Podcast appearances and mentions of ernst young llp

In this episode of the EY Sustainability Matters podcast hosted by Bruno Sarda, the discussion centers around the vital collaboration between the public and private sectors in advancing sustainability efforts. Bruno welcomes Ruth Ahchow, EY Global Government and Public Sector Leader for Climate Change and Sustainability Services , who elaborates on the importance of public-private partnerships (PPPs) as essential  mechanisms for sustainable development, showcasing successful examples from around the world and  the Asia-Pacific region. Bruno and Ruth discuss how recent political shifts in regions, such as the US and Europe, influence sustainability initiatives. Ruth also provides actionable insights, urging governments to actively participate in sustainable procurement and create stable policies that encourage green investments, while companies are encouraged to integrate long-term sustainability into their core strategies. 01:48 - Evolution of sustainability in the public sector through Ruth's career 05:50 - Understanding PPPs 08:06 - Examples of successful PPPs around the world and in the Asia-Pacific 16:16 – The impact of political shifts on sustainability 19:41 - Role of sustainability reporting standards 25:34 – Actionable insights for business and governments © 2025 Ernst & Young LLP

In this episode of the EY Sustainability Matters podcast, host Bruno Sarda and guests dive into the intersection of sustainability and the music industry. Discussing the topic with Bruno are: Joel Makower, Chairman and Cofounder of the Trellis Group (formerly GreenBiz) and the Strategy Director & Industry Council Chair of the Music Sustainability Alliance, and Olga LaBelle, Vice President and Head of Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) at Warner Music Group. The speakers discuss the current state of sustainability in the music industry, innovative collaborations for environmental benefit, and how artists, labels, concert venues and fans can contribute to a more sustainable industry. Key takeaways include: Music has the power to unite people across the world with a shared purpose. Artists can inspire positive social change through their fans. There are many ways to encourage sustainable innovation across the value chain in the music industry, from tour trucks and heavy lifting equipment to vinyl  records made from recycled plastic. © 2025 Ernst & Young LLP

In this episode, Ernst & Young LLP tax and sustainability professionals provide an update on the latest state sustainability legislative and regulatory trends, including extended producer responsibility (EPR) packaging programs.

The relationship between business and sustainability is evolving. As awareness of its importance – and value – grows, so does the recognition that responsibility for addressing the subject is not confined to specific sustainability roles. Indeed, growing opinion is that every job within an organization can and should be considered a sustainability job. In this episode, EY Americas Climate Change and Sustainability Services Leader Bruno Sarda sits down with Pia Heidenmark Cook, a former Chief Sustainability Officer at IKEA and now senior board member, speaker and sustainability advisor, and Lisen Wiren, Programme Manager at IKEA Social Entrepreneurship, to discuss the very idea that every professional within any business can make an impact.  Pia and Lisen have just published a book “Embedding Sustainability - How to Drive Organizational Transformation,” based on decades of their experience. Listen to this insightful conversation where two seasoned sustainability professionals talk about the importance of threading sustainability into the basis of every organization, as well as on how typically small corporate sustainability departments can make a big difference. © 2025 Ernst & Young LLP

With the world in the midst of a global polycrisis, the New Economy Unit (NEU) — a global research group at the EY organization — was established to look at the key economic forces at play and the leading business practices needed to create a sustainable future. Host Bruno Sarda discusses the NEU and a bigger idea of regenerative business transformation it represents with Matt Bell, EY Global Leader, Climate Change and Sustainability Services, and Anastasia Roussou, EY Head of New Economy Research Unit, in London. Moreover, the discussion covers the work the NEU does with the activist and academic community, some of whom sit on the NEU advisory board. It also highlights the importance of taking a long-term view while not neglecting short-term objectives, and teases what the NEU will be exploring next. Please, read the full report “A new economy - Exploring the root causes of the polycrisis and the principles to unlock a sustainable future” on ey.com, or contact the New Economy Unit at neweconomyunit@uk.ey.com. Key takeaways include: The New Economy Unit help enables practitioners to think about the long-term future and what they need to radically change. The report aims to bring everyone on the same page and mainstream the concepts that will likely aid the transition to long-term sustainability. © 2024 Ernst & Young LLP

In this episode of The Food Professor Podcast, Michael LeBlanc and Sylvain Charlebois discuss various pressing topics in the food and retail sectors. We begin with reflections on the release of Canada's Food Price Report, which sparked substantial media coverage despite being overshadowed by broader economic and political issues, including the proposed GST holiday. Sylvain shares his unique experience of testifying remotely before the Canadian Senate from Berlin, highlighting the logistical hurdles and his stance on taxing food at retail.We delve into key developments in the U.S., including the Albertsons-Kroger merger, blocked by the FTC, and discuss its implications for market competition. We also examine the success of T & T's U.S. expansion, emphasizing how Canadian businesses can thrive internationally while maintaining their distinct identity.Another focus is the potential impact of eliminating interprovincial trade barriers in Canada, which could boost GDP and enhance logistical efficiencies in the food sector. Sylvain highlights the challenges posed by Canada's fragmented regulatory environment and the need for cohesive national policies like the Grocery Code of Conduct.The episode concludes with teasers for upcoming episodes, including top food stories and predictions for 2025, reinforcing the podcast's role as a key platform for insights into the food industry.Special Guest: Paul Jewer, President & CEO of High Liner FoodsThis episode features Paul Jewer, President and CEO of High Liner Foods, as the special guest. High Liner a leading North American processor and marketer of value-added frozen seafood, is celebrating its remarkable 125th anniversary. Paul shares insights into the company's journey, from its retail products across Canada and the U.S. to its extensive B2B operations serving restaurants and institutions.The interview highlights High Liner as a quintessential Canadian success story, underlining its resilience and innovation in the competitive food industry. Paul's narrative celebrates the company's legacy and emphasizes its role in advancing the seafood sector through sustainability and value-added offerings. T&T Image:The line to enter T&T Supermarket was nearly an hour long in the middle of the afternoon on Thursday, Dec. 5.Jeff Wells/Grocery Dive About PaulPAUL JEWER, FCPA, FCA, ICD.DPaul was appointed as President & Chief Executive Officer in December 2023. Previous to that he served as the Companies Chief Financial Officer, since February 2014.  Prior to joining High Liner Foods in 2014, Paul was CFO with Sobeys Inc., a leading Canadian grocery and food distributor. He is a Fellow Chartered Professional Accountant (FCPA) and began his career with Ernst & Young LLP providing audit, tax, valuation and business advisory services for a variety of clients in various business sectors. Prior to joining Sobeys Inc. in 2003, he held a number of progressively senior finance positions in the technology sector.Paul graduated in 1994 with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Acadia University. In 1997 he received his Chartered Accountant designation. He is also a graduate of Harvard Business School's Advanced Management Program.He is currently Treasurer of the Groundfish Forum, a member of the executive of the National Fisheries Institute, a board member of Norcod, and a board advisor to Andfjord Salmon. Paul is also Chair of Sport Nova Scotia and a member of the Advisory Board of FM Global Canada. Paul is an Honorary Governor of the Board of Governors of Acadia University, having completed a seven- year term as Chair of the Board. Paul is also past Chair of the Board of Governors of the Halifax Grammar School. The Food Professor #podcast is presented by Caddle. About UsDr. Sylvain Charlebois is a Professor in food distribution and policy in the Faculties of Management and Agriculture at Dalhousie University in Halifax. He is also the Senior Director of the Agri-food Analytics Lab, also located at Dalhousie University. Before joining Dalhousie, he was affiliated with the University of Guelph's Arrell Food Institute, which he co-founded. Known as “The Food Professor”, his current research interest lies in the broad area of food distribution, security and safety. Google Scholar ranks him as one of the world's most cited scholars in food supply chain management, food value chains and traceability.He has authored five books on global food systems, his most recent one published in 2017 by Wiley-Blackwell entitled “Food Safety, Risk Intelligence and Benchmarking”. He has also published over 500 peer-reviewed journal articles in several academic publications. Furthermore, his research has been featured in several newspapers and media groups, including The Lancet, The Economist, the New York Times, the Boston Globe, the Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, BBC, NBC, ABC, Fox News, Foreign Affairs, the Globe & Mail, the National Post and the Toronto Star.Dr. Charlebois sits on a few company boards, and supports many organizations as a special advisor, including some publicly traded companies. Charlebois is also a member of the Scientific Council of the Business Scientific Institute, based in Luxemburg. Dr. Charlebois is a member of the Global Food Traceability Centre's Advisory Board based in Washington DC, and a member of the National Scientific Committee of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) in Ottawa. Michael LeBlanc is the president and founder of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc, a senior retail advisor, keynote speaker and now, media entrepreneur. He has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. Michael has delivered keynotes, hosted fire-side discussions and participated worldwide in thought leadership panels, most recently on the main stage in Toronto at Retail Council of Canada's Retail Marketing conference with leaders from Walmart & Google. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience with Levi's, Black & Decker, Hudson's Bay, CanWest Media, Pandora Jewellery, The Shopping Channel and Retail Council of Canada to his advisory, speaking and media practice.Michael produces and hosts a network of leading retail trade podcasts, including the award-winning No.1 independent retail industry podcast in America, Remarkable Retail with his partner, Dallas-based best-selling author Steve Dennis; Canada's top retail industry podcast The Voice of Retail and Canada's top food industry and one of the top Canadian-produced management independent podcasts in the country, The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois from Dalhousie University in Halifax.Rethink Retail has recognized Michael as one of the top global retail experts for the fourth year in a row, Thinkers 360 has named him on of the Top 50 global thought leaders in retail, RTIH has named him a top 100 global though leader in retail technology and Coresight Research has named Michael a Retail AI Influencer. If you are a BBQ fan, you can tune into Michael's cooking show, Last Request BBQ, on YouTube, Instagram, X and yes, TikTok.Michael is available for keynote presentations helping retailers, brands and retail industry insiders explaining the current state and future of the retail industry in North America and around the world.

Cash Is King with Peter W. Kingma   In this episode of The Profit Answer Man, we sit down with Peter W. Kingma, author of CASH IS KING and leader of Ernst & Young LLP's working capital practice in the Americas. With over 30 years of experience advising global companies on all things cash management, Peter joins us to discuss why cash flow is the true backbone of business success and how business owners can shift their focus from profit-and-loss statements to developing a “cash culture.” Peter provides actionable strategies for managing the five steps from order-to-cash, improving collections, and boosting cash flow through better customer management. We also dive into the importance of supply chain management and discuss how creating a “Cash Leadership Office” can transform the financial health of any organization. In this episode, you will learn: Why Building a Cash Culture is Essential: Peter explains why focusing solely on profit-and-loss statements can lead businesses astray, and how a cash-centered approach ensures long-term financial stability. The Order-to-Cash Process: Learn the five key steps in the order-to-cash process that businesses must optimize to maintain healthy cash flow and avoid liquidity crunches. Strategies for Effective Collections: Peter shares five tips for managing customer relationships and disputes to improve collections and cash conversion cycles. Supply Chain Management for Cash Flow: Discover how better supply chain management can keep your cash flowing smoothly, even during challenging economic times. Creating a Cash Leadership Office: How establishing a dedicated leadership team to focus on cash flow can enhance your bottom line and allow for sustainable business growth. Key Takeaways: Cash Over Profits: Even large companies struggle to manage cash effectively. Business owners must understand that cash flow is more critical than simply showing a profit. Sales ≠ Profit, and Profit ≠ Cash: Peter emphasizes that even profitable sales can be harmful if cash isn't collected on time. Businesses must prioritize cash flow management alongside sales and profit. Avoiding Cash Flow Pitfalls: Common mistakes, such as offering long payment terms or failing to consider the financial impact of customer service agreements, can cripple cash flow. Aligning Teams with Cash Goals: Often, sales teams are incentivized based on revenue, not cash collection. Aligning incentives with cash goals can prevent cash shortfalls and improve business sustainability. Bio: Peter W. Kingma is the author of CASH IS KING and leads the working capital practice for Ernst & Young LLP in the Americas. With over 30 years of experience advising global companies, Peter specializes in cash management and working capital strategies across industries such as manufacturing, consumer products, aerospace, and defense. He has contributed to publications like CFO Magazine and CNBC, and is passionate about helping businesses build a cash-centric culture. Conclusion: Cash is the lifeblood of any business, and without careful management, even the most successful organizations can run into trouble. In this episode, Peter Kingma provides valuable insights into how business owners, large or small, can develop a cash-focused mindset and manage their operations for long-term financial health. By implementing the strategies Peter outlines, you can ensure your business not only survives but thrives, no matter what economic challenges you face.   Links: https://peterkingma.com/   Hi, I'm the Profit Answer Man Rocky Lalvani! I help small business owners simplify their financial reports to make more informed business decisions with fewer hassles. We utilize the Profit First system created by Mike Michalowicz Sign up to be notified when the next cohort of the Profit First Experience Course is available! Check out our website: http://profitcomesfirst.com/ Questions: questions@profitanswerman.com Email: rocky@profitcomesfirst.com Relay Bank (affiliate link) - https://relayfi.com/?referralcode=profitcomesfirst  Profit Answer Man Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/profitanswerman/ My podcast about living a richer more meaningful life: http://richersoul.com/ Profit First Toolkit: click here to sign up Music provided by Junan from Junan Podcast Any financial advice is for educational purposes only and you should consult with an expert for your specific needs. #profitfirst

In this episode, Bruno Sarda, host of the EY Sustainability Matters podcast, meets with prior guests to talk about the significant developments in sustainability over the past year, ahead of the upcoming UN Climate Change Conference or COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan, later this November. Amy Brachio, EY Global Vice Chair for Sustainability, and Matt Bell, EY Global Leader for Climate Change and Sustainability Services, share their experiences from the 2024 New York Climate Week .  They discuss the transition from addressing environmental issues in siloes to a comprehensive view that acknowledges the interdependence of various sustainability factors that must be addressed together. The speakers share their expectations for the upcoming COP29, underscoring emerging trends, such as the increased emphasis on finance and carbon markets to support the transition. In the final part of the episode, Amy and Matt express optimism about the future, talking about the businesses' desire for innovation, investment in new technologies and a collective willingness to undertake systemic change. © 2024 Ernst & Young LLP

With the upcoming 2024 United Nations Biodiversity Conference, also known as COP16, this episode of the Sustainability Matters podcast explores the critical link between nature, biodiversity and human wellbeing. EY leaders Alex Banks and Ana Luci Grizzi join host Bruno Sarda to discuss the challenges and the key decisions that should be taken for meaningful progress to be made. The thought-provoking discussion emphasizes the need to integrate biodiversity conservation into our economic models and addresses the interconnected threats of climate change and biodiversity loss. Also highlighted is the importance of protecting the rights of vulnerable communities who are most affected by these environmental challenges. Key takeaways include: There is an inseparable relationship between climate change and biodiversity loss. It is necessary to integrate biodiversity strategies into existing economic growth models. Clients need to understand their nature-related risks, impacts and dependencies. Sustainable solutions have to uphold human rights, cultural sensitivities and community impact considerations. The transition to a nature-positive approach is both an imperative and an opportunity. © 2024 Ernst & Young LLP

