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 16, 2024 • 26min
Beyond the Bottom Line: A Century of ESG Leadership (Part One)
In this special 100th episode of ESG Talk, we kick off a two-part series with Priscilla Sims Brown, CEO of Amalgamated Bank, Jason Darby, CFO, and special guest host Kim Huffman, CIO of Workiva. Discover how the bank has aligned its entire organization around a century-old mission, while driving a modern, socially responsible business.
Aug 9, 2024 • 28min
The Investor's Role in Sustainable Finance
In the second installment of a series exploring sustainable finance, co-host Andie Wood meets with Maria Lettini, CEO of the US Sustainable Investment Forum (SIF), and Kevin Thomas, CEO of the Shareholder Association for Research and Education (SHARE), to discuss how sustainable investors influence corporate sustainability strategy and ESG reporting.
Aug 2, 2024 • 26min
Decoding Deutsche Bank's Sustainable Finance Framework
The first installment of a two-part series, this episode explores sustainable finance from the perspective of Germany's leading bank. Jörg Eigendorf, Deutsche Bank's Chief Sustainability Officer, joins co-host Mandi McReynolds to discuss the organization's sustainability strategy, its sustainable finance framework and how the bank supports its clients with their transitions.
Jul 26, 2024 • 20min
Combating Greenwashing with Good Governance
Michael Schor, partner in Deloitte & Touche LLP's Risk & Financial Advisory practice, and Grant Ostler, GRC industry principal at Workiva, join co-host Steve Soter for the latest episode of ESG Talk. The group explores the risks of unintentional greenwashing, external pressure on sustainability reporting, and how good governance builds truth and transparency.
Jul 19, 2024 • 31min
From Theory to Practice: Circular Business Models
Julia Binder, professor of sustainable innovation and business transformation at IMD Business School, and Manuel Braun, director of Systemiq and lecturer at the Technical University of Munich, join co-host Andie Wood to share how businesses can integrate circularity into existing frameworks, illustrated by successful, real-world case studies.
Jul 12, 2024 • 36min
SEC Cybersecurity Rules: One Year Later
Matt Kelly, editor and CEO of Radical Compliance, and Matthew Williams, ESG solutions lead at Clearview, join co-host Steve Soter to explore how cybersecurity and ESG intersect. Together, they discuss the challenges of assessing the importance of cybersecurity events, a year after the SEC introduced new rules on disclosing such incidents.
Jul 5, 2024 • 20min
Linking People, Purpose, and Profitability
Bhushan Sethi, partner in PwC's Strategy& consulting business and adjunct professor at NYU Stern School of Business, returns to the show alongside best-selling author and keynote speaker Stan Phelps. Stan, Bhushan, and co-host Mandi McReynolds discuss the significance of trust and transparency in employee engagement and the relationship between well-being and financial performance.
Jun 28, 2024 • 28min
The Intersection of Tax and Sustainability
In this episode of ESG Talk, Brett Weaver, tax leader for the ESG Practice at KPMG US, joins Workiva's Andie Wood to discuss everyone's favorite topic. Together they explore how tax acts as both a driver and measure of sustainability, taking advantage of green tax incentives, and the different approaches to tax policy in the United States and Europe.
Jun 21, 2024 • 25min
Navigating the ESG Reporting Landscape
In this episode of ESG Talk, host Mandi McReynolds reflects on her conversation with AT&T's Chief Sustainability Officer, Charlene Lake. They discuss the importance of achieving audit-ready ESG data and the crucial role technology plays in tracking and reporting emissions data.
Jun 14, 2024 • 30min
Delivering Progress on Carbon Neutrality
Laura Lane, chief corporate affairs and sustainability officer at UPS, joins Workiva's Andie Wood to explore how one of the world's largest package delivery companies is tackling emissions reduction. Listen in as they discuss the importance of leveraging data to drive down emissions, optimize investments, and achieve sustainability goals.
