Matthew Sekol, ESG and sustainability advocate at Microsoft, joins Mandi McReynolds on the latest episode of ESG Talk. Sekol explains why he believes understanding stakeholders is a critical component of the "G" and why governance is too often overlooked in the world of ESG.

Resources:

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

Mandi McReynolds looks back on her discussion with Jared Forman, managing partner of ESG and climate risk at FORVIS. The two discuss risk management and ESG, including scenario analysis and how Workiva benefited from a FORVIS risk scenario workshop in this episode of ESG Talk.

Resources:

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

Tensie Whelan, director of the NYU Stern Center for Sustainable Business, returns to ESG Talk. Tensie is joined by Kelly Fisher, head of corporate sustainability at HSBC Bank USA, alongside Workiva's Mandi McReynolds. The group shares case studies showcasing how companies are driving financial performance with sustainable investments and urges business leaders to reconsider how they measure ESG's ROI.

In the latest episode of ESG Talk, guest host Ernest Anunciacion shares how companies can build assurance into ESG reporting. A certified internal auditor, Ernest emphasizes the critical role GRC (governance, risk, and compliance) will play in complying with ESG regulation, including climate disclosure rules coming from the SEC.

Host Mandi McReynolds shares insights from Reuters' flagship event, Responsible Business USA 2023, where she moderated a panel on collecting audit-ready ESG data. Mandi shares key takeaways from her time in New York, including using technology to balance business and societal impact and aligning ESG and financial statements.

Previous ESG Talk episodes on SEC regulation:

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

Alex Edmans, finance professor at London Business School and leading expert on sustainable finance, joins Mandi McReynolds, vice president of ESG at Workiva. Alex and Mandi discuss sustainability and long-term value creation, including the importance and limitations of data and executive compensation.

In this episode of ESG Talk, David Kanarek, vice president and managing counsel at American Express, joins Workiva's Mark Mellen and Steve Soter to discuss the SEC's climate disclosure proposal. Mark and Steve predict what will make it into the final ruling while David shares how his finance and sustainability teams are preparing for the new regulation.

Denise Vaughn, vice president of ESG at Ferguson Enterprises, and Christopher Lindsay, vice president of government relations for the International Association of Plumbing & Mechanical Officials, join Workiva's Mandi McReynolds. They explore the business and societal risks associated with water, how their organizations are coming together to address the water crisis in the United States, and the importance of pilots, process, and partnership for driving ESG strategy.

Denise Roberson, chief purpose officer at TBWA\Chiat\Day, joins Mandi McReynolds, Workiva's head of global ESG, this week on ESG Talk. Denise and Mandi discuss what Mandi has coined the value versus values debate in environmental, social, and governance (ESG) and how ESG reporting is accelerating corporate transparency.

Alicia Petross, chief diversity officer at The Hershey Company, joins Workiva's Steve Soter in the latest episode of ESG Talk. Alicia and Steve discuss the labor shortage, how ESG reporting has evolved, and the connection between DEI and HCM.