In DC Dynamics episode 20: Budget Reconciliation Basics, special guest host Heather Meade, head of Washington Council Ernst & Young's health team, and Lisa Wolski, the newest member of WCEY's tax team, walk through the basics of budget reconciliation. Budget reconciliation is a process that permits legislation impacting revenues and spending to pass the Senate with 51 votes rather than the 60-vote filibuster threshold for most other legislation. Spending, revenue, or the debt limit (though rare) may be addressed under reconciliation together or separately, but only once per budget resolution, and only one budget resolution can be approved for each fiscal year. If either party sweeps in the 2024 elections, the process could be used to enact tax legislation. For more information on budget reconciliation, be sure to check out the budget reconciliation basics page on EY.com:  https://www.ey.com/en_us/insights/tax/budget-reconciliation-basics Washington Council Ernst & Young (WCEY) is a tax, legislative and regulatory group within Ernst & Young LLP that combines the power of a leading professional services organization with the on-the-ground knowledge, personal relationships and attention to detail of a boutique Washington-insider firm. https://www.ey.com/en_us/services/tax/washington-council-ernst-young  

When we sit down to enjoy a meal, at home or in a restaurant, we're rarely aware of the environmental toll our food choices may take. However, the reality is that the journey from farm to table carries a significant environmental cost, often unseen but deeply impactful. This episode of the EY Sustainability Matters podcast delves deeper into the impact the global food system has on climate change, biodiversity and land use. It also explores how digital innovation can be leveraged to make food production more sustainable without sacrificing quality or taste. Join host Bruno Sarda, EY Americas Climate Change and Sustainability Services Leader, and Hanne Thornam, EY Nordics Head of Climate Change and Sustainability Services, as they interview two leaders in the food sustainability sector to uncover the challenges facing this industry and how technology is playing a key role in addressing them. Stephen Nolan, CEO of Nutritics and the 2022 EY Sustainability Entrepreneur of the Year, shares his insights on integrating sustainable practices within the food and hospitality industry. He debunks myths that equate sustainability with compromised quality or financial viability. Alongside him, Pete Statham, Head of Sustainability and Government Relations at Sysco GB, the world's leading broadline food distributor, discusses the practical applications of Nutritics' software in making large-scale, impactful changes. He shares how even a slight change in one menu item can multiply its positive or negative environmental effect, when delivered to thousands of customers across the world. The discussion closes on a hopeful note, with the guests discussing the vast potential and opportunity that exists within the market to create a more sustainable and resilient food industry for the future. © 2024 Ernst & Young LLP

For the people of Palau, a nation of over 300 small islands in the Western Pacific, climate change is not a future threat, but an immediate and pressing reality. Rising temperatures and sea levels have changed their way of life and are already impacting communities. How are they confronting these changes, and what can the rest of the world learn from their experiences? In this episode, host Bruno Sarda is joined by Mikayla Etpison from the Palau Office of Climate Change, and Martine Crowe, a member of the EY team that codeveloped a broad climate strategy with the government of Palau. Mikayla emphasizes the disproportionate impact of climate change on Pacific nations, which, despite contributing less than 1% of all global  emissions, are experiencing some of the most severe consequences. Warmer oceans, typhoons and coral bleaching threaten delicate ecosystems and the communities that depend on them. Mikayla points out that Palau has limited resources for mitigation projects and the need for support from the larger emitters is critical. The discussion also covers Palau's proactive measures, including a government climate policy, codeveloped by EY teams and Mikayla's team, that integrates traditional Palauan marine conservation practices. This episode is a testament to the resilience of island nations and the critical role of collaboration in forging a path toward a sustainable future. Listen to understand the challenges faced by Palau, the innovative strategies they employ, and the lessons they offer to the world in the fight against climate change. © 2024 Ernst & Young LLP

Books That Make You Understand That You Are a Masterpiece Most of us encounter serious doubts about ourselves, and our lives. We might grow bitter, regretful, assume that it's simply our lot in life to experience inequity. Thus, it's sometimes easy for us to let others write us off. As someone once destined for a life of crime or addiction, Jay Morris might well have been the kind of person most wrote off. A single moment changed the trajectory of his life, however, when he accidentally pulled the trigger of a loaded gun at an innocent girl—and nothing happened. This experience was just one of many unexplainable events that spurred Jay toward a truly transformative spiritual awakening. Now he is here to help others transform their own lives—because Jay discovered that, like himself, you are a masterpiece. His debut book, Masterpiece – Our Journey to Spiritual Transformation, merges his rich expertise in corporate leadership with spiritual enlightenment. With over 35 years of professional experience, Jay Morris harnesses his personal and professional insights to mentor professionals and industry leaders. His strategic insights have helped Fortune 500 companies like Ernst & Young LLP, Allstate Insurance Company, Merck Pharmaceutical, and Yale New Haven Health. Find out more on Books That Make You. You can also follow us on Facebook and Instagram.

The case for climate action is often presented in terms of facts and data: detailing scientific evidence and financial risk. But is it time to explore different ways to communicate the message; to try an approach that focuses more on human stories and emotions? In this episode of the Sustainability Matters podcast, Bruno Sarda is joined by two colleagues from EY Climate Change and Sustainability Services (CCaSS): Managing Director Karima Zedan at Ernst & Young LLP and the Gareth Jenkins, EY Global CCaSS Head of Creative at Ernst & Young LLP, to discuss ways to reframe the sustainability narrative. Behavior change is not happening fast enough to meet climate change realities. The guests suggest that engaging the hearts as well as the minds of businesses, and bringing to life the impact on people, culture and society, is a more compelling narrative. Gareth points out that people, whether at home or the boardroom, respond to stories instinctively, and can be challenged and inspired by them. The guests discuss the importance of engaging with different audiences, from the C-suite to investors and employees. Karima emphasizes how sustainability initiatives may have a positive impact not only on the company and the brand but also on the employees and wider community. Gareth then gives some fascinating insight into the innovative EY Four Futures experience that was first presented at COP28 — an immersive installation that explores different outcomes from four potential future scenarios. Through the power of hearing each of the four stories, Four Futures can inspire joint action today. © 2024 Ernst & Young LLP

On this Live Greatly podcast episode, Kristel Bauer sits down with Joe Kudla, the founder and CEO of Vuori, a performance apparel brand inspired by the active California lifestyle.  Kristel and Joe discuss how and why Vuori got started, the importance of embracing a growth mindset in business and in life, a look into the big lessons Joe has learned from his journey with Vuori and more! Tune in now!  Key Takeaways From This Episode A look into how and why Joe started the performance apparel brand, Vuori How Joe navigates the stress of being a Founder Vuori's Happiness Investment  How Joe uses yoga and breathwork as a stress reliever A big life lesson and a big professional lesson Joe has learned from his time at Vuori Joe's leadership style and how he attracts and keeps top talent at Vuori The importance of embracing a growth minsdet How Joe approaches company culture  The team at Vuori sent Kristel out some complimentary clothing and she was really impressed with the quality and the softness of the fabric! About Joe Kudla: Joe Kudla is the founder and CEO of Vuori, a performance apparel brand inspired by the active California lifestyle. A yogi, surfer, outdoorsman and former college athlete, he drew upon his experiences to disrupt the market with A New Perspective on Performance Apparel.  Functional, high‑quality clothing that does not sacrifice style—Built to move in. Styled for life.  Founded in 2015, Vuori received a $400 million investment and $4B valuation from SoftBank Vision Fund 2 in 2021, marking one of the largest investments in a private apparel company. Ernst & Young LLP honored Joe with the Entrepreneur Of The Year® 2022 Pacific Southwest Award. He was also named Glossy's Founder of the Year in 2022.  With a background in accounting, Joe founded the IT consulting firm Vaco SanDiego prior to launching Vuori. Today, he lives in Encinitas, CA with his wife and two children. True to the brand ethos, he still makes time every day to get outside and stay active.  Connect with Vuori Website: https://vuoriclothing.com/  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/vuori-inc-/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vuoriclothing/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vuoriclothing  X: https://twitter.com/vuoriclothing  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/vuori-inc-/  About the Host of the Live Greatly podcast, Kristel Bauer: Kristel Bauer is a corporate wellness expert, popular keynote and TEDx speaker, and the host of top-rated podcast, “Live Greatly,” a show frequently ranked in the top 1% for self-improvement. Kristel is an Integrative Medicine Fellow & Physician Assistant with clinical experience in Integrative Psychiatry, giving her a unique perspective into optimizing mental well-being and attaining a mindset for more happiness and success in the workplace and beyond. Kristel decided to leave clinical practice in 2019 when she founded her wellness platform “Live Greatly” to share her message around well-being and success on a larger scale.  With a mission to support companies and individuals on their journeys for more happiness, success, and well-being, Kristel taps into her unique background in healthcare, business, and media, to provide invaluable insights into high power habits, leadership development, mental well-being, peak performance, resilience, sales, success, wellness at work, and a modern approach to work/life balance. Kristel is a contributing writer for Entrepreneur and she is an influencer in the business and wellness space having been recognized as a Top 10 Social Media Influencer of 2021 in Forbes. A popular speaker on a variety of topics, Kristel has presented to groups at APMP, Bank of America, Commercial Metals Company, General Mills, Northwestern University, Mazda, Santander Bank and many more. She has been featured in Forbes, Forest & Bluff Magazine, Authority Magazine & Podcast Magazine, has contributed to CEOWORLD Magazine & Real Leaders Magazine, and has appeared on ABC 7 Chicago, WGN Daytime Chicago, Fox 4's WDAF-TV's Great Day KC and Ticker News. Kristel lives in the Chicago area with her husband and their 2 children.  She can be booked for speaking engagements worldwide. To Book Kristel as a speaker for your next event, click here. Website: www.livegreatly.co  Follow Kristel Bauer on: Instagram: @livegreatly_co  LinkedIn: Kristel Bauer Twitter: @livegreatly_co Facebook: @livegreatly.co Youtube: Live Greatly, Kristel Bauer To Watch Kristel Bauer's TEDx talk of Redefining Work/Life Balance in a COVID-19 World click here. Click HERE to check out Kristel's corporate wellness and leadership blog Click HERE to check out Kristel's Travel and Wellness Blog Disclaimer: The contents of this podcast are intended for informational and educational purposes only. Always seek the guidance of your physician for any recommendations specific to you or for any questions regarding your specific health, your sleep patterns changes to diet and exercise, or any medical conditions.  Always consult your physician before starting any supplements or new lifestyle programs. All information, views and statements shared on the Live Greatly podcast are purely the opinions of the authors, and are not medical advice or treatment recommendations.  They have not been evaluated by the food and drug administration.  Opinions of guests are their own and Kristel Bauer & this podcast does not endorse or accept responsibility for statements made by guests.  Neither Kristel Bauer nor this podcast takes responsibility for possible health consequences of a person or persons following the information in this educational content.  Always consult your physician for recommendations specific to you.

As more businesses focus on net-zero targets, voluntary carbon markets (VCMs) need to play an increasingly crucial role. The VCMs are a necessary and important tool for offsetting hard-to-decarbonize emissions, and there is a vital need to scale them; however, there are many challenges in their current state. In this episode of the Sustainability Matters podcast, Bruno Sarda and EY Sustainability Global Account Lead for Microsoft, Alissa Byersdorfer, examine the VCMs' growth and how they needs to evolve with Brian Marrs — Senior Director for Energy and Carbon Removal at Microsoft. Bruno sets the scene with a brief history of the VCMs and carbon as a commodity. He shares that VCMs are growing and are now a key component of many businesses' decarbonization strategies but there are some significant challenges around credibility and quality. Alissa explains how the alliance between Microsoft and the global EY organization helps other businesses achieve their own decarbonization goals through sustainable strategies and data management solutions. With a commitment to becoming carbon negative by 2030, Microsoft is a pioneer in this space. Brian discusses the challenges Microsoft has faced and how the VCMs need to evolve to focus more on quality carbon removal products. Brian covers why Microsoft's strategy is solely focused on investing in carbon removal programs and how they have approached the challenges of the carbon market with their four north stars on quality. Lastly, Brian shares some first-hand advice for companies exploring VCMs to achieve their net-zero goals. © 2024 Ernst & Young LLP

In this episode of the EY Sustainability Matters podcast, the spotlight is turned to the often underestimated impact of the global building and materials industry, specifically cement production, on climate change. Despite playing a crucial role in our everyday lives, this industry's significant contribution to global greenhouse gas emissions and extensive energy and natural resource consumption is often overlooked. Host Bruno Sarda is joined by EY Latin America Climate Change and Sustainability Services leader Ruth Guevara and Vicente Saiso, Global Vice President of Sustainability at CEMEX, a global leader in the building materials industry, to talk about bold decarbonization strategies in such an important sector. Vicente acknowledges the cement industry's significant contribution to global emissions but highlights its efforts to reduce its environmental footprint, mentioning key strategies involving alternative fuels, use of waste materials, and adoption of innovative technologies such as hydrogen in production processes. He explains how, through this process to decarbonize, CEMEX has found business opportunities and cost benefits. Ruth and Vicente discuss the role of waste management in creating a circular economy in the cement industry. Vicente shares how CEMEX turned waste repurposing into a business opportunity by providing services to construction customers to manage their construction and demolition waste, which contributes significantly to global waste management. The episode then explores the innovative and ambitious technologies CEMEX is pursuing to help them play the opposite role and actually reduce environmental impact through cement production. Lastly, the guests shed light on how stakeholder support is crucial for companies' decarbonization initiatives.  © 2024 Ernst & Young LLP

In this episode of the EY Sustainability Matters Podcast, host Bruno Sarda discusses with Mary de Wysocki, Chief Sustainability Officer at Cisco, how companies can leverage technology for a more sustainable future. The intersection between business, technology and sustainability is accelerating, with companies increasingly digitizing their operations. This can significantly reduce waste, energy and materials required to deliver products and services. However, de Wysocki warns that if digital transformation is not done in a sustainable manner, it could have a damaging effect on our planet due to the large energy needs of cloud service providers and data farms. Companies need to integrate sustainability into their digital transformation strategies and harness the value of data to drive these initiatives. De Wysocki also emphasizes the importance of deploying emerging technologies like Artificial intelligence (AI) and automation responsibly, considering the social dimensions such as ethics, privacy information, security, digital equity and human rights. Cisco is already embedding sustainability into its operations and moving towards a regenerative, green future. They have set three priorities in its environmental strategy - accelerating the transition to clean energy, evolving the business from linear to circular, and investing in resilient ecosystems. Cisco is also working on developing a data strategy to create consistent sustainability data across the enterprise, with rigorous reviews to ensure reliability and trust. De Wysocki concludes by highlighting the importance of partnerships and collaboration for achieving sustainability goals and emphasizes the need for inclusivity and a healthy planet for future generations. Key takeaways include: Digital technologies, like AI and automation, have the potential to transform the environmental impact of companies, reducing waste and lowering energy use. There are environmental impact risks posed by intensive energy users like the Information and Communications Technology sector and cloud service providers if not powered by clean energy. Sustainability needs to be integral to business strategy, with an emphasis on a “regenerative future”. Challenges include managing greenhouse gas emissions, addressing digital equity issues and appreciating the role of nature-based solutions in mitigating climate change. Companies should increase their commitment to transparency and accountability, and look to create partnerships in their value chain. © 2024 Ernst & Young LLP

