A Whole New World: ESG as a Business Opportunity, with EY’s Marie Johnson and Brandon Sutcliffe

Over the last decade, Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) investments have exploded; as evidenced by global market projections, which predict 40 trillion dollars in ESG assets by 2030. That will not only reshape our financial markets, but also our consumer choices, our recruitment prospects, the range of our suppliers, and even our leadership strategies. So how do we seize that opportunity for change? What new possibilities does ESG open up? We answer these questions with two of the leading voices from EY Sustainability: Marie Johnson and Brandon Sutcliffe. Every day, these two experts in Business and Financial Sustainability help companies integrate ESG goals into their core strategies and operations. From stakeholders to customers, they show leaders how to reach the next stage of their development.Today, they bring their wisdom to In Good Companies and help us see how Environmental, Social, and Governance goals can add value to our businesses. They undo misconceptions around sustainability, share strategies to implement effective reporting, and lift the veil on what will drive the transition towards ESG practices. Spoiler alert: it involves your stakeholders, your clients, your governance, and a component of education. To round up their conversation with Ari, Brandon and Marie will also discuss the development of ESG regulations and help us prepare for the future by asking: what’s next? No matter where you’re coming from, sustainability is part and parcel of everyone’s business, so get ready to answer the bell. Highlights:Introducing EY Sustainability, with Marie and Brandon (1:47)What does ESG look like for day-to-day business? (3:41)A home-based approach for small businesses (7:07)Middle market considerations: balancing sustainability and growth (8:37)How large corporations focus on capital deployment (10:05)Who or what can drive the transition towards ESG? (12:16)ESG as a strategy for long-term value (14:20)Do’s and dont’s of ESG reporting (16:06)Breaking out of the “sustainability silo” (18:34)How to turn ESG practices into business as usual (19:57)Reframing perceptions around sustainability: a “bottomline” argument (21:56)A tour around the world of ESG legislation (24:06)Why public-private partnerships could change everything (25:42)10 years ahead, what’s next for ESG? (27:55) Embracing sustainability as a business opportunity (29:01)Links:Cadence Bank WebsiteCadence Bank X (Twitter)Cadence Bank LinkedInCadence Bank YouTubeEY Sustainability Marie Johnson EY WebsiteMarie Johnson LinkedInBrandon Sutcliffe EY WebsiteBrandon Sutcliffe LinkedInBloomberg - “Global ESG assets predicted to hit $40 trillion by 2030”Microsoft - “Closing the Sustainability Skills Gap: Helping businesses move from pledges to progress”Article - “ESG regulation in 2024: Everything you need to know”Feedback:If you have questions about the show or topics you'd like discussed in future episodes, email our producers, Eydie.Pengelly@cadencebank.com or Danielle.Kernell@cadencebank.com.

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Starting and running a business or managing one isn’t for the faint of heart. You’re balancing internal and external forces in a continually changing landscape. You’re building strategies, and banking on the future – no matter what it holds. This is where Cadence Bank’s In Good Companies comes in. We share our wealth of knowledge, and insights from noted industry experts, to guide you through the forces shaping business today. We’re back for Season 6, and this time, we’re setting our sights on the future of work. We’re asking the big questions, like: What will your career look like in 2030? Or 2050, even? How is ESG shaping the future of companies? And how can we leverage AI to our advantage? We bring together experts from across the board, from Silicon Valley to multinationals like EY, to help you stay on the cutting edge of business. And we get to know those who are building the future of our companies; because at Cadence Bank, we want to hear the human side of every success story. Hosting our stellar range of guests this season is our new host, Ari Marin. He is a Cadence Bank Senior Vice President and family enterprise advisor, whose specialty is consulting with family-owned and small businesses. Ari’s idea of “good company” is being around creative, insightful people with unique and inspirational stories. For Season 6, he brings in his curiosity and ambition to In Good Companies, to lead discussions with our guests, and bring listeners across the U.S. all the information they need, in one place, in under 30 minutes. Ready to launch into the future? Then join us!