Leading the Way

Tracey Groves talks Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) to Anita Woodhouse, the Chief Compliance Officer at V-Square Quantitative Management, a global investment manager with ESG at its core. 

A year on from The Human Spirit of ESG, Tracey and Anita come together to speak about the changes in ESG, looking back at the last 12 months and giving insight into what’s to come. Through the lens of compliance and ethics, Tracey and Anita discuss: 

• Global regulatory activity is on the rise, and there is likely more on the way. While ESG has received a fair share of criticism over the last 12 months, regulators around the world have demonstrated that it’s not just rulemaking that is picking up, enforcement is picking up as well.
• ESG cannot be a hot topic for the short term, programs have to be built to endure. As organizations have seen with other changes in business priorities, it’s not always easy to incorporate new strategies – but just because it is difficult does not mean it is not worthwhile. The fear of not knowing how to move forward should not be the reason for inaction. 
• Focus on progression, not perfection. There is still ample uncertainty on the horizon, but organizations can focus on taking steps now to shape up programs, and should not let perfection stand in the way of doing good.

 

Learn more about StoneTurn’s ESG capabilities. 

What was it like to be at one of the world’s largest companies while it was subject to a monitor? In this episode, Cindy Moehring highlights some of the key lessons learned from working with a monitor, and taps into Michele and Emilia’s experience working on some of the largest corporate monitorships in history. They also discuss the power of proactive compliance when it comes to working with monitors and satisfying the regulators for the long-haul.

Monitorship: a term typically met with fear, but it doesn’t have to be. What’s at stake when a monitor comes on board? Are there global considerations at play? Cindy Moerhing, Michele Edwards and Emilia Drozda highlight keys to drive a successful relationship with a monitor, and how to turn the experience into a beneficial one—both in the present and for the long-term.

As the regulatory landscape changes across the globe, how will monitorships fit into the puzzle? In this episode, Cindy Moehring, former Chief Ethics and Compliance Officer (U.S.) for Walmart, sits down with StoneTurn’s Michele Edwards and Emilia Drozda to highlight trends in enforcement actions and regulator-mandated monitorships in the U.S. and U.K., and what insights they may provide to companies who are preparing for the future.

Tracey Groves, StoneTurn Partner, talks ESG to Anita Woodhouse, Chief Compliance Officer at V-Square Quantitative Management, a global investment manager with ESG at its core. Anita has been involved in ESG investing for many years having previously worked at Northern Trust Asset Management, building global investment compliance programs across advisor entities worth approx. $1.3 trillion. 

ESG is fast emerging as a priority Board-level agenda item for business but why is it important, what are the critical components and how does business fully embrace ESG as a force for long term good?  These questions and more are posed during an energetic discussion that gives listeners a unique exploration of ESG.  The podcast shines a light on the transformational, integral and human nature of ESG, cutting across all parts of a business and lying at the heart of a sustainable business strategy.  

 Kicking off the discussion, Anita outlines how ESG is more than a ‘nice to have’ when considering investment products and strategies for her firm. Valuable elements of ESG are incorporated into the investment process, from the indexes that are tracked to the way in which the proxy voting policy is designed.  This level of intentionality helps clients to invest in a manner that is in line with their ethics and values, whilst maintaining an exposure to the universes they want. Materiality is also considered, understanding that not all ESG factors are created equal.  Investment firms are now seeking to optimize on those factors which they believe will provide returns in a manner consistent with what their clients are looking for.

 The conversation goes on to explore how and why societal expectations, and increased scrutiny on the role and responsibilities of business from regulators, employees as well as investors, are driving a shift in priorities. No longer can business afford a disconnect between what they say and what they do. People see this as performative and will no longer accept tokenism. Business has to walk the talk.  It’s no longer good enough having lofty goals for diversity, for example, without a clear timeframe and action plan. It is becoming increasingly important to stakeholders, both internal and external, to see the road maps for these goals and evidence of concrete activities.

 Anita’s passion for leadership with integrity, ethical decision-making, diversity and inclusion, and organizational culture are revealed as critical driving forces of ESG.  Sharing her personal story as a senior Black woman working in the US, we hear that Anita is pleased that diversity, a core component of the Social (S) agenda, now goes beyond diversifying investments and is also looking at the diversity of companies and their boards on a much broader scale. Anita points out that the focus on diversity does not come at the cost of excellence, rather it is a way to showcase excellent leaders. Diversity and inclusion should lead business to be able to foster a culture of diversity of thought and innovation. The conversation should never be about a “limited pool of Black talent”.  Anita’s powerful voice and her lived experience create a sense of urgency on the need for accountability and ownership of those issues that impact every single one of us. 

The human spirit of ESG shines throughout this courageous and compelling conversation.  There is a resounding clarion call for action that moves ESG business commitments from the articulation of words to measurement and execution.  Whether talking about leadership’s ability to build relationships across boundaries, protecting our environment for future generations, or educating each other on why this is so vitally important, the discussion dynamically illustrates why the human race cannot afford to ignore ESG.  There is no way back. 

In 2021, cyber attacks have disrupted infrastructure, healthcare systems and countless corporations. As sophisticated and evolving cyber attacks continue to keep companies on edge, effective cybersecurity leadership is essential to protecting a company’s crown jewels. In this episode, StoneTurn Partner Luke Tenery sits down with Andrew R. Bland III, Chief Security Officer at Sylvamo, to discuss key organizational traits of a successful security program, how to motivate and educate stakeholders, and the importance of precision and flexibility in a robust cybersecurity program.

Varo Bank is America’s first branchless consumer bank and its Chief Risk Officer explains what Varo does that allows her to sleep well at night, as she stays confident it’s risk management program meets or exceeds the standards for traditional banks. In part two of a two-part series, StoneTurn Partner Xavier Oustalniol sits down with Philippa Girling, Chief Risk Officer at Varo Bank, to discuss her team’s proactive approach to risk.

 In 2020, Varo Bank became the first and only consumer fintech to receive its own national bank charter, making it America’s first digital consumer bank. In part one of a two-part series, StoneTurn Partner Xavier Oustalniol sits down with Philippa Girling, Chief Risk Officer at Varo Bank, to discuss the company’s journey from fintech startup to pioneering digital bank, working with financial regulators, and how the bank’s mission to address financial inequality drives its development.

The anonymity offered by the cryptocurrency market may soon be no more, and it may not be long before regulators are knocking at your door. In addition to the DOJ and the SEC, the Joint Chiefs of Global Tax Enforcement (J5) and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) have made it clear that they are increasingly focused on cryptocurrency entities and efforts to facilitate or enable tax evasion. And in late May 2021, the White House indicated it was reviewing ‘gaps’ in cryptocurrency rules amid recent volatility in digital assets. 

In this episode, StoneTurn experts Valerie Charles and Kyla Curley are joined by Carlos Ortiz, a partner at McDermott Will & Emery, to examine the significant increase in regulatory interest in the cryptocurrency market, and how individuals and financial institutions utilizing digital currencies can minimize risks.

It’s not often the path to success follows a straight line.

Unraveling today’s complex business challenges requires practical advice from someone who has been there and done that.

In Leading the Way -- a podcast series from global advisory firm StoneTurn—our experts speak with accomplished and approachable business leaders who share their real-world insights on a range of topics such as risk and compliance, investigations, business disputes and more.

Join us to learn how to successfully tackle your greatest operational challenges and keep Leading the Way.