Thought leaders, global decision-makers and policymakers will be convening in Dubai in late-November for the UN Climate Change Conference, or COP28, to assess and address the state of global affairs on the climate agenda. In this episode of the EY Sustainability Matters podcast, host Bruno Sarda is joined in person by Amy Brachio, EY Global Vice Chair for Sustainability, and Matt Bell, EY Global Climate Change and Sustainability Services Leader. They explore COP28 and the importance of the first-ever Global Stocktake - a checkpoint discussion on the progress made since the Paris Agreement adoption in 2015. With just seven years left to cut emissions by half and limit global warming by 1.5 degrees Celsius, the world has reached a pivotal moment in the fight against climate change. Amy and Matt share their views on the possible learnings from the Global Stocktake, as well as on the business and government perspective of COP28, and why it is so vital for those stakeholders to be represented there. With a record number of people - 90,000 - set to attend the summit, the podcast looks at the progress since last year's COP. It also explains why, in these tumultuous times with one global crisis following another, more voices outside of governments must be part of the dialogue on climate change. The guests end on a hopeful note agreeing that the upcoming COP28 is likely to bring more positive outcomes and cross-sector collaborations. Key takeaways include: COP28 includes the first Global Stocktake to assess progress to address and adapt to climate change on a country-by-country level. The dialogue and collaboration between government and business across sectors are vital for meaningful progress. Recent extremes in climate have created more urgency for the transition to a low-carbon economy. New reporting standards are driving greater transparency and accountability. Global tensions, economic uncertainty and political landscapes impact progress, but businesses are still driving climate action through net-zero commitments. EY and other businesses attending COP28 are looking to have an authentic impact and play a role in driving meaningful action. © 2023 Ernst & Young LLP

As businesses prepare to meet the growing demand for transparency in emissions reporting, the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) is leading the way in setting global standards for climate target setting. In a recent episode of the EY Sustainability Matters podcast, host Bruno Sarda is joined by Alberto Carrillo Pineda, cofounder and CTO of the SBTi, and the two members of the EY Climate Change and Sustainability Services, Rob Bradley, Managing Director, Ernst & Young LLP, and Miranda Nayyar, Manager, Ernst & Young LLP. Setting, reporting and delivering on credible climate targets is becoming increasingly important as mandatory climate regulations come into effect. EY teams and the SBTi are collaborating in this area to support clients in committing to and setting science-based targets, and in developing decarbonization pathways to meet these goals. The EY organization and the SBTi recently co-authored research on the landscape of corporate measurement, reporting and verification related to science-based target setting, which will be available later on ey.com. Pineda emphasizes that the SBTi's focus is on setting the global standard for science-based climate targets to promote accountability and transparency. The speakers address the challenges companies face in climate target setting, particularly in gathering robust data and achieving set targets. The discussion also explores the impact of emerging climate disclosures, such as the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) and the U.S. Securities and Exchange commission (SEC), and how companies can prepare for these.  Looking to the future, Pineda is optimistic about the actual implementation, and notes that the SBTi standards will continue to evolve. Key takeaways include: The importance of setting climate targets has increased, and with more companies making public disclosures, issues of standardization have arisen. The SBTi is evolving standards to provide a globally standardized way to set climate targets and assess decarbonization progress. Setting of targets should go hand in hand with a robust decarbonization strategy to deliver on commitments. Key challenges are data collection and access to data across the value chain. The SBTi is moving toward a formal standard-setting structure and remains dedicated to continuously evolving and revising their standards to ensure alignment with the most up-to-date scientific research and evidence. © 2023 Ernst & Young LLP

The necessary transition away from fossil fuels toward clean energy can be extremely disruptive for people and communities reliant on fossil fuel plants and mines for jobs. How can the power generators support these communities and achieve a just transition to a cleaner energy future? In the latest episode of the Sustainability Matters podcast, host Bruno Sarda, and Principal at [please mention the specific legal entity name] and Shannon Roberts, CCaSS Power and Utilities Leader at [please mention the specific legal entity name], interview Sandy Nessing, Vice President and Chief Sustainability Officer at American Electric Power (AEP) about how the company is developing a new model for a just energy transition.   Nessing points out that the current economy is heavily fossil fuel-dependent, so the green energy transition has to be done thoughtfully to avoid severe social and economic risks. That's why people reliant on the plants and communities built around them should be considered when driving the energy transition. Nessing shares an example of AEP's Pirkey Plant in the US, which is in the process of being decommissioned. She gives listeners insights into how AEP created a transition task force and engaged with community leaders to help mitigate the impact on the local people. Both Roberts and Nessing agree that power plants form their own unique social and economic ecosystems around them, and a proper, just transition requires thoughtful intention and may take a long time. Hence, they stress the importance of early planning, which includes not only engagement and collaboration with communities, but also retaining and leveraging partnerships with stakeholders in the company's value chain. Key takeaways include: The transition to cleaner power generation should involve supporting communities dependent on the fossil fuel industry. Green energy transition impacts people not just in the industry itself, but also those in the supply chain and regional economy. Engaging with leaders from every area of the community is vital: from local politicians to school superintendents. The top priority of a just transition should be to keep people, taxes and jobs within the same region. Planning ahead is vital to allow time for a proper just transition in full collaboration with local communities. © 2023 Ernst & Young LLP

Each year, the world produces 300 million tons of plastics, however, just 20% of it ends up back for recycling, with even less actually getting recycled. As plastics are an important part of improving the quality of life for a growing population and aren't going anywhere, how can we solve the plastics crisis with circular solutions? And how can major plastics companies play a leading role in the solution? In the latest episode of the Sustainability Matters podcast, we look specifically at the case of Eastman Chemical Company's commitment and investment in circular solutions to help address the plastics crisis. Host, Bruno Sarda, and Velislava Ivanova, EY Americas Chief Sustainability Officer, and Climate Change and Sustainability Services Leader, are joined by Brad Lich, Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer at Eastman, to discuss Eastman's innovative approach to closing the plastics value chain loop. Lich begins the discussion by explaining why circularity is a core part of Eastman's business strategy and what it means to their business. He explains the importance of recycling in closing the loop in the value chain, focusing on molecular recycling and how it complements traditional mechanical recycling. Lich stresses that the innovation to solve the plastics and recycling problem isn't decades away, it is happening today through these circular and innovative solutions. Lich and Ivanova discuss how no single company or industry can find solutions to the plastic pollution crisis on their own. The key for any industry wishing to move toward a circular model is to develop collaborations and partnerships. Key takeaways include: Adopting circular production is key to managing waste and tackling climate change. Innovation to make plastics truly circular isn't decades away, it is happening today. Demand for circular solutions in the plastics industry is rising, as customers push for greener products. Molecular recycling complements traditional mechanical recycling by addressing its shortcomings and avoiding end-of-life. New innovative recycling technologies lower greenhouse gas impact in comparison to traditional processes. Collaboration and co-innovation among companies, NGOs and regulators is essential to drive investments and find solutions. No company can do it alone. © 2023 Ernst & Young LLP

Sometimes it's not what you say, but how you say it.  What's the best approach to managing and getting the most out of your employees? Are there gender and generational challenges to administering performance management effectively?  Is communication and training the answer? Partners Tracey Diamond and Evan Gibbs sat down with Laura Yehuda, a Principal with Ernst & Young LLP's People Advisory Services, to talk about the popular TV show, The Bear, hoagies versus subs, and best practices when delivering performance messages.Hear all this and more in this episode of the Hiring to Firing Podcast! Check out all of our previous episodes and subscribe now.

There are various decarbonization frameworks designed for heavy industries, but what about the less obvious emitters like the service sector?  How can they standardize emissions measurement and set out on the road to decarbonization? In this episode of Sustainability Matters, we look specifically at the advertising and media sector and the challenges companies have faced in decarbonizing their supply chains. Host Bruno Sarda and EY CCaSS Senior Manager Charlotte Pugh are joined by Ollie Joyce and Alexandra McGee from marketing services leader WPP, which is at the forefront of efforts to establish an industry-wide carbon measurement framework.  Ollie and Alexandra explain how developing a standardized approach to measuring carbon emissions is a complex but necessary step for the media industry to achieve ambitious net-zero targets.  They discuss how WPP's proposed global framework for measuring the ad-based carbon emissions and their media decarbonization coalition seek to create alignment with industry players. Ollie and Alexandra discuss how media placement generates a significant carbon footprint and clients are questioning the emissions of the platforms they appear on. While emissions will never be the sole factor in media placement decision-making, the guests think that media investment will shift to publishers and platforms that decarbonize fastest. This has business advantages, as greater transparency may improve the media environment and deliver lower emissions. Finally, Ollie and Alexandra talk about the lessons other industries that lack a standardized approach to decarbonization can learn from the media industry's experience, and how real change can be achieved from incremental gains. Key takeaways include: There is a new resolve within the advertising industry to reduce its carbon footprint. Existing GHG protocols can be difficult to interpret for the service sector and this complexity in measurement creates a roadblock for action. Industry-wide collaboration is key to establishing standardized emissions measurement in complex service sector value chains, such as the media sector. Emissions data is becoming an increasingly important factor in media placement decisions. Making carbon a factor in media decisions may reduce waste in the media supply chain and improve the media environment. Decarbonization efforts can correlate to business and workforce benefits. © 2023 Ernst & Young LLP

Nobody wants a college to close, but enrollment and demographic trends, accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic, are requiring some colleges to consider what steps they may need to take to survive and thrive. For some, the only option may be a merger or affiliation with another institution. Join Michael B. Alexander, President, Lasell University; Kasia Lundy, EY-Parthenon Principal, US Higher Education, Ernst & Young LLP; and Haven Ladd, EY-Parthenon US Education Partner, Ernst & Young LLP, as they discuss models for mergers, mitigating risks, and governance and execution considerations.

The current global nonfinancial disclosures landscape is highly fragmented with a variety of different bodies evolving reporting frameworks. Will the new ISSB standards accelerate their convergence into mandatory globally accepted ESG reporting standards? In the final episode of the miniseries on disclosures, host Bruno Sarda is joined by Terence Jeyararetnam, EY Asia-Pacific Leader and Partner, Climate Change and Sustainability Services at Ernst & Young (the Partnership), and a member of the ISSB's Technical Reference Group. The discussion begins with the analysis of the different frameworks already in existence from the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB) and others. Many businesses have already adopted these, but there is pressure from regulators, investors and other stakeholders for frameworks to be standardized and mandated. Voluntary reporting is not taking businesses far enough to reduce their impact on climate and nature. The ISSB has an important role in accelerating this, and the hosts discuss whether the aggressive timeline for introducing the ISSB standards is realistic, what resistance is likely and what the prospects are for global acceptance. They also talk about how the new standards from the US SEC and the EU CSRD frameworks will fall into the picture. Companies should prepare for a potential new reality, where ESG reporting could be as rigorous and mandated as financial reporting. Bruno and Terence discuss the need for culture change and the key role of the CFO in gathering and managing the ESG data. © 2023 Ernst & Young LLP

Health care providers (HCPs) have transitioned from navigating shutdowns at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic to learning to adjust to a hybrid engagement environment. By necessity, pharmaceutical companies have changed how they engage with providers, moving from primarily in-person interactions to fully virtual and, finally, to a hybrid of in-person and virtual. During a recent MM+M podcast, editor-in-chief Larry Dobrow moderated a discussion between Ray Gomez, VP of worldwide omnichannel capabilities at Bristol Myers Squibb (BMS), and Shannon Hartley, managing director of life sciences transformation at Ernst & Young LLP (EY US), about the shifting needs of HCPs for information across diverse channels.  Adjusting to omnichannelAs the COVID-19 pandemic hit, EY US initiated a survey to track the impact on HCPs of the shift from in-person to virtual engagement. The research took an in-depth look at “how HCP perceptions are changing, how they're interacting with both their own patients and with pharmaceutical companies, what's working, what's not,” Hartley said. What has become increasingly important is the use of omnichannel as a way of creating “personalization, not just for the physician in terms of their specialty or the individual, but the type of information they're looking for varies by channel,” she explained.  To “demystify what omnichannel is,” Gomez said, unlike multichannel marketing that places a greater emphasis on the channel, omnichannel puts the customer at the center of the journey. It's about providing the right content at the right time in the right place for that customer. “It's key to identify the customer as well as their pain points so we can start a conversation about how they want to be spoken to, and then look at the content that we have to deliver and drive so that it's meaningful for them — relevancy is key.” Next, consider how often to communicate and which channels are best to reach them. Keep in mind that “It isn't a one-size-fits-all,” Hartley said. For product launches, “It is important to have the sales rep explaining the new products.” However, for established products, HCPs prefer receiving information through “websites, reminders and email updates.” In specialties such as oncology, which encounters “a fast-paced change in science, being able to interact with medical peers who are doing new research and with pharmaceutical companies who are leading some of that research” has become critical, Hartley explains.  Changing the mindsetGomez has found that “it takes a village to truly build an omnichannel game plan because there's so much orchestration.” Working with a range of stakeholders, it's imperative to start by “listening and knowing which triggers you need to be turning on and off appropriately,” he said. “Across the industry, innovative leaders have recognized the importance of omnichannel and being customer-centric,” Hartley said. One of the many lessons COVID-19 taught the leaders at BMS is “that customers' expectations changed and we need to evolve along with them,” Gomez said. Omnichannel is critical to “meet customers where they want to be met.” To do that well, a company must look at the entire customer journey. Many believe that omnichannel is synonymous with “getting rid of the salesforce,” Hartley noted. “That is not the case. Instead, it means looking at all channels — digital as well as the personal including sales representatives, the reimbursement specialists, the patient support, the call center and the medical science liaisons — to find how to bring those together in the way that meets the customer at that moment, in the way they want to be engaged,” she explained. Optimizing the technology Nearly three years out from the initial shift to virtual engagement, HCPs are still experiencing technology and content challenges. Part of Gomez's role is to “simplify the experience so we can leverage those tools in the right way.” To do that, everyone on the team must “use the same playbook, the same acronyms and nomenclature.” Technology is ever-changing and it is difficult to stay ahead, so we need to focus on “optimizing what we currently have, while being aware of what's coming in the future. In other words, let's not focus too much on the ‘next best thing.' Let's better orchestrate the great tools we have at our disposal,” he said. Technology “is not about finding the brightest, shiniest object,” Hartley added. Its purpose is to support the brand objectives and make it easier for customers, yet for HCPs and patients alike, the technology remains “a bit of a hindrance.” HCPs noted in our research that they are still experiencing challenges with scheduling and the length of virtual details with pharmaceutical companies. They also noted that patients often struggle with the technology for virtual visits and portals, so for many HCP/patient engagements they have returned to in person. Gomez conceded the industry has a long way to go “to rethink the entire experience.” Pharma companies should re-evaluate their efforts across the four Ds: data, decisions, design and delivery. In its simplest form, have a data strategy that will empower you to better understand what story to tell, make data-based decisions on what's most important to your customer, design a program that encompasses a robust content strategy and deliver that message on the relevant platforms. EY US helps clients look at “what other industries are doing and what excellence can look like,” said Hartley. Companies lauded by consumers “understand their needs, meet them where they are and deliver personalized content that's relevant and meaningful to them,” she explained. Omnichannel does not mean they are omnipresent. “Companies are not there every day but when customers need them, and customers see these companies as a great resource and a partner in that sense,” she said. Creating a personalized experienceAt the end of the day, “data is going to help us tell the story,” Gomez said. With omnichannel, “content is both king and queen. It needs to be specific to the consumer, seamless, automated and relevant to where they are along that journey.” Content is not solely for promotional purposes. EY US research has found “a greater need for medical education content for HCPs and that they can share with their patients,” Hartley said. “We've historically had firewalls between medical and promotion and we're entering a new era where, in a compliant way, we need to be able to bring medical content and promotional content at the right moment in the journey to the customer.” That convergence of the medical and commercial and value and access is necessary for pharma brands to create the right customer experience going forward. That requires “having some type of handshake every step of the way, which is what an orchestrated omnichannel experience is all about,” Gomez added. In this new, faster environment of campaign development and personalization, it's critical to “keep the customer at the center and continue to innovate around the ways we communicate with them that are going to meet their needs,” Hartley said. The future is about the customer, “because they're going to demand that more and more,” Gomez concluded. “If we keep that lens on at all times, it's going to be the compass to guide us to the right direction.” The views reflected in this article are the views of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of Ernst & Young LLP or other members of the global EY organization.

