The Pre-Read

In this regulatory wrap up from ESG Talk, host Mandi McReynolds is joined by her Workiva colleagues, Andromeda Wood, Vice President of Regulatory Strategy, and Steve Soter, Senior Industry Principal. Andie and Steve share their takes on ESG regulation in the EU and US, including CSRD and recent developments by the SEC.  Resources: 1) Andromeda Wood, CSRD Debrief - https://www.workiva.com/blog/csrd...

Bhushan Sethi, Joint Global Leader of People and Organization at PwC and Adjunct Professor at NYU Stern's School of Business, joins Workiva's Mandi McReynolds on this week's episode of ESG Talk. Mandi and Bhushan explore building a strategy for human capital management during an economic downturn, including how transparency can breed trust and empowering employees with "voice and choice." Resource...

This week, host Mandi McReynolds is joined by Paul Dickinson, founder and chair of CDP, the not-for-profit organization that runs the global environmental disclosure system for investors, companies, cities, states, and regions. Paul and Mandi discuss announcements from COP27, the importance of data, and what lies ahead for ESG. Resources: 1) Federal Supplier Climate Risks and Resilience Proposed R...

This week, we're taking a moment to thank our ESG Talk audience and guests for an incredible first season. As a token of our appreciation, host Mandi McReynolds invites viewers and listeners to join the ESG Pro Group community, a free networking group for professionals involved in ESG. Resources: 1) ESG Pro Group - https://www.progroups.org/about-us/about-us/esgprogroup-about-us    

COP27 is underway. In this quick chat, ESG Talk host Mandi McReynolds reflects on President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi's opening remarks and asks business leaders to pause and reflect on the difficult questions that will determine our impact on business and society. Stay tuned for a follow up episode featuring CDP Chairman Paul Dickinson that will explore reflections from the remainder of COP27 and what...

In the latest episode of ESG Talk, host Mandi McReynolds is joined by Tensie Whelan, Clinical Professor of Business and Society and the director of the NYU Stern Center for Sustainable Business. Tensie shares examples of companies that have achieved a significant return on investment from sustainability initiatives as well as the concept of cost avoidance and importance of setting the right ESG KP...

This week, host Mandi McReynolds is joined by Peter Land, Chief Communications and Sustainability Officer at DICK'S Sporting Goods. Peter shares how a large consumer brand took a stand to advocate for youth sports and gun reform. They discuss the risks, opportunities, and costs of public accountability for brands.  Resources: 1) DICK'S Sporting Goods 2021 Purpose Playbook - https://investors.dicks...

Barjouth Aguilar, Head of Global Sustainability at Flex, joins Workiva's Mandi McReynolds on this week's episode of ESG Talk. Learn how Flex has embedded sustainability into its supply chain and manufacturing operations, embraced sustainable finance, and localized ESG strategy in more than 100 facilities across the globe.  Resources: 1) Flex - Our Sustainability - https://flex.com/company/our-sust...

This week, host Mandi McReynolds is joined by Beth Wood, Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer at Principal Financial Group® and the chair of the Principal ESG Task Force. In recognition of National Women's Small Business Month, Beth shares how her experience running a small business prepared her to drive ESG strategy for a Fortune 500 company and describes the innovative Principal®...

We're chatting about how startups and small to midsize enterprises play a critical role in our global economy and how they can engage in ESG moving forward. Host Mandi McReynolds shares three fundamental principles for startups and SMEs to consider when implementing ESG into their business strategy. Resources: 1) World Economic Forum article - https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2022/09/what-start-ups-...

Tune into our chat with George Serafeim, Charles M. Williams Professor of Business Administration at Harvard Business School and author of Purpose + Profit. He and host Mandi McReynolds discuss the humanistic element of ESG, why corporate purpose and ESG issues have become more important over time due to transparency and technology, and practical tips to drive purpose and profit forward.  Resource...

This is an illuminating conversation between Shivaram Rajgopal, Kester and Byrnes Professor at Columbia Business School, and host Mandi McReynolds. Listen as they discuss his pragmatic approach to ESG as illustrated in his three-part Forbes article series ESG – A Defense, A Critique, And A Way Forward: An Evidence-Driven Pragmatic Perspective .  Resources: 1) ESG – A Defense, A Critique, And A Way...

The focus of our chat today is acronyms. Every business has acronyms. The ESG acronym soup can be overwhelming and confusing, but do not let that deflect from your determination to learn. We need a common understanding of key terms to help each other drive business value and society forward. Resources: 1) ESG Decoded Podcast - https://climeco.com/esg-decoded-podcast/   2) Sustainability Decoded Po...

Join our author chat with Simon Mundy, Moral Money editor at the Financial Times and author of Race for Tomorrow: Survival, Innovation and Profit on the Front Lines of the Climate Crisis. He and host Mandi McReynolds discuss takeaways from his journey in 26 countries covering the biggest story of the century and how we move forward as a global society to address climate transition. Resources: 1) R...

Join the conversation with Si-Yeon Kim, former EVP, Chief Risk & Compliance Officer, and Executive Chair of ESG at American Express Global Business Travel (2014 to 2022), as she and host Mandi McReynolds discuss finding your ESG superpower and how businesses can work together in an ecosystem to tackle complex topics such as scope 3 emissions, travel, and other elements of your ESG strategy. Resour...

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

Join our first author chat with Andrea Bonime-Blanc, founder and CEO at GEC Risk Advisory and author of Gloom to Boom: How Leaders Transform Risk Into Resilience and Value. She and host Mandi McReynolds discuss the importance of technology in ESG, interconnected ESG risks and opportunities, and the value of empathy in leadership. Resources: 1) ESGT Megatrends Manual 2022-2023 Edition - https://iss...

Join the conversation as we chat about how to deal with ESG challengers. Our inboxes are inundated with hot takes on ESG pushback or backlash, from politicians and their views on pension funds to looking at how companies are involved with ESG funds. We're putting this into context and simplifying it for all of us. Forget about all the hype, turn off all the noise, and stay focused on adding value...

Join the conversation with Sarah Chapman, Global Chief Sustainability Officer at Manulife, as she and host Mandi McReynolds discuss how business can drive stronger accountability for both financial and social impact. They share examples of how ESG is a team sport, strong company governance structure, and predict what will be top of mind for ESG in five years. Resources: 1) Manulife Impact Agenda -...

Join the conversation with Rob Fisher, IMPACT and ESG Leader, KPMG US, as he and host Mandi McReynolds discuss the legacy and impact of ESG, the 2020 KPMG Survey of Sustainability Reporting, and stakeholder engagement and trust. 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/20...

Tune into the latest episode of ESG Talk with Dan Lambeth, Brunswick Partner in London. He has over 20 years' experience in government and the financial services industry: J.P. Morgan, where he led the firm's sustainability agenda in Europe, Head of Regulatory Policy and Communication at the Royal Bank of Scotland, and held senior roles at the London Stock Exchange and H.M. Treasury. Dan and host...

Join the conversation with our first guest on ESG Talk: Tim Mohin, Executive Vice President and Chief Sustainability Officer at Persefoni. Tim draws from his experience working with the "E" (environmental) in ESG, while host Mandi McReynolds started with the "S" (social). Both now working on ESG for their own companies, for customers, and with innovation. In this episode of ESG Talk, the pair have...