Tag: Mandi McReynolds

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The ESG Report

Simplifying ESG with Mandi McReynolds

Tom Fox welcomes Mandi McReynolds to this episode of the ESG Report. Mandi is the Head of Global Environment, Social and Governance at Workiva, a company whose ESG program allows them to communicate with internal and external stakeholders. In this conversation, she and Tom talk about Workiva’s role in ESG compliance.

The Backbone of ESG

Internal controls are the backbone of ESG, so including them in your framework will make your ESG program run more efficiently. This takes the collaborative effort of your compliance, finance and sustainability teams. In order to meet the needs of investors and stakeholders, these teams must collaborate and agree on the systems and processes they should use.

 

The Business Process

Risks can be managed more effectively with an ESG program that is well-implemented. It is important to understand this when thinking about the business process of ESG. “[However], you can’t be so ESG-woke that you take your company broke,” Mandi cautions Tom. You need to strike a balance between making sure that your company is operating and behaving ethically, and also delivering on its promises to its stakeholders. Investors need to see how you’re keeping your promises and commitments through transparent reporting, so you can demonstrate your commitment. These are all part and parcel of the business process of ESG. 

 

Looking Ahead

Tom asks Mandi what technological components of ESG will be more prevalent in the future. “We’re going to see more advancements in scenario planning,” she says. Companies are going to be thinking about tools and simulations they can use with data to shape their future direction. In the coming years, these tools will only continue to advance, and they’re going to be crucial in making sure companies live up to the standards they have established for themselves. “In order for companies to deliver on their commitments, they have to start telling consumers and stakeholders about where they are, where they’ve been, and where they’re going. In order to do that, I think we’re going to see incredible advances in technology in a very short amount of time,” Mandi remarks. 

 

Resources

Mandi McReynolds | LinkedIn 

Workiva

 

Categories
The ESG Compliance Podcast

Simplifying ESG with Mandi McReynolds


Mandi McReynolds, the Global Head of ESG in Workiva, joins the show to discuss how tech solutions have made ESG reporting easier, what organizations should consider before investing in tech, and the significance of putting stakeholders at top priority, and the future of tech in ESG.
▶️ Simplifying ESG with Thomas Fox & Mandi McReynolds:
Key points discussed in the episode:
✔️ Mandi McReynolds emphasizes communicating with your stakeholders to identify your company’s societal and business values. Stakeholders consist of internal, external, and customers.
✔️ Mandi McReynolds describes how Workiva simplifies the ESG reporting process.
✔️ Internal controls are the backbone of an effective ESG program. To create processes that stakeholders can trust, have different subject matter experts to add value to the discussion.
✔️ Look at the business value drivers and societal impact value drivers of your ESG plan. Before investing in tech and talent, identify your strategic value in materiality assessment and assessment engagement.
✔️ Bring a holistic picture of what your stakeholders care about regarding ESG.
✔️ How financial value has always been intrinsically linked to ESG reporting.
✔️ Find the balance between achieving your ESG commitments and not burning dollars.
✔️ Mandi McReynolds gives her predictions on the future of the technological component of ESG.
Mandi McReynolds is an award-winning author, educator, and practitioner-scholar. She has spent her career building corporate responsibility and environmental, social, and governance divisions across four different industries. Mandi serves as the Senior Director, Environment, Social, and Governance at Workiva. McReynolds is the co-editor and co-author of Diving Deep in Community Engagement: A Model for Professional Development. She received her B.A. in Organizational Communications from Cedarville University and M.S. in Interdisciplinary Studies: Speech Communication, Women Studies, and Higher Education from Iowa State University. She enjoys swimming and playing volleyball with her daughter, Ava, and traveling with her husband, Adam.
Resources
Learn more about Workiva – ESG reporting made simple – https://www.workiva.com/.
Mandi McReynolds on LinkedIn
ESG Talk Podcast
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