In the second of our series-of-three Sustainability Matters podcasts dealing with environmental, social and governance (ESG) disclosures worldwide, our host Bruno Sarda focuses on biodiversity and the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD). He is joined by two members of the Taskforce: Marine de Bazelaire, Group Advisor on Natural Capital, HSBC, and Alexis Gazzo, Leader, Climate Change and Sustainability Services in France at EY & Associés The discussion begins with the urgent need to tackle the loss of biodiversity that threatens global economy. The Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF), which came out of the recent UN Biodiversity Conference, COP 15, aims to halt and reverse nature loss by 2030. As businesses and their stakeholders start to recognize biodiversity as a business priority, and begin to consider their impact and reliance on nature, there will be an increasing need for transparent natural capital disclosures to help achieve these global biodiversity targets. This is where the TNFD comes in. Marine discusses the importance of addressing nature-related issues and halting nature loss to achieve a net-zero future. She also highlights how financial institutions are becoming more engaged piloting the TNFD beta framework and gives a fascinating insight into how HSBC is preparing for future nature-based disclosures. Alexis talks about the TNFD and how it is seeking to address the challenges facing biodiversity, including how companies can begin to prepare for reporting. He discusses practical steps to take, and how EY teams can help companies identify areas of exposure to biodiversity-related risks. © 2023 Ernst & Young LLP

Deanna Berardi is the Head of Partnerships at Quiet Light. In this role, she helps develop relationships with buyers, sellers, and partners to ensure the best experience for clients. She is also the Manager of Customer Success at Intuit. Deanna has over 20 years of experience in strategic business development and was the Marketing Manager for Smart Wires Inc. and the Marketing Program Manager for Ernst & Young LLP. She graduated from Indiana University Bloomington with a bachelor's in business administration and marketing. In this episode… How much of an impact do clean books and due diligence make when it comes to exiting your business? For one company, model books and valuation meant securing the deal they wanted.  Achieving the exit you desire doesn't just happen by luck — you have to put in the work. One step to gaining the biggest return on your brand is to use educational material that will enlighten you and your buyers. On the aggregator side, having a strong presentation at the beginning of the process can carry your deal to the end.  In this episode of the Quiet Light Podcast, Joe Valley and Deanna Berardi, Head of Partnerships at Quiet Light, talk about a serendipitous turn of events that generated an 8-figure exit. Deanna talks about the valuation process, documentation and transferability, and education for exit empowerment. Stay tuned!

In the first of a series of three Sustainability Matters podcasts dealing with ESG disclosures worldwide, we put the spotlight on Europe and the new Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD for short). Bruno Sarda is joined by Dr. Christian Orth, EY Global Solution Leader for Sustainability Reporting and Assurance, and Elodie Timmermans, EY Americas Nonfinancial Reporting Assurance and Advisory Leader, who looks at the implications for businesses in North America. What is the CSRD and what is it trying to achieve? Christian guides us through the many acronyms involved and gives his insight into the evolution of ESG disclosures in Europe. The new directive is a vital component of the European Green Deal which seeks to make the EU the world's first carbon-neutral trading block. The guests discuss the huge increase in the number of businesses that will be affected and the compliance timelines. The CSRD won't only affect European enterprise. Elodie outlines implications for non-EU businesses that have subsidiaries or operations in the EU. The guests also discuss how the CSRD aligns with other global initiatives such as the ISSB and SEC. Businesses will need to prepare for a new age of sustainability disclosures. ESG reporting will not simply be the domain of the Chief Sustainability Officer, but the entire enterprise will need to become aligned to sustainability goals and disclosures. Implementation will have a major impact on operations and the time to set up steering committees and working groups is now. Key takeaways The CSRD is an important part of delivering the European Green Deal - the journey to a carbon-neutral Europe. It encompasses not just climate change but broader Environmental, Social and Governance metrics. It will dramatically increase the number of businesses who are subject to mandatory ESG disclosures from 15,000 to over 50,000. CSRD will impact non-EU companies, called Third-country companies, that have substantial activity in the EU. Businesses should prepare now, aligning finance and sustainability teams and involve the C-suite. Successful reporting needs a holistic approach that involves the entire organization. © 2023 Ernst & Young LLP

Deanna Berardi is the Head of Partnerships at Quiet Light. In this role, she helps develop relationships with buyers, sellers, and partners to ensure the best experience for clients. She is also the Manager of Customer Success at Intuit. Deanna has over 20 years of experience in strategic business development and was the Marketing Manager for Smart Wires Inc. and the Marketing Program Manager for Ernst & Young LLP. She graduated from Indiana University Bloomington with a bachelor's in business administration and marketing. In this episode… What steps can you take to minimize your personal likeness when trying to exit your business? The sooner you can think ahead on the transferability of your brand, the easier your exit will be. Deanna Berardi knows that the more valuable you are to your business, the less valuable your business is. Preparing your personal brand for exit begins by slowly removing your likeness from your content site. By removing risks, you're building the valuation of your brand which can lead to a greater exit. Listen to this episode to hear Deanna talk about lessons learned from selling a content site.  In this episode of the Quiet Light Podcast, Joe Valley sits down with Deanna Berardi, Head of Partnerships at Quiet Light, to debrief a deal that ended in a seven-figure, all-cash exit. Deanna talks about bringing value to your brand, negotiating an SBA loan, and how seller education can help sell a difficult brand. Stay tuned!

The COP27 climate conference in Egypt was billed as 'The African COP' with the promise that it would give a voice to the developing world as it wrestles with climate change. Did the conference succeed and has it found a way ahead that addresses the differing agendas of the world's developing nations?   Fresh from the conference, Clémence McNulty, Ernst & Young Advisory Services (Pty) Ltd, Africa Sustainability Lead, and Ricardo Assumpção, Ernst & Young Assessoria Empresarial Ltda, Latin America South ESG Leader, join Bruno Sarda to discuss the successes and shortcomings of the conference for their regions.   From an African perspective, Clemence discussed the importance of the private sector's participation but that the solutions need to be localized, with local municipalities and governments playing a key role.  For Latin America, Ricardo noted how COP27 was important in highlighting the unique assets Latin America has to create more value and the great potential of the carbon markets.  All agreed that the world is increasingly looking to the Global South to take a fuller part in the debate and play a more prominent role. Even with potentially imperfect outcomes, COP27 has further driven conversation and understanding of what needs to be achieved by all parties involved.  Key takeaways The Loss and Damage Fund is an important step forward in addressing the disparity between northern and southern hemisphere resources.  The private sector is likely to provide more and more financial and technological solutions. This was reflected in their presence at COP27.  Blended finance from both the public and private sector is key for addressing the Just Transition and closing the funding gap.  COP27 restated the connection between climate change and biodiversity, emphasizing the importance of the rainforest.    © 2022 Ernst & Young LLP

Deanna Berardi is the Head of Partnerships at Quiet Light. In this role, she helps develop relationships with buyers, sellers, and partners to ensure the best experience for clients. She is also the Manager of Customer Success at Intuit.  Deanna has over 20 years of experience in strategic business development and was the Marketing Manager for Smart Wires Inc. and the Marketing Program Manager for Ernst & Young LLP. She graduated from Indiana University Bloomington with a bachelor's in business administration and marketing. In this episode… If you're selling your brand, how can you authentically connect with aggregators? Whether you're buying or selling, you want to work with a credible source. What is the easiest way to connect with other brands? Referral partners can create a trustworthy environment for you to buy and sell brands with confidence. Deanna Berardi begins with a few simple questions to find the right fit and match with an advisor. But you don't need to be a rocket scientist to connect with other brands — you simply need to send an email. Deanna knows that to provide content catered to a certain group, email is the best way to deliver. Are you ready for a fantastic exit experience? In this episode of the Quiet Light Podcast, Joe Valley sits down with Deanna Berardi, Head of Partnerships at Quiet Light, to discuss establishing valuable partnerships through referrals. Deanna talks about how providing quality care creates lasting impressions, why passive content can generate more interest, and the value of building trust with clients.

Environmental, social and governance (ESG) is quickly becoming mainstream, but corporates may find it difficult to tackle ESG with siloed efforts toward E, S and G. As more organizations prioritize human capital, racial equity and talent development, a new focus on the S — the social factors within ESG — is beginning to take shape. But how are enterprises responding to these challenges, and what can be said about the current state of transparency and measurement when it comes to reporting on these social factors?   In this episode, Bruno Sarda, Climate Change and Sustainability Services Partner at Ernst & Young LLP and Senior Manager Lucy Godshall are joined by Emily Bayley, Head of ESG, Private Sector at the World Economic Forum (WEF), and Ebony Thomas, Racial Equality and Economic Opportunity Executive at Bank of America. They discuss the focus that employees and institutional investors are placing on diversity, inclusivity, training, and health and safety. Finally, the importance of corporate culture and the potential impact on the bottom line. Key takeaways include: The social factors in ESG are likely to become more important to investors and stakeholders. A strong focus on social factors can help to retain talented employees and subsequently have a direct impact on an organization's bottom line. Organizations with strong social credentials will likely be better positioned to weather difficult times and business conditions. Stakeholders are looking for social metrics to be included in nonfinancial disclosures to help better measure and compare performance. The global business community is collaborating with public and private bodies to develop new metrics.   © 2022 Ernst & Young LLP

How do you navigate difficult conversations at work? Do you lean into them with curiosity or do you try to avoid any discomfort? This week, we are welcoming Dr. Susan Clark Muntean back to the show. If you didn't catch last week's insightful podcast episode with Susan, Championing Gender Inclusivity in Business, we highly recommend adding it to your list! In today's episode, we discuss how to approach and practice difficult conversations with your team, actionable tips to make them easier, and the positive outcomes and growth you can experience as a result. In today's episode: 3:30- Difficult conversations and our external environment 7:00- Starting with curiosity and vulnerability 10:30- Tips and tools to make approaching difficult conversations easier 24:30- Creating win-win outcomes About Dr. Susan Clark Muntean Dr. Susan Clark Muntean teaches courses in Management, Organizational Behavior and Theory, Entrepreneurship, and Consulting. She holds a certificate in Social Entrepreneurship from the United States Association for Small Business and Entrepreneurship ("USASBE") and is active in the Asheville entrepreneurial community as a mentor, public speaker, author and advisory board member.  Her new book, Entrepreneurial Ecosystems:  A Gender Perspective, is co-authored with Cambridge University Press. Dr. Clark Muntean has held both academic and professional positions in the U.S., Europe and Asia, including with the London School of Economics, IBM Consulting Group, Ernst & Young LLP and Arthur Andersen LLP. About the 10X Impact Conversations Podcast We believe you matter, your work matters, and your business matters. The 10X Impact Conversations podcast is designed to help you thrive in life and work using science, coaching, and conscious practices you can integrate today. In each episode, our host Laura Jaurez discusses or interviews leaders and experts to uncover how people and organizations are making the world better through their own evolution, relationships, and work. This podcast is a production of 10X Leadership Lab – a conscious executive coaching and consulting practice committed to making the world better by making business better. To learn more about how we can support you and your business, visit us at 10xleadershiplab.com.

What can we do to create more gender inclusivity in the workplace? Especially in entrepreneurship, the gender gap for funding and support is staggering. Only 3% of all venture capital funding goes to female entrepreneurs. This means that 97% of all the dollars that go to startups that become high impact, highly successful companies are founded by men. What can we do to change that gap? In this week's podcast episode, we are joined by Dr. Susan Clark Muntean. Susan teaches courses in Management, Organizational Behavior and Theory, Entrepreneurship, and Consulting. She holds a certificate in Social Entrepreneurship from the United States Association for Small Business and Entrepreneurship ("USASBE") and is active in the Asheville entrepreneurial community as a mentor, public speaker, author and advisory board member.  Her new book, Entrepreneurial Ecosystems:  A Gender Perspective, is co-authored with Cambridge University Press. Dr. Clark Muntean has held both academic and professional positions in the U.S., Europe and Asia, including with the London School of Economics, IBM Consulting Group, Ernst & Young LLP and Arthur Andersen LLP. Today, we discuss gender inclusivity in the workplace, the gender gap in entrepreneurship, and how leaders and gatekeepers can communicate and advocate for change within organizations.   In this episode: 8:30- What does research tell us about gender inclusivity in the entrepreneurial ecosystem? 15:00- How can men flip the narrative to help close the gender gap?  21:00- What can we do to help others become aware of their implicit biases? 25:45- How can women support other women in business and entrepreneurship? - - - We believe you matter, your work matters, and your business matters. The 10X Impact Conversations podcast is designed to help you thrive in life and work using science, coaching, and conscious practices you can integrate today. In each episode, our host Laura Jaurez discusses or interviews leaders and experts to uncover how people and organizations are making the world better through their own evolution, relationships, and work. This podcast is a production of 10X Leadership Lab – a conscious executive coaching and consulting practice committed to making the world better by making business better. To learn more about how we can support you and your business, visit us at 10xleadershiplab.com.

