The Pre-Read
Workiva
Just like the slides you get before a big meeting, The Pre-Read prepares CFOs and senior leaders for the decisions ahead. This is the global podcast for the modern office of the CFO, focused on how finance leaders drive performance, resilience, and long-term value in a constantly shifting environment.
Designed for executives operating at scale, the show features candid conversations with CFOs, board advisors, regulators, and business leaders shaping how companies compete, comply, and grow. Hosts Alyssa Zucker and Steve Soter connect financial performance, data integrity, regulation, and technology to the real questions CFOs are being asked by boards, investors, and stakeholders.
From AI adoption and enterprise data trust to evolving disclosure expectations and global regulatory pressure, The Pre-Read focuses on what matters now and what's coming next. Each episode cuts through noise to surface practical insight, strategic perspective, and the signals CFOs need to lead with clarity. If you're responsible for stewarding capital, managing risk, and creating value over time, you're in the right place.
Designed for executives operating at scale, the show features candid conversations with CFOs, board advisors, regulators, and business leaders shaping how companies compete, comply, and grow. Hosts Alyssa Zucker and Steve Soter connect financial performance, data integrity, regulation, and technology to the real questions CFOs are being asked by boards, investors, and stakeholders.
From AI adoption and enterprise data trust to evolving disclosure expectations and global regulatory pressure, The Pre-Read focuses on what matters now and what's coming next. Each episode cuts through noise to surface practical insight, strategic perspective, and the signals CFOs need to lead with clarity. If you're responsible for stewarding capital, managing risk, and creating value over time, you're in the right place.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Aug 18, 2023 • 22min
Reporting Led Transformation
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.
Aug 11, 2023 • 23min
Set Up for Success: Adapting to CSRD's Global Reach
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.
Aug 4, 2023 • 24min
A Sustainable Shift: From CSR to ESG
AT&T's Chief Sustainability Officer discusses the evolution of their ESG program, the importance of integrating sustainability into business operations, preparing credible data for audits, the impact of external governance on materiality assessment, and envisioning the future of ESG reporting with standard frameworks and increased focus on social impact reporting.
Jul 28, 2023 • 22min
Overcoming Challenges in ESG Reporting
Maura Hodge from KPMG and Neetha Ravikumar from Microsoft discuss challenges in ESG reporting, including manual data collection, discrepancies in standards, delays in reporting, and ensuring product certifications. They also delve into the impact of ESG reporting on decarbonization, strategies for accurate and consistent reporting, and the value of utilizing ESG data for reducing carbon footprint and understanding business risks.
Jul 21, 2023 • 18min
Jumpstarting Sustainable Innovation
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.
Jul 14, 2023 • 25min
Getting Ready for the CSRD
Guests Amelia Pan and Diana Tidd discuss the challenges and changing nature of the CSRD reporting requirements, the importance of resource allocation, stages and milestones in preparing for CSRD, integrating ESG factors into strategy, the role of Chief Sustainability Officer, implications of the reform of the Financial Reporting Council, and the positive aspects of ESG regulations.
Jul 7, 2023 • 18min
An Auditor's Perspective on ESG
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.
Jun 30, 2023 • 7min
Preparing for an Internal Audit
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.
Jun 23, 2023 • 17min
Beyond Scope 3: How HASI Tackles Avoided Emissions
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.
Jun 16, 2023 • 21min
Digital Transformation and ESG
Honeywell's chief sustainability officer, Evan Van Hook, and Shelly Kramer, Futurum Research's principal analyst, join host Mandi McReynolds to discuss the Environmental Sustainability Index (ESI), a quarterly comparison of sentiment and progress on ESG initiatives, and the role technology will play in their success. Learn more about the ESI: https://www.honeywell.com/us/en/company/sustainability/environmental-sustainability-index
