to discuss how companies can build governance, risk, and compliance for ESG reporting. The duo dive into the importance of governance, essential controls, and the roles of internal and external auditors in building a robust reporting program.

In this quick chat, ESG Talk host Andie Wood provides an update on the European Sustainability Reporting Standards — new reporting rules companies will need to follow to comply with the CSRD — and explores their connection to the concept of double materiality. 

Steve Manocchio, senior director of financial compliance and operations at Cisco, joins ESG Talk host Steve Soter in a conversation around unifying climate data in financial disclosures. Listen in as they explore the financial impact of ESG, the evolving role of accountants, and how assurance and technology can help further ESG initiatives.  

The chief financial officer of Cemex, Maher Al-Haffar, joins Workiva's Mandi McReynolds to examine how ESG is influencing the office of the CFO. Mandi and Maher discuss the pivotal role of CFOs at the intersection of sustainable finance and its potential impact on business and society.  

ESG Talk host Andie Wood discusses the final recommendations of the Task Force on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD) and their connection to the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD). Join us as Andie unpacks the significance of both guidelines, their strategic timing, and their impact on environmental sustainability and financial transparency. 

Keurig Dr Pepper's Chief Sustainability Officer and Interim Chief Corporate Affairs Officer, Monique Oxender, joins ESG Talk host Mandi McReynolds to talk about the intersectionality of ESG and creating synergies within business, governance, and communities. They discuss the importance of connectivity and alignment across departments to ensure long-term impact.

ESG Talk and Off The Books join forces at Amplify! Workiva's Catherine Tsai interviews Mandi McReynolds, Steve Soter, and conference attendees to explore trends like generative AI and how finance and accounting, ESG, and audit and risk are evolving — together.  Access virtual Amplify sessions here: sm.workiva.com/amplify-podcast

Todd Brady, chief sustainability officer at Intel, joins Mandi McReynolds for the final episode in the ESG Talk Climate Week series. Todd sheds light on Intel's pursuit of net-zero emissions, emphasizing the importance of energy efficiency and how technology fosters disclosure and accountability for a more sustainable world. Watch ESG in the C-Suite here: sm.workiva.com/esg-csuite    

Can businesses embrace circularity without compromising profitability? Kurt Ritter, The Coca-Cola Company's vice president and general manager of sustainability North America, joins Mandi McReynolds in the third episode of the ESG Talk Climate Week series. Mandi and Kurt explore collaboration within the supply chain and integrating sustainability strategies into business outcomes across a global o...

For the second installment in our Climate Week series, Mandi McReynolds is joined by global experts Eelco van der Enden, CEO of the Global Reporting Initiative, and Anna Nefedova, global ESG reporting leader at Deloitte. They walk us through the various global reporting standards and how they benefit the organizations that use them.

With Climate Week NYC around the corner, there's no better time to reconnect with Paul Dickinson, Climate Week co-founder, Workiva ESG advisor, and the founder and chair of CDP. Paul joins host Mandi McReynolds to kick off a four week series exploring Climate Week and its impact on corporate sustainability. Looking for more? Join Workiva for "ESG in the C-Suite," a free, virtual session at Climate...

In this quick episode of ESG Talk, Mandi McReynolds highlights key findings from Workiva's second ESG practitioner survey, which polled more than 900 professionals involved in ESG reporting across North America, Europe, and Asia. The data underscores the complexity in ESG reporting and reveals a surprising disconnect between managers and executives. Read the report:  workiva.com/2023-ESG-Survey Re...

Can ESG reporting transform operations and propel businesses forward? Nadja Picard, partner and global reporting leader at PwC Germany, and Workiva's Andie Wood discuss reporting-led transformation and its impact on sustainability, uncovering the benefits of interoperability in reporting standards and the roles of CEOs and CFOs in driving ESG initiatives.

Kristina Wyatt, deputy general counsel and chief sustainability officer at Persefoni and former senior counsel at the SEC, joins ESG Talk host Steve Soter to talk about CSRD and its impact on companies outside of the European Union. They discuss the importance of assurance and harmonization in ESG reporting and proactive strategies companies should consider to be set up for success.  

AT&T's Chief Sustainability Officer, Charlene Lake, joins host Mandi McReynolds to discuss how AT&T's ESG program has matured and evolved from its CSR roots. Discover what AT&T has learned having published 15 sustainability reports in the past 15 years, how data and regulation are shaping the industry/driving change and predictions for what ESG will look like 10 years in the future.

When the sea of data is tamed, ESG reporting turns from overwhelming to opportunity. Maura Hodge, partner and ESG audit leader at KPMG, and Neetha Ravikumar, global director, sustainability partner solutions at Microsoft, join host Mandi McReynolds to discuss common hurdles like manual data collection and varied requirements in global regulation.

Noel Kinder, chief sustainability officer at Nike, and Brian Matt, head of ESG advisory at the New York Stock Exchange, join Workiva's Mandi McReynolds on the latest episode of ESG Talk. The trio talk about ESG as a catalyst for product innovation and finding value in collaboration and learning from others.

In the second installment of our CSRD series, Mandi McReynolds is joined by Amelia Pan of PJT Partners, an advisory-focused investment bank, and Diana Tidd, formerly of MSCI and the company's first chief responsibility officer. The group discusses everything from metrics and materiality to integration and data, and how the role of the chief sustainability officer is evolving to meet new demands.

Workiva's Ernest Anunciacion sits down with Nancy Jordan, vice president of internal audit at Cornerstone Building Brands, and Tom Rams, senior director of SOX and internal audit at 8x8. Tom and Nancy share lessons they've learned about ESG and assurance and discuss the importance of breaking down silos to foster the collection of more consistent, accurate data.

Whether it's your first time or you're a seasoned pro, this quick primer from ESG Talk host Mandi McReynolds will help you prepare for your organization's next internal audit. Listen as she explores best practices for ESG reporting and how auditors and sustainability teams can come together on the pathway to assurance. 

This episode of ESG Talk features Chad Reed, vice president of strategic initiatives and ESG at HASI, the first public company to report avoided emissions. Chad shares how his team calculates its "carbon count" metric, the critical role coalitions play in sustainability reporting, and why HASI has doubled down on double materiality.