The theme of Earth Day 2022 is “invest in our planet” — and can be seen as a direct call to businesses and investors to act on reducing their adverse environmental impact. In the lead-up to Earth Day, Jennifer Leitsch, Managing Director in the  Climate Change and Sustainability Services (CCaSS) practice at Ernst & Young, LLP, spoke to Cynthia Curtis, Senior Vice President for Sustainability at JLL, about the challenges and opportunities of ambitious net zero goals, and the actions the real estate and construction sector, a significant contributor to greenhouse gas emissions,[1] should take now to achieve them. Earth Day 2022's thematic shift from citizen activism to corporate action poses some important questions on industry actions and accountability. While carbon offsetting can often be described as one of the answers to a business's carbon emissions, it is unlikely to be the only solution. And as offsetting measurements come under increased scrutiny, how can proposals such as the “Carbon Credit Quality Initiative,” spearheaded by the World Wildlife Fund and the Environmental Defense Fund, help provide confidence in credible and verifiable offsets? The collaborations among organizations can be an important step toward reaching net zero emissions. Public-private partnerships, governments and long-term policy changes could also be important to building a low-carbon economy, and helping incentivize more green business practices that are both ethical and lucrative. Many industries are increasingly aware of the possibility to have a sustainable and thriving business. Cynthia and Jennifer discuss why it's time for businesses of all shapes and sizes to act: Tackling climate change has become less about individual activism and more about corporate action. Global ambitions of carbon neutrality have led to an increase in carbon offsetting, prompting a greater need for a standardized calculation system. Offsetting can be part of the solution. Market-based guidelines, such as carbon tax, could significantly accelerate change across global business. Public-private partnerships can be important in building the low-carbon economy. While the real estate and construction sector has lagged in setting ambitious emissions targets, third-party organizations could be important to supporting responsible growth in the sector. © 2021 Ernst & Young LLP

This week, we are joined by three cybercrime experts, John Bandler, Scott Giordano, and John Bates, to discuss how the FBI is obtaining court orders to enter companies' computers and seize harmful malware — and take other actions — in a new approach to countering cybercrime. The FBI's Cyber Division coordinated with the UK and private companies to disrupt a two-tiered global botnet of infected devices controlled by a cybercriminal aligned with the Russian Intelligence Unit GRU. This episode's guests are: John Bandler, Founder, Bandler Law Firm PLLC John G. Bates, Manager, Ernst & Young LLP, Cybersecurity Scott M. Giordano, V.P., Corporate Privacy, and General Counsel

Looking ahead into 2022, the Sustainability Matters podcast welcomes Bruno Sarda, Climate Change and Sustainability Partner with Ernst & Young LLP and new host for the EY Sustainability Matters podcast series, chronicling the recent prioritization of environmental, social and governance (ESG) and the need for greater ESG integration into investor decision-making and corporate strategy. In this episode, Bruno reflects upon the series to date, highlighting key ESG issues, along with ways businesses can prosper while working harmoniously with the environment and society at large. Bruno showcases three personal highlights from previous episodes and their continued relevance today: Susan Hunt Stevens of WeSpire on engaging employees in ESG Steve Bradley of Cox Cleantech on building an enterprise through sustainability Steve Varley, EY Global Vice Chair of Sustainability, on the outcomes for business of the COP26 forum. Finally, Bruno looks ahead to the next 12 to 24 months, and the issues that could inform the ESG agenda: the increase in regulation and reporting obligations, the role of private capital and finance, and the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic as a dress rehearsal for the disruption to global economies that climate change could bring. Bruno also discusses the importance of the social aspect of ESG and how diversity and inclusion are set to remain prominent issues. The crucial catalyst for change is the move from ambition to action in transitioning to low carbon business models. The implementation of increased regulation and disclosure requirements will likely be strong motivators for change. The private sector and private capital should take a leading role in financing this transition. The COVID-19 pandemic appears to be accelerating a change toward new business models and that could make organizations more adaptable. The increased focus on racial, gender equity and diversity & inclusion (D&I) issues is likely to continue to gain prominence alongside the environmental debate.   © 2021 Ernst & Young LLP

The restructuring industry has been greatly impacted by the uncertainty that the global pandemic has brought. What does this mean for the future of restructuring? Which sectors will have been most severely impacted? We speak with Gaurav Malhotra of Ernst & Young LLP, who is a member of the EY Global Restructuring team and US Restructuring Leader.  With more than 20 years of experience leading financial and operational restructuring assignments, Gaurav has advised leadership of enterprises ranging from Fortune 100 companies to middle market corporations. Gaurav has strategized turnaround plans in sectors including, among others, commercial airlines, and Tier 1 automotive suppliers, as well large scale local government restructurings, including the City of Detroit and Puerto Rico. What We Discussed in This Episode: How EY may be unique among the Big Four in the restructuring industry, and how that has affected EY's growth What the Global Financial Crisis of 2008 taught us as we address the economic impact of COVID-19 pandemic The next potential drivers of a restructuring cycle, and what's to come in 2022 How ESG issues, whether environmental, societal, or social in nature, may ultimately impact restructuring  Contact Information: Gaurav Malhotra 

In this special episode of the Better Finance podcast, Pat Grismer, Former CFO Starbucks, Hyatt Hotels and Yum Brands, and Cory Hrncirik, Microsoft Modern Finance Lead, join Myles Corson for a wide-ranging discussion on the future of finance. Their discussion covers the role of the CFO, the importance of a strong culture and why CFOs need to spend more time on talent, how the finance function can have an even greater impact in strategy and resource allocation, and the need for more data. © 2022 Ernst & Young LLP

The eyes of the world were on the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference – COP26. With the dust settling and negotiations in place, what progress was made in adhering to the 1.5℃ goal of The Paris Agreement? This episode of the EY Sustainability Matters podcast, features Steve Varley – EY Global Vice Chair for Sustainability. Steve was in Glasgow to attend COP26 and in this episode of the podcast, he discusses the experience of being at the conference in person, the likely impact of the discussions, the actions that should be taken to reduce emissions globally and the part everyone – including business – can play. The coming together of nations was a cause for great optimism, but the reality is that there is still more work to be done to keep the 1.5oC dream alive. This means that commitment and collaboration between nations, governments and business will likely be critical, and could need further progress on trust and transparency as a priority. Some businesses are actively and enthusiastically addressing environmental, social and governance (ESG) by innovating and adapting their business model, and providing customers with a more sustainable offering. Other businesses view ESG as less of a priority, so finding a way to demonstrate the value of sustainability and moving climate change to the top of the agenda could be crucial. For Steve, COP26 is a cause for optimism, creating an atmosphere of ambition and providing an opportunity to take meaningful action. © 2021 Ernst & Young LLP

In this episode of the EY Sustainability Matters podcast, Chris Hagler meets with Antonis Mavropoulos, author of “Industry 4.0 and the Circular Economy” and CEO of D-Waste, along with Mark Weick, Managing Director of Climate Change and Sustainability Services (CCaSS) for Ernst & Young LLP, to find out more about the circular economy, and how its union with Industry 4.0 could revolutionize waste management and help contribute to a more sustainable planet.  Most organizations recognize the need to create a more circular economy, but do they truly understand the concept? Are they willing to change their business model to leverage the opportunities? And do they have the leadership and teams required to meet the challenge? There's also much to think about outside of the environmental challenges that most organizations consider to be the definition of a circular economy. Some subject-matter experts suggest it can be better thought of as the transformation of the whole supply chain, and the inclusion of societal and governance issues. The integration of these aspects could help make businesses more resilient and less wasteful. For Antonis and Mark, this is a chance to reshape thinking on how to tackle climate change. And that shape, is circular. © 2021 Ernst & Young LLP

The EY DNA of the CFO survey revealed an increased growth in data volumes, with 35 percent of the finance leaders significantly involved in providing data and analytics to reduce cost and improve effectiveness of their organizations. In this episode, podcast host Myles Corson welcomes Jennifer Crowe, CFO of CognitiveScale, and Anthony Sgammato, EY America's Private Assurance Leader to discuss how private company CFOs can identify and effectively use this rising amount of data to make a difference.  They explore how private company CFOs use data analytics to maintain a competitive edge. Tools such as business intelligence systems, artificial intelligence and cloud storage can offer insights from data, in real time. However, these tools may bring new challenges of cyber-attacks and staff and cultural issues.  © 2021 Ernst & Young LLP    

The use of plastics has grown significantly in the past 50 years. Plastics are a versatile material that are a part of many household and industrial products. Unfortunately, plastic waste in the environment has also grown, particularly in the oceans, threatening natural ecological systems. One organization looking to tackle the plastic waste problem is Dow. As a materials science company and large manufacturer of plastics, Dow is using its expertise to design systems and technology to enable the use of complex plastic waste as well as support the collection of plastic waste. In this episode of Sustainability Matters podcast, host Chris Hagler welcomes Jeff Wooster, Global Sustainability Director for Dow Packaging and Specialty Plastics, and Jamie Mattison, Senior Manager in EY's Climate Change and Sustainability Practice. Together, they discuss actions that businesses can take to enhance the plastics value chain, supporting increased collection rates with the manufacturing of materials from plastic waste. © 2021 Ernst & Young LLP    

Myles Corson is joined by Fulya Kocak, senior vice president of ESG issues for National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts (Nareit) and Serena Wolfe, chief financial officer of Annaly Capital Management. Together, they discuss the increasing stakeholder focus on environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues within the real estate investment trusts (REITs) and the broader real estate sector. The conversation starts with a look at how the pandemic has influenced agility within REITs to become ESG change agents for other sectors. The impact of the global pandemic has pushed businesses to adapt and embrace innovative ideas for decision-making processes along with acting as agents for change. While it proved to be an adaptability test for almost all sectors, it was also an opportunity to identify gaps and issues that could be solved with great solutions. For real estate companies, the pandemic led to changes in how they operate including updates to cleaning protocols in anticipation of reopening of workspaces. Additionally, property owners and landlords invested in new technologies for indoor air quality, studied energy consumptions versus occupancy and witnessed an increase in health and wellness rating applications. Annaly Capital Management brought together its infrastructure, IT infrastructure and human capital in ways never considered before, in response to the magnified importance of emergency planning and system resiliency. Given the challenges faced through the pandemic, investors are not only focused on how businesses are responding to COVID, but also the business continuity plan. This shift in focus was also influenced by the acceleration in momentum to implement improved ESG practices and meet the changing expectations of stakeholders. From a CFO standpoint, it's about being proactive and instrumental in helping the company and the executive team define what ESG means for the company and industry. The CFO is now critical in managing change, assessing where their company is today and how to benefit from situations in the future. It's an opportunity to make a long-lasting, meaningful impact in the face of continued uncertainty and disruption.  Episode links: Leading with Purpose: Annaly 2020 Corporate Responsibility Report (July2021) Nareit's 2021 REIT ESG Dashboard The Sustainability Leader in You by Fulya Kocak 2021 Outlook for REITs and Commercial Real Estate: Risk and Resilience http://www.REIT.com/ESG How can the CFO evolve today to reframe finance for tomorrow? | EY - Global  © 2021 Ernst & Young LLP

We use our identity each day, and often more times than we realize. We use our identity to shop online, submit tax returns and even logon for a day's work. Each of these require a separate identity and the need to remember passwords, and a separate registration process. What if we could merge these and have a shared ID instead of having different credentials? The good news is that blockchain has enabled a new way to solve this problem through constructs like verifiable credentials (VCs) and the ability to orchestrate identity verification across the network. In this episode, David Chan, Ernst & Young LLP, speaks with Ankur Patel, Microsoft – Identity Products Lead and Rob Foster, Ernst & Young LLP, about how DIDs (decentralized identities) can improve the user experience and streamline identity management processes.

Podcast host Chris Hagler is joined by guests Ann Meitz, Vice President of Sustainability and Packaging Innovation at 3M and Mark Weick, Managing Director in EY's Climate Change and Sustainability Practice, and circular economy services lead. Together they discuss opportunities for circular transformation including product design, material sourcing, reselling byproducts, right-to-repair, and end-of-life management. The global production and use of food and consumer goods has a large impact on our environment and is anticipated to experience a tremendous increase. One study estimates that the growth of the global middle class by 2030 will result in consumers adding the equivalent of a second United States to global consumption. 3M is one consumer products business that is pursuing innovative changes to manufacturing and design to advance the circular economy. By thinking holistically about the impacts of manufacturing and product changes, 3M has shown that it is possible to reduce waste while achieving characteristics like enhanced product performance and even elevated end user efficiency. ©2021 Ernst & Young LLP

Our focus this time is on the major disruption in global trade and the impact on trade networks. Jim Morton, Managing Director, Consulting, Ernst & Young LLP and Jay Bezek, EY Global Trade Senior Manager, look at key influences to reduce volatility in global trade and the type of reforms needed to minimize interruption to ocean freight. 22 mins  

Hi, I'm the Profit Answer Man Rocky Lalvani! I help small business owners simplify their financial reports so that they can make more informed business decisions with fewer hassles. We utilize the Profit First system created by Mike Michalowicz Effortless Cashflow Course: http://bit.do/effortlesscashflowcourse Schedule your free, no-obligation intro call: https://bookme.name/rockyl/lite/intro-appointment-15-minutes   Gwen has always been interested in a wide variety of things. She had originally planned on being a math teacher but her immediate future took a different path when she discovered computer programming back in the early ‘80s, when PCs were a novelty, and dial up was the hottest technology.   This led to a decade and a half career spanning from those first years of dial up to the early stages of wireless, during which she ran her own consulting company, worked as a consultant for Ernst & Young LLP, and ran the IT department for a competitive phone company. As a consultant she has worked with clients ranging from Sprint, to a machine shop supplying high tech wheelchair parts, to the largest international distributor of bull semen.   Fifteen years after making the logical and obvious transition into professional knitwear designer and instructor, Gwen returned to her first loves of consulting, speaking and training. As a natural educator, meeting new people and sharing her knowledge, experience, and insights is one of her greatest joys.   Leveraging her breadth of operational expertise, Gwen works with coaches and consultants who have plateaued and are ready to move to the next level. With a focus on improved business operations utilizing her GEARS framework, Gwen describes herself as a virtual, fractional COO.   For more information on how Gwen helps her clients grow profitable businesses, and to get down-to-earth business advice visit http://gwenbortner.com/.     More about making profitability simple: http://profitcomesfirst.com/ Questions: questions@profitanswerman.com Email: rocky@profitcomesfirst.com Profit Answer Man Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/profitanswerman/ My podcast about living a richer more meaningful life: http://richersoul.com/ First 2 chapter of Profit First: https://sendfox.com/rocky Music provided by Junan from Junan Podcast Any financial advice is for educational purposes only and you should consult with an expert for your specific needs.

Join us in a discussion around cloud access governance and Gap, Inc.'s multi-cloud identity and access management (IAM) journey. We speak about its challenges and how to leverage tools such as cloud infrastructure entitlement management. Hosted by David Chan, Ernst & Young LLP managing director, and guests Ankan Sharma, Ernst & Young LLP senior manager, and Sriram Santhanam, Gap, Inc. director of IAM.

“You are beautiful. You are strong. You will go through some things just know you will get through it.” These are just a few words Pam Illar, mother, wife, daughter, sister, friend, proud Out woman, warrior, would say to her 11-year old self. Life has a way of defining us for us. Others tell you who you are before you even know it for yourself. What would you tell you, the you you were before the world told you who you were? This week's Guest is… Pam Illar, a Senior Associate with Ernst & Young LLP and has been with the firm since 2006. She is a long-standing member of EY's professional networks Unity, LGBTQ+ and AccessAbilities a resource for people with disabilities. Pam has been an advocate surrounding both communities.  She has coordinated EY's participation in one of the Northern Virginia National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI Northern Virginia) marches.  In support of EY's commitment to diversity and inclusiveness priorities, Pam joined the AccessAbilities professional network in showcasing the firm's WeCare (formally, R U Ok) program to inform employees of EY's resources surrounding the invisible wounds of mental health.  Pam served as a panelist at the Out & Equal conference in the session An Intimate Conversation with Women of Color.  Pam is also a member of the First Unitarian Universalist Church of San Antonio in Texas.  She helped plan and participate in their June 2020 virtual Pride event and signified the intersectionality of being an African American gay woman, in recovery and living with a mental health diagnosis.  Through San Antonio UU, Pam has also used her passion for mental health awareness by designing a “Black Healing Space” with other members and licensed professionals.  The initiative was fostered given today's deteriorating climate on race relations, exacerbated following the deaths of Breonna Taylor, George Floyd, and the painful list of others.  She and her wife Linda have been married for thirteen years are the proud parents to Justin, Alex and four grandchildren. Pam and Linda live in San Antonio with and their four-legged fur babies, a German Shepherd named Gus and their Rottweiler Ruthie (named after Ruth Bader Ginsburg). Ways to Connect Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Scoots.Illar LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pam-illar-292b96140/ Resource: The Intersectionality of Pam: https://an-intimate-conversation-with-women-of-color-podcast.mailchimpsites.com/elevating-voices-of-woc

Episode 7:  Host Jim Ray interviews Alisha Harper BU Associate Professor of Accounting and Eric D. Scott (BU '06), Managing Director of Global Compliance & Reporting for EY (Ernst & Young LLP).  Today's episode has an accounting theme based on Now, Next & Beyond, which we borrowed from EY. Segment 1:  The Now (PPP and the Consolidated Appropriations Act “CAA”) The CARES Act brought us the PPP loans and the Employee Retention Tax Credit.  The Consolidated Appropriations Act provided additional PPP loans addressed deductibility issues related to those loans, in addition to an expansion of the Employee Retention Tax Credit.  Later, the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (“ARPA”) was launched.  Both small and large businesses took advantage of the PPP loans.  There were actually 3 major pieces of legislation passed in a relatively short period of time.  The rules were being written in real time and the rules for forgiveness were also forthcoming.  The question of expense deductibility regarding expenses covered with PPP loans was on the minds of many business owners. Congress was initially caught off guard by the deductibility question.  Luckily, the legislative process worked and the law was changed to allow for expense deductibility for the PPP-utilized funds, in addition to allowing the loan proceeds to remain forgivable. The Employee Retention Tax Credit was implemented to help employers keep people on payroll.  This is a payroll tax credit for 2020, which was extended via the CAA through mid-2021 and again via the ARPA for the remainder of 2021.  This is a refundable credit, which is fairly advantageous for businesses.  The rules for this credit were somewhat fluid, which made planning and implementation difficult. Segment 2:  The Next (Legislative Process and Biden Administration Proposals) The legislative process is messy.  Even if a bill passes and gets signed into law by the president, it's not over.  For instance, in 2017 the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) was enacted, but regulatory packages related to the Act are still being released.  The fluidity and messiness of the tax changes have been particularly confusing for accounting students.  Alisha was literally teaching students from the TCJA analysis, after its enactment, because the text books weren't current on this topic. How long will the current rules remain in place?  How will the legislative process alter what we “know” now?  Students are struggling to cope with the regulatory environment.  Eric commented that at times, the words in the statute and the regulatory packages are in conflict.  This only compounds the problem.  He offered an example about how he deals with it with EY staff, in the real world.  The best way to approach it is to read the wording of the statute, then go onto the regulations.  It's about building a foundation and deciding how it should be applied for a particular client.  It's not always black and white. The Biden Administration's Build Back Better plan is still being implemented.  There were many changes put forth during the campaign.  However, both Alisha and Eric agree that whatever tax policy changes end up being implemented, they won't happen quickly. One idea initially floated is to increase the corporate tax rate from 21% to 28%.  Additionally, there was talk of repealing the deductibility of advertising expenses for pharmaceutical companies.  The Global Intangible Low-Tax Income (“GULTI”) for foreign income is part of the TCJA and could also be impacted by the Biden administration changes.  In Episode 3 of the Bellarmine on Business podcast, Jim, Dr. Frank Raymond and Carl Hafele also spent a lot of time discussing what we thought might happen, based on the Biden campaign's talking points.  Segment 3:  The Importance of Modeling Modeling is basically the exercise of generating various scenarios and determining how the current environment impacts your business financials.  Modeling can help a company make better-informed decisions.  Change is constant.  Having a game plan to deal with that change is a good strategy.  There is some optionality to the tax code.  You may have elections, but the option you choose will have consequences.  If you later decide you want to change one or more of those elections, if it's even possible, it can be complicated (and expensive).  The Employee Retention Tax Credit (ERTC) is a benefit, but businesses must be careful how that credit is calculated when a PPP loan is involved.  It was important to run the numbers (e.g. model) the scenarios of how you might elect to use one or both of these relief measures.  It's possible that the business may have left money on the table if careful consideration was undertaken. The Business Interest Expense Limitation was an updated in the TCJA.  Initially, it imposed a limited on your interest expense by not allowing it to exceed a certain amount of your adjusted, taxable income.  It can limit the interest a business is allowed to deduct in a given year.  Because the 2020 pandemic negatively impacted many businesses, the provision was updated to allow businesses to elect to use the 2019 adjusted, taxable income (which might have been higher), thus allowing for the deductibility of more interest expense.  It's important to model the scenarios to understand what's best for your company's situation. Alisha discussed how an important way for her student to understand modeling is by analyzing a choice of entity decision.  They get the opportunity to see how tax rates and changes will apply to the various business entities.  Segment 4:  The Beyond The day to day role of accounting professionals is changing.  The modeling and advising capability makes them vital to the success of a company (small, medium or large.)  Businesses need to be nimble.  Being able to make informed decisions can be a competitive advantage.  The environment is going to remain very dynamic.  Scott recommends accounting students should work hard to get a foundation set and learn how to read the tax code.  This skill set will enable you to be able to build on that foundation.  You'll be equipped to be dynamic and equipped to deal with the changes that will inevitably come.  You'll be able to help your clients to plan for the beyond. Scott closed with a few comments on student loan forgiveness, based on the ARPA.  It provides that if student loan debt were to be forgiven (2021-2025), the forgiven student loan debt would be excludable from income.  This does not forgive student loan debt, but it does seem to lay the groundwork for potential forgiveness of the debt.  Normally, if loan debt is forgiven, it's counted as gross income. If you'd like to contact Eric Scott, his office phone number is (502) 585-6554.  The company website is EY.com.  His office address is: Ernst & Young LLP Suite 1200 400 West Market St. Louisville, KY 40202 To contact Alisha Harper, her office phone number is (502) 272-8471 and you can learn more about her at:  https://www.bellarmine.edu/rubel-school-of-business/faculty/   Disclaimers: The views and opinions expressed during the Bellarmine on Business podcast do not necessarily reflect those of Bellarmine University, its administration or the faculty at large.  The episodes are designed to be insightful, thought-provoking and entertaining. This discussion is not intended, and should not be relied upon, as tax, accounting, or legal advice. Ernst & Young LLP expressly disclaims any liability in connection with the use of this discussion or its contents by any third party.  The views expressed by the speakers are not necessarily those of Ernst & Young LLP or other members of the global EY organization.   THE MONTHLY FORECAST: Upcoming Events 4/12/21 – The Knights Golf Day at Woodhaven Country Club.  This will be a golf scramble.  Click here for more information and to register for the event. 4/15/21 – Dean's Executive Speaker Series – KY State Treasurer Allison Ball.  Join us for a presentation from our second-term Treasurer.  She'll discuss her experience as a child entrepreneur and the valuable lessons that experience taught her for her future career.  Click here to register for this event.  Bellarmine Career Development Service – This service is open to both Bellarmine students and alumni.  Is it time to make a change?  Click here to contact learn how Bellarmine can help.   Want to Listen to Additional Episodes? You can find additional episodes on the Rubel School of Business Podcast page of the Bellarmine website, various Bellarmine social media pages, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, Audible, Libsyn, Podchaser and many other podcast directories.  We encourage you to subscribe to our podcast so you don't miss an episode. Interested in Developing a Podcast for Your Business or Organization? This podcast was produced by Jim Ray Consulting Services.  Jim Ray, host of the Bellarmine on Business podcast, can help you with the concept development, implementation, production and distribution of your own podcast.  For more information, visit:  https://jimrayconsultingservices.com/podcastproduction.

In this episode of Sustainability Matters, EY market leaders join Chris Hagler to discuss actionable recommendations for organizations to achieve their climate goals. Their conversation also looks ahead at the future and covers new instruments that are being developed that corporations can utilize down the road to either further solidify their climate commitments or take on additional initiatives. ©2021 Ernst & Young LLP

The creators of eGlass, a new tool that enhances and improves the teaching experience, join us to not only demo the product, but also to discuss how it changes the teaching and presentation experience into something much more personal for both online and in-person situations. Ji Shen, the CEO of HoverCam, Dr. Matt Anderson, the President and CEO of Learning Glass Solutions and a physics professor at San Diego State University, and Bailey Pierson, the Marketing Director for HoverCam, start off the first part of our conversation by explaining the genesis of eGlass and their partnership, and demonstrating exactly how it transforms the teaching experience. (Part 1) This edition of MacVoices is sponsored by Smile, the makers of world-class software like PDFpen, PDFpen Pro, and TextExpander. Find out more at TextExpander.com/podcast and SmileSoftware.com/podcast. Show Notes: Guests: Ji Shen is founder and CEO of Pathway Innovations and Technologies, Inc., doing business as HoverCam, a leader in educational technology field. HoverCam was founded in 2009 by Shen and is 100% focused on developing instructional audio and video technologies for educators. Since its inception, HoverCam has developed a series of innovative products including industry firsts: USB based document cameras, Android based document cameras, all-in-one digital teaching station, and now eGlass, an embodied teaching transparent glassboard. He has been an entrepreneur in the EdTech field for 16 years.  Previously, he founded iClassmate Learning Management System company.  Prior to iClassmate, Mr. Shen was co-founder of Aegisoft, a leading developer of Digital Rights Management (DRM) technology. Aegisoft was acquired by streaming media leader, RealNetworks, in 2001.  Aegisoft’s DRM technology was used in over 200 million RealPlayers.  Shen has also worked at Arthur D. Little Inc., Ernst & Young LLP, and American Management System (AMS).  Ji received a Ph.D. ABD (all but dissertation) in Computational Statistics, and a M.S. of Applied Statistics and Operations Research from George Mason University. He has received B.S. in Metallurgy from Harbin Institute of Technology in China. Dr. Matt Anderson has nearly three decades of experience in physics research and education. As a professor of physics for the last 20 years at San Diego State University, he has led a highly productive research group, garnering multiple research grants and publishing 29 papers and 5 patents. He has taught a multitude of course offerings, and is consistently one of the top-rated professors. He recently won the Senate Distinguished Professor award from the university (given annually to one professor on campus) and was twice nominated for the prestigious Robert Foster Cherry Award for Teaching Excellence administered by Baylor University (the nation’s highest teaching award). His physics education channel on YouTube has garnered over 8 million views and over 90k subscribers, and he has given invited talks nationally and internationally. Dr. Anderson holds a B.S. in Physics from the University of California at San Diego, a Ph.D. in Physics from the University of Oregon, a postdoctoral fellowship from the University of Rochester, and was a visiting faculty member at the University of Oxford. He is a cofounder of Learning Glass Solutions and serves as the CEO and President for the company. He is married with three kids and a dog, likes to surf, play guitar, hike, and eat fish tacos. Bayley Pierson is the Marketing Director of HoverCam, a technology company dedicated to transforming classrooms into the advanced digital learning spaces of the future. A philanthropist with an interest in embodied learning, Pierson is dedicated to developing collaboration solutions that assist educators in better preparing students for the future while relieving some of the biggest challenges that impede success in the present.   Support:      Become a MacVoices Patron on Patreon     http://patreon.com/macvoices      Enjoy this episode? Make a one-time donation with PayPal Connect:      Web:     http://macvoices.com      Twitter:     http://www.twitter.com/chuckjoiner     http://www.twitter.com/macvoices      Facebook:     http://www.facebook.com/chuck.joiner      MacVoices Page on Facebook:     http://www.facebook.com/macvoices/      MacVoices Group on Facebook:     http://www.facebook.com/groups/macvoice      LinkedIn:     https://www.linkedin.com/in/chuckjoiner/      Instagram:     https://www.instagram.com/chuckjoiner/ Subscribe:      Audio in iTunes     Video in iTunes      Subscribe manually via iTunes or any podcatcher:      Audio: http://www.macvoices.com/rss/macvoicesrss      Video: http://www.macvoices.com/rss/macvoicesvideorss

The creators of eGlass, a new tool that enhances and improves the teaching experience, join us to not only demo the product, but also to discuss how it changes the teaching and presentation experience into something much more personal for both online and in-person situations. Ji Shen, the CEO of HoverCam, Dr. Matt Anderson, the President and CEO of Learning Glass Solutions and a physics professor at San Diego State University, and Bailey Pierson, the Marketing Director for HoverCam, start off the first part of our conversation by explaining the genesis of eGlass and their partnership, and demonstrating exactly how it transforms the teaching experience. (Part 1) This edition of MacVoices is sponsored by Smile, the makers of world-class software like PDFpen, PDFpen Pro, and TextExpander. Find out more at TextExpander.com/podcast and SmileSoftware.com/podcast. Show Notes: Guests: Ji Shen is founder and CEO of Pathway Innovations and Technologies, Inc., doing business as HoverCam, a leader in educational technology field. HoverCam was founded in 2009 by Shen and is 100% focused on developing instructional audio and video technologies for educators. Since its inception, HoverCam has developed a series of innovative products including industry firsts: USB based document cameras, Android based document cameras, all-in-one digital teaching station, and now eGlass, an embodied teaching transparent glassboard. He has been an entrepreneur in the EdTech field for 16 years.  Previously, he founded iClassmate Learning Management System company.  Prior to iClassmate, Mr. Shen was co-founder of Aegisoft, a leading developer of Digital Rights Management (DRM) technology. Aegisoft was acquired by streaming media leader, RealNetworks, in 2001.  Aegisoft’s DRM technology was used in over 200 million RealPlayers.  Shen has also worked at Arthur D. Little Inc., Ernst & Young LLP, and American Management System (AMS).  Ji received a Ph.D. ABD (all but dissertation) in Computational Statistics, and a M.S. of Applied Statistics and Operations Research from George Mason University. He has received B.S. in Metallurgy from Harbin Institute of Technology in China. Dr. Matt Anderson has nearly three decades of experience in physics research and education. As a professor of physics for the last 20 years at San Diego State University, he has led a highly productive research group, garnering multiple research grants and publishing 29 papers and 5 patents. He has taught a multitude of course offerings, and is consistently one of the top-rated professors. He recently won the Senate Distinguished Professor award from the university (given annually to one professor on campus) and was twice nominated for the prestigious Robert Foster Cherry Award for Teaching Excellence administered by Baylor University (the nation’s highest teaching award). His physics education channel on YouTube has garnered over 8 million views and over 90k subscribers, and he has given invited talks nationally and internationally. Dr. Anderson holds a B.S. in Physics from the University of California at San Diego, a Ph.D. in Physics from the University of Oregon, a postdoctoral fellowship from the University of Rochester, and was a visiting faculty member at the University of Oxford. He is a cofounder of Learning Glass Solutions and serves as the CEO and President for the company. He is married with three kids and a dog, likes to surf, play guitar, hike, and eat fish tacos. Bayley Pierson is the Marketing Director of HoverCam, a technology company dedicated to transforming classrooms into the advanced digital learning spaces of the future. A philanthropist with an interest in embodied learning, Pierson is dedicated to developing collaboration solutions that assist educators in better preparing students for the future while relieving some of the biggest challenges that impede success in the present.   Support:      Become a MacVoices Patron on Patreon     http://patreon.com/macvoices      Enjoy this episode? Make a one-time donation with PayPal Connect:      Web:     http://macvoices.com      Twitter:     http://www.twitter.com/chuckjoiner     http://www.twitter.com/macvoices      Facebook:     http://www.facebook.com/chuck.joiner      MacVoices Page on Facebook:     http://www.facebook.com/macvoices/      MacVoices Group on Facebook:     http://www.facebook.com/groups/macvoice      LinkedIn:     https://www.linkedin.com/in/chuckjoiner/      Instagram:     https://www.instagram.com/chuckjoiner/ Subscribe:      Audio in iTunes     Video in iTunes      Subscribe manually via iTunes or any podcatcher:      Audio: http://www.macvoices.com/rss/macvoicesrss      Video: http://www.macvoices.com/rss/macvoicesvideorss

The creators of eGlass, a new tool that enhances and improves the teaching experience, join us to not only demo the product, but also to discuss how it changes the teaching and presentation experience into something much more personal for both online and in-person situations. Ji Shen, the CEO of HoverCam, Dr. Matt Anderson, the President and CEO of Learning Glass Solutions and a physics professor at San Diego State University, and Bailey Pierson, the Marketing Director for HoverCam, start off the first part of our conversation by explaining the genesis of eGlass and their partnership, and demonstrating exactly how it transforms the teaching experience. (Part 1) This edition of MacVoices is sponsored by Smile, the makers of world-class software like PDFpen, PDFpen Pro, and TextExpander. Find out more at TextExpander.com/podcast and SmileSoftware.com/podcast. Show Notes: Guests: Ji Shen is founder and CEO of Pathway Innovations and Technologies, Inc., doing business as HoverCam, a leader in educational technology field. HoverCam was founded in 2009 by Shen and is 100% focused on developing instructional audio and video technologies for educators. Since its inception, HoverCam has developed a series of innovative products including industry firsts: USB based document cameras, Android based document cameras, all-in-one digital teaching station, and now eGlass, an embodied teaching transparent glassboard. He has been an entrepreneur in the EdTech field for 16 years.  Previously, he founded iClassmate Learning Management System company.  Prior to iClassmate, Mr. Shen was co-founder of Aegisoft, a leading developer of Digital Rights Management (DRM) technology. Aegisoft was acquired by streaming media leader, RealNetworks, in 2001.  Aegisoft’s DRM technology was used in over 200 million RealPlayers.  Shen has also worked at Arthur D. Little Inc., Ernst & Young LLP, and American Management System (AMS).  Ji received a Ph.D. ABD (all but dissertation) in Computational Statistics, and a M.S. of Applied Statistics and Operations Research from George Mason University. He has received B.S. in Metallurgy from Harbin Institute of Technology in China. Dr. Matt Anderson has nearly three decades of experience in physics research and education. As a professor of physics for the last 20 years at San Diego State University, he has led a highly productive research group, garnering multiple research grants and publishing 29 papers and 5 patents. He has taught a multitude of course offerings, and is consistently one of the top-rated professors. He recently won the Senate Distinguished Professor award from the university (given annually to one professor on campus) and was twice nominated for the prestigious Robert Foster Cherry Award for Teaching Excellence administered by Baylor University (the nation’s highest teaching award). His physics education channel on YouTube has garnered over 8 million views and over 90k subscribers, and he has given invited talks nationally and internationally. Dr. Anderson holds a B.S. in Physics from the University of California at San Diego, a Ph.D. in Physics from the University of Oregon, a postdoctoral fellowship from the University of Rochester, and was a visiting faculty member at the University of Oxford. He is a cofounder of Learning Glass Solutions and serves as the CEO and President for the company. He is married with three kids and a dog, likes to surf, play guitar, hike, and eat fish tacos. Bayley Pierson is the Marketing Director of HoverCam, a technology company dedicated to transforming classrooms into the advanced digital learning spaces of the future. A philanthropist with an interest in embodied learning, Pierson is dedicated to developing collaboration solutions that assist educators in better preparing students for the future while relieving some of the biggest challenges that impede success in the present.   Support:      Become a MacVoices Patron on Patreon     http://patreon.com/macvoices      Enjoy this episode? Make a one-time donation with PayPal Connect:      Web:     http://macvoices.com      Twitter:     http://www.twitter.com/chuckjoiner     http://www.twitter.com/macvoices      Facebook:     http://www.facebook.com/chuck.joiner      MacVoices Page on Facebook:     http://www.facebook.com/macvoices/      MacVoices Group on Facebook:     http://www.facebook.com/groups/macvoice      LinkedIn:     https://www.linkedin.com/in/chuckjoiner/      Instagram:     https://www.instagram.com/chuckjoiner/ Subscribe:      Audio in iTunes     Video in iTunes      Subscribe manually via iTunes or any podcatcher:      Audio: http://www.macvoices.com/rss/macvoicesrss      Video: http://www.macvoices.com/rss/macvoicesvideorss

The second part of our conversation about eGlass with Ji Shen, the CEO of HoverCam, Dr. Matt Anderson, the President and CEO of Learning Glass Solutions and a physics professor at San Diego State University, and Bailey Pierson, the Marketing Director for HoverCam shifted to the experiences they have had using it, and some of the more technical details. eGlass could be the future of live education because it preserves the best of the white board, presentation program, and instructor/student interaction. We also discussed some possible business use cases for both in-person and virtual interactions.  This edition of MacVoices is sponsored by Smile, the makers of world-class software like PDFpen, PDFpen Pro, and TextExpander. Find out more at TextExpander.com/podcast and SmileSoftware.com/podcast. Show Notes: Guests: Ji Shen is founder and CEO of Pathway Innovations and Technologies, Inc., doing business as HoverCam, a leader in educational technology field. HoverCam was founded in 2009 by Shen and is 100% focused on developing instructional audio and video technologies for educators. Since its inception, HoverCam has developed a series of innovative products including industry firsts: USB based document cameras, Android based document cameras, all-in-one digital teaching station, and now eGlass, an embodied teaching transparent glassboard. He has been an entrepreneur in the EdTech field for 16 years.  Previously, he founded iClassmate Learning Management System company.  Prior to iClassmate, Mr. Shen was co-founder of Aegisoft, a leading developer of Digital Rights Management (DRM) technology. Aegisoft was acquired by streaming media leader, RealNetworks, in 2001.  Aegisoft’s DRM technology was used in over 200 million RealPlayers.  Shen has also worked at Arthur D. Little Inc., Ernst & Young LLP, and American Management System (AMS).  Ji received a Ph.D. ABD (all but dissertation) in Computational Statistics, and a M.S. of Applied Statistics and Operations Research from George Mason University. He has received B.S. in Metallurgy from Harbin Institute of Technology in China. Dr. Matt Anderson has nearly three decades of experience in physics research and education. As a professor of physics for the last 20 years at San Diego State University, he has led a highly productive research group, garnering multiple research grants and publishing 29 papers and 5 patents. He has taught a multitude of course offerings, and is consistently one of the top-rated professors. He recently won the Senate Distinguished Professor award from the university (given annually to one professor on campus) and was twice nominated for the prestigious Robert Foster Cherry Award for Teaching Excellence administered by Baylor University (the nation’s highest teaching award). His physics education channel on YouTube has garnered over 8 million views and over 90k subscribers, and he has given invited talks nationally and internationally. Dr. Anderson holds a B.S. in Physics from the University of California at San Diego, a Ph.D. in Physics from the University of Oregon, a postdoctoral fellowship from the University of Rochester, and was a visiting faculty member at the University of Oxford. He is a cofounder of Learning Glass Solutions and serves as the CEO and President for the company. He is married with three kids and a dog, likes to surf, play guitar, hike, and eat fish tacos. Bayley Pierson is the Marketing Director of HoverCam, a technology company dedicated to transforming classrooms into the advanced digital learning spaces of the future. A philanthropist with an interest in embodied learning, Pierson is dedicated to developing collaboration solutions that assist educators in better preparing students for the future while relieving some of the biggest challenges that impede success in the present.   Support:      Become a MacVoices Patron on Patreon     http://patreon.com/macvoices      Enjoy this episode? Make a one-time donation with PayPal Connect:      Web:     http://macvoices.com      Twitter:     http://www.twitter.com/chuckjoiner     http://www.twitter.com/macvoices      Facebook:     http://www.facebook.com/chuck.joiner      MacVoices Page on Facebook:     http://www.facebook.com/macvoices/      MacVoices Group on Facebook:     http://www.facebook.com/groups/macvoice      LinkedIn:     https://www.linkedin.com/in/chuckjoiner/      Instagram:     https://www.instagram.com/chuckjoiner/ Subscribe:      Audio in iTunes     Video in iTunes      Subscribe manually via iTunes or any podcatcher:      Audio: http://www.macvoices.com/rss/macvoicesrss      Video: http://www.macvoices.com/rss/macvoicesvideorss

The second part of our conversation about eGlass with Ji Shen, the CEO of HoverCam, Dr. Matt Anderson, the President and CEO of Learning Glass Solutions and a physics professor at San Diego State University, and Bailey Pierson, the Marketing Director for HoverCam shifted to the experiences they have had using it, and some of the more technical details. eGlass could be the future of live education because it preserves the best of the white board, presentation program, and instructor/student interaction. We also discussed some possible business use cases for both in-person and virtual interactions.  This edition of MacVoices is sponsored by Smile, the makers of world-class software like PDFpen, PDFpen Pro, and TextExpander. Find out more at TextExpander.com/podcast and SmileSoftware.com/podcast. Show Notes: Guests: Ji Shen is founder and CEO of Pathway Innovations and Technologies, Inc., doing business as HoverCam, a leader in educational technology field. HoverCam was founded in 2009 by Shen and is 100% focused on developing instructional audio and video technologies for educators. Since its inception, HoverCam has developed a series of innovative products including industry firsts: USB based document cameras, Android based document cameras, all-in-one digital teaching station, and now eGlass, an embodied teaching transparent glassboard. He has been an entrepreneur in the EdTech field for 16 years.  Previously, he founded iClassmate Learning Management System company.  Prior to iClassmate, Mr. Shen was co-founder of Aegisoft, a leading developer of Digital Rights Management (DRM) technology. Aegisoft was acquired by streaming media leader, RealNetworks, in 2001.  Aegisoft’s DRM technology was used in over 200 million RealPlayers.  Shen has also worked at Arthur D. Little Inc., Ernst & Young LLP, and American Management System (AMS).  Ji received a Ph.D. ABD (all but dissertation) in Computational Statistics, and a M.S. of Applied Statistics and Operations Research from George Mason University. He has received B.S. in Metallurgy from Harbin Institute of Technology in China. Dr. Matt Anderson has nearly three decades of experience in physics research and education. As a professor of physics for the last 20 years at San Diego State University, he has led a highly productive research group, garnering multiple research grants and publishing 29 papers and 5 patents. He has taught a multitude of course offerings, and is consistently one of the top-rated professors. He recently won the Senate Distinguished Professor award from the university (given annually to one professor on campus) and was twice nominated for the prestigious Robert Foster Cherry Award for Teaching Excellence administered by Baylor University (the nation’s highest teaching award). His physics education channel on YouTube has garnered over 8 million views and over 90k subscribers, and he has given invited talks nationally and internationally. Dr. Anderson holds a B.S. in Physics from the University of California at San Diego, a Ph.D. in Physics from the University of Oregon, a postdoctoral fellowship from the University of Rochester, and was a visiting faculty member at the University of Oxford. He is a cofounder of Learning Glass Solutions and serves as the CEO and President for the company. He is married with three kids and a dog, likes to surf, play guitar, hike, and eat fish tacos. Bayley Pierson is the Marketing Director of HoverCam, a technology company dedicated to transforming classrooms into the advanced digital learning spaces of the future. A philanthropist with an interest in embodied learning, Pierson is dedicated to developing collaboration solutions that assist educators in better preparing students for the future while relieving some of the biggest challenges that impede success in the present.   Support:      Become a MacVoices Patron on Patreon     http://patreon.com/macvoices      Enjoy this episode? Make a one-time donation with PayPal Connect:      Web:     http://macvoices.com      Twitter:     http://www.twitter.com/chuckjoiner     http://www.twitter.com/macvoices      Facebook:     http://www.facebook.com/chuck.joiner      MacVoices Page on Facebook:     http://www.facebook.com/macvoices/      MacVoices Group on Facebook:     http://www.facebook.com/groups/macvoice      LinkedIn:     https://www.linkedin.com/in/chuckjoiner/      Instagram:     https://www.instagram.com/chuckjoiner/ Subscribe:      Audio in iTunes     Video in iTunes      Subscribe manually via iTunes or any podcatcher:      Audio: http://www.macvoices.com/rss/macvoicesrss      Video: http://www.macvoices.com/rss/macvoicesvideorss

The second part of our conversation about eGlass with Ji Shen, the CEO of HoverCam, Dr. Matt Anderson, the President and CEO of Learning Glass Solutions and a physics professor at San Diego State University, and Bailey Pierson, the Marketing Director for HoverCam shifted to the experiences they have had using it, and some of the more technical details. eGlass could be the future of live education because it preserves the best of the white board, presentation program, and instructor/student interaction. We also discussed some possible business use cases for both in-person and virtual interactions.  This edition of MacVoices is sponsored by Smile, the makers of world-class software like PDFpen, PDFpen Pro, and TextExpander. Find out more at TextExpander.com/podcast and SmileSoftware.com/podcast. Show Notes: Guests: Ji Shen is founder and CEO of Pathway Innovations and Technologies, Inc., doing business as HoverCam, a leader in educational technology field. HoverCam was founded in 2009 by Shen and is 100% focused on developing instructional audio and video technologies for educators. Since its inception, HoverCam has developed a series of innovative products including industry firsts: USB based document cameras, Android based document cameras, all-in-one digital teaching station, and now eGlass, an embodied teaching transparent glassboard. He has been an entrepreneur in the EdTech field for 16 years.  Previously, he founded iClassmate Learning Management System company.  Prior to iClassmate, Mr. Shen was co-founder of Aegisoft, a leading developer of Digital Rights Management (DRM) technology. Aegisoft was acquired by streaming media leader, RealNetworks, in 2001.  Aegisoft’s DRM technology was used in over 200 million RealPlayers.  Shen has also worked at Arthur D. Little Inc., Ernst & Young LLP, and American Management System (AMS).  Ji received a Ph.D. ABD (all but dissertation) in Computational Statistics, and a M.S. of Applied Statistics and Operations Research from George Mason University. He has received B.S. in Metallurgy from Harbin Institute of Technology in China. Dr. Matt Anderson has nearly three decades of experience in physics research and education. As a professor of physics for the last 20 years at San Diego State University, he has led a highly productive research group, garnering multiple research grants and publishing 29 papers and 5 patents. He has taught a multitude of course offerings, and is consistently one of the top-rated professors. He recently won the Senate Distinguished Professor award from the university (given annually to one professor on campus) and was twice nominated for the prestigious Robert Foster Cherry Award for Teaching Excellence administered by Baylor University (the nation’s highest teaching award). His physics education channel on YouTube has garnered over 8 million views and over 90k subscribers, and he has given invited talks nationally and internationally. Dr. Anderson holds a B.S. in Physics from the University of California at San Diego, a Ph.D. in Physics from the University of Oregon, a postdoctoral fellowship from the University of Rochester, and was a visiting faculty member at the University of Oxford. He is a cofounder of Learning Glass Solutions and serves as the CEO and President for the company. He is married with three kids and a dog, likes to surf, play guitar, hike, and eat fish tacos. Bayley Pierson is the Marketing Director of HoverCam, a technology company dedicated to transforming classrooms into the advanced digital learning spaces of the future. A philanthropist with an interest in embodied learning, Pierson is dedicated to developing collaboration solutions that assist educators in better preparing students for the future while relieving some of the biggest challenges that impede success in the present.   Support:      Become a MacVoices Patron on Patreon     http://patreon.com/macvoices      Enjoy this episode? Make a one-time donation with PayPal Connect:      Web:     http://macvoices.com      Twitter:     http://www.twitter.com/chuckjoiner     http://www.twitter.com/macvoices      Facebook:     http://www.facebook.com/chuck.joiner      MacVoices Page on Facebook:     http://www.facebook.com/macvoices/      MacVoices Group on Facebook:     http://www.facebook.com/groups/macvoice      LinkedIn:     https://www.linkedin.com/in/chuckjoiner/      Instagram:     https://www.instagram.com/chuckjoiner/ Subscribe:      Audio in iTunes     Video in iTunes      Subscribe manually via iTunes or any podcatcher:      Audio: http://www.macvoices.com/rss/macvoicesrss      Video: http://www.macvoices.com/rss/macvoicesvideorss

In this episode, Steve Patton, EY Americas Mobility Sector Leader, and guests from Clemson University International Center for Automotive Research share their insights on Deep Orange, a vehicle prototype program. Ernst & Young LLP has collaborated with Clemson University and its Deep Orange program to advance autonomous vehicle (AV) technology. Deep Orange, currently in its 12th year, is an educational framework within the Department of Automotive Engineering at Clemson University. Every year, as part of the program, students are given new challenges. This year, the challenge is to build an autonomous racecar that could race at 200 miles an hour at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The challenge has been designed to lead the students through a process that an automotive original equipment manufacturer (OEM) or supplier might go through while they're developing a vehicle. It is a unique way to educate students in the systems integration of vehicles. Key takeaways: Ernst & Young LLP has collaborated with Clemson University and its Deep Orange 12 program to advance autonomous vehicle (AV) technology to be used by 30 global teams from 39 universities in the Indy Autonomous Challenge. Through the program, Clemson graduate students are designing the competition base vehicle and have tackled industry challenges such as integrating sensors with computer hardware, analyzing constraints in perception sensors, and addressing safety concerns. Deep Orange helps students develop a systems perspective, giving them the opportunity to work with technologies and overcome challenges that have real-world implications – and as a result, accelerating the future of mobility.

Podcast host Myles Corson welcomes Brian Tomlinson, Director of Research, CEO Investor Forum, Chief Executives for Corporate Purpose (CECP), and Marc Siegel, a member of the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB) and EY partner. Together they discuss the acceleration of ESG, or environmental, social and governance, issues in corporate reporting. Their conversation also considers the increasingly vital role ESG plays in investor communications and what investors are looking for companies to disclose. © 2021 Ernst & Young LLP

EY's Chris Hagler welcomes Steve Bradley, Vice President of Cox Cleantech, to discuss the use of sustainability to build a business. © 2021 Ernst & Young LLP

Podcast host Myles Corson welcomes Michael Keeler, Chief Executive Officer of LeaseAccelerator, to discuss how technology and managed services are transforming lease accounting. Together, they take a closer look at the challenges, administrative burdens and missed cost saving opportunities of large lease portfolios. The conversation continues with managed services and how technology is helping to automate, harmonize and simplify the leasing process and lease accounting compliance. © 2020 Ernst & Young LLP

The story of how a lifelong entrepreneur revolutionized an industry by starting a business to solve an issue he noticed on day one of his professional career. In today’s episode of Real Wealth Real Health, we are honored to welcome Brian Fox, Vice President of Strategic Partnerships at Thompson Reuters and founder of Confirmation.com, a company that’s revolutionized standard audit procedures at the corporate level by leveraging the capabilities of the internet. Brian’s entrepreneurial journey has been life-long, with his grandparents consistently illustrating the power and importance of investing, encouraging the family to work toward financial freedom through sound investment decisions, particularly in real estate. Brian started his professional career in auditing, working with one of the top accounting firms in the country, and his experience performing bank account balance confirmations (required in every audit) exposed the extreme need for a more efficient and secure process. Brian saw that confirming account balances by post & fax was not only incredibly slow but also easy to commit fraud against. After learning that this issue was not unique to his own accounting firm, Brian returned to business school and was encouraged to apply this simple, brilliant insight into starting a company that eliminates the opportunity to commit confirmation fraud, while bringing confirmations from a months-long procedure to something that can be completed as easily as sending an email. Brian tells us about the challenges, both personal and professional, he faced in starting a business, and the various inflection points that were most influential in the development of Confirmation. Throughout this wide-ranging conversation, we touch on Brian’s decision-making as a business leader, how he plans & prepares for retirement, and his personal definition of wealth. Key Insights: · How a simple insight can become a game-changing business idea through perseverance and hard work. · The importance of your mindset, and how it can allow us to take meaningful action toward achieving long-term goals. · Why entrepreneurship is a great career path for ambitious individuals. · The importance of patience and strategic timing, as even ideas that appear to be “no-brainers” can take time to be adopted. · Practical advice for starting to build wealth, even at the early stages of your career. Subscribe to this podcast to build your healthy financial foundation through expertise, insights, strategies, tactics, wisdom, and inspiration from Alpha Investing’s community of professionals, advisors, investors, and members:   Apple — Spotify — Google — TuneIn — Stitcher Guest Bio: Brian Fox is VP of Strategic Partnerships at Thomson Reuters and the founder of Confirmation, the trusted global provider of digital confirmations, which sold in 2019 to Thomson Reuters. He is recognized as the creator of electronic confirmations and holds several patents on electronic audit confirmations. Brian is an industry thought-leader and frequent speaker on accounting and fraud issues. He has been named four times as one of the “Top 100 Most Influential People in Accounting,” is a five-time winner of the accounting profession’s “Top 40 Under 40 CPA in America,” and was named as an Entrepreneur of the Year in Nashville.  Prior to Confirmation, Brian worked in audit for Ernst & Young LLP and in mergers and acquisitions for PriceWaterhouseCoopers. He is also one of the founders and a board member of Rivio.com, a joint-venture between the AICPA and Confirmation. He also serves as a mentor in the Inc. 500 Military Entrepreneurs Mentor Program, the Jumpstart Foundry, and the Nashville Entrepreneurship Center and is on the advisory board for the Nashville Capital Network. Brian is also a member of the AICPA and The Tennessee Society of CPA’s. Brian completed his MBA at Vanderbilt University and received a BBA in Accounting from Southern Methodist University.   Resources: Real Wealth Real Health Alpha Investing podcast@alphai.com www.newstandardequities.com

Podcast host Myles Corson welcomes Dr. Matthew Bell, EY's Asia Pacific Climate Change and Sustainability Services (CCaSS) Leader, to discuss his varied career path and key findings from the 2020 EY CCaSS Institutional Investor survey, How will ESG performance shape your future? © 2020 Ernst & Young LLP

On this week’s show, we spoke with Eleonore Jarry, Principal @ Brightspark Ventures Éléonore Jarry is a principal at Brightspark Ventures. Prior to joining Brightspark, Éléonore worked in Assurance & Advisory at Ernst & Young LLP, focusing on alternative investment funds and private equity firms. She also co-founded Front Row Ventures, Canada’s first student-run venture capital firm. Éléonore developed a passion for helping entrepreneurs and financing innovation while studying technology entrepreneurship in Silicon Valley. She is involved with several startup initiatives around Montréal.   On the show, we spoke about: How she started learning about technology Getting her start in venture capital and the importance of mentorship Her role at Brightspark Ventures The exciting market opportunities that are ahead   Eleonore Jarry is a truly impressive individual. She has risen rapidly through the ranks of Canadian VC and she is only getting started. I hope you enjoy the conversation!   Let us know what you think. What types of guests would like to see on the show? What topics interest you the most? Send me your thoughts at nectar@thepnr.com   Subscribe | iTunes | Google Play |Spotify | YouTube | Stitcher | Breaker  

Podcast host Myles Corson welcomes Marna Ricker, EY Americas Vice Chair – Tax. They discuss the depth of the US government response to COVID-19 and the impact the 2020 US presidential election will have on the tax landscape and overall economy. Their discussion also analyzes the role that technology has played in tax during COVID-19, and the types of technology and software CFOs and tax executives are seeking out to help them access more data at a faster pace. © 2020 Ernst & Young LLP

In this episode, EY's Chris Hagler welcomes Mark Gough, the Executive Director of the Natural Capital Coalition, and Carter Ingram, Senior Manager in EY's Climate Change and Sustainability Services group, to discuss the integration of natural capital into corporate decision-making. © 2020 Ernst & Young LLP

In this episode, EY's Chris Hagler welcomes back Jules Kortenhorst, the CEO of Rocky Mountain Institute, and Klair White, Senior Vice President with EY's Infrastructure Advisory Group. They continue their discussion as it relates to clean energy technology, and the many opportunities businesses have to be a part of a lower carbon future. © 2020 Ernst & Young LLP.

In this episode, EY's Chris Hagler welcomes Jules Kortenhorst, the CEO of Rocky Mountain Institute, and Klair White, Senior Vice President with EY's Infrastructure Advisory Group, to discuss various factors in the transition to cleaner energy.© 2020 Ernst & Young LLP.

This unique episode is a recording from the GreenBiz 20 conference, where EY's Rich Goode facilitated a panel discussion on how investors are integrating ESG into their decision making. The panel participants were Verity Chegar, Director and ESG Integration Team Lead for BlackRock Sustainable Investing, Ramsay Huntley, Sustainable Finance Strategist responsible for sustainable innovation at Wells Fargo, and Courtney Thompson, Vice President of Global Sustainable Finance at Morgan Stanley and Elodie Timmermans, Senior Manager in EY's Climate Change and Sustainability Services practice. © 2020 Ernst & Young LLP.

Trust is the foundation on which organizations can build stakeholder confidence and active participation with their AI systems. However, in the finance world, one mistake, or the perception of a mistake, can harm an organization's trust in the technology. How do finance functions build trust into their AI?  Podcast host Myles Corson welcomes Cathy Cobey, EY's Global Trusted AI Advisory Leader, to discuss how she helps organizations understand some of the new risks that AI brings and how, most importantly, they can start to create the right governance and control mechanisms. They explore the broad definition of AI, and its growing use in the COVID-19 landscape. With AI introducing new risks and impacts that have historically been the purview of human decision-making, organizations need a new framework for identifying, measuring and responding to the risks of AI to make it operational. © 2020 Ernst & Young LLP.

In this episode, EY's Chris Hagler welcomes Ana Dutra author, speaker, business advisor and board member of three public companies, four private companies and a number of impact not-for-profits. She is also joined by Cigdem Oktem, governance specialist, regional leader for EY Center for Board Matters and non-profit board member. Together they explore the components of ESG, how boards can frame and prioritize the most relevant aspects in the context of their business decisions, and what all this looks like in our current environment. © 2020 Ernst & Young LLP.

In this episode, EY's Chris Hagler and Prudential Impact Investment's Luke Apicella share practical advice for impact investing by talking through the history, approach and results of Prudential's impact investments. © 2020 Ernst & Young LLP.

Podcast host Myles Corson welcomes back Paul Brody, EY Global Blockchain Leader, to discuss the evolution of blockchain and how it is enabling seamless transactions and near real-time exchange of information, to evolve into an open, scalable, compliant and secure public transaction system. #betterfinance © 2020 Ernst & Young LLP.

Winna Brown, Private Equity (PE) Leader in the EY Americas Financial Accounting Advisory Services practice, joins podcast host Myles Corson to discuss PE's ability to create operational value and its long-term outlook. Though traditionally seen as a tool for financial engineering and cost reduction, their conversation explores how companies can think about private equity at any point in its growth life cycle and why talent is at the top of the list in terms of private equity focus. #betterfinance © 2019 Ernst & Young LLP.

Andrew Hay, Head of Proposition, Statutory Reporting and Shared Service Centers at Thomson Reuters, joins podcast host Myles Corson to discuss how companies can standardize and centralize global finance operations by leveraging technology. Their conversation examines how the area of statutory reporting and tax compliance is evolving, the opportunities and challenges organizations have with standardization as they transform their organizations and address the risks of protecting financial data in the cloud. © 2019 Ernst & Young LLP.  All rights reserved.

Marc Siegel, a member of the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB), former member of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) and EY partner, joins podcast host Myles Corson to discuss key trends in corporate reporting. Their conversation takes a closer look at the influence of short-termism on an organization's long-term value story, the power of shareholder activism, the insatiable consumption of data by investors and other reporting challenges finance executives face today. © 2019 Ernst & Young LLP.  All rights reserved.

Microsoft VP Hayden Stafford said in his Keynote at Apttus Accelerate that "It's not industries that are transforming, it’s companies transforming industries. More precisely it's people transforming those companies." As sales teams worldwide are increasingly looking to speed up the selling process and do more by leveraging applications like Dynamics 365, Office 365 and LinkedIn Sales Navigator I caught up with Hayden Stafford to find out more about Microsoft's vision and the partnership with Apttus. We also discuss how the traditional manufacturing space is changing rapidly with IoT and how together with Apttus and Dynamics 365 integrations, Microsoft is readying the manufacturing industry to digitally transform. Guest Info Hayden is a senior IT executive with 25 years of professional experience in consulting, marketing and sales at Ernst & Young LLP, IBM Corporation, Salesforce.com and most recently, Microsoft. He has global experience living overseas as well as managing complex global business/IT consulting and sales organizations. He has extensive industry experiences in Financial Services and Health Care organizations. Prior to taking his new worldwide enterprise sales leadership role at Microsoft where is he responsible for Global Sales for Microsoft's Enterprise Business Applications Business Unit - Dynamics 365, Hayden was the head of industry solution sales at Salesforce.com. In this role, he was charged with building the new Industry Business Unit (IBU) and driving sales execution across the six focus industries the company deemed strategic to the business. Additionally, given his deep understanding of financial services customers, he was also the global head of the Financial Service Industry across all products where he was responsible for driving the overall strategy and growth of the FSI industry agenda. Prior to Salesforce, Hayden was a Vice President and Managing Director at IBM. While at IBM, he was responsible for key Financial Markets and Retail Banking customers based in New York City with overall responsibility for global profit, revenue, signings, services delivery and client satisfaction. Key customer locations and business experience included NYC, London, Tokyo, Hong Kong and Shanghai.  

Bitcoin began in 2009 -- only eight years ago -- and set forces in motion that are only starting to show their potential power. One was a byproduct -- the creation of the blockchain, or distributed ledger technology, DLT, is now on its way to disrupting activities far beyond payments, from  value chains to contracts. The intentional innovation was establishing a new form of currency -- virtual or digital currency -- that functions as alternative payments system that operates on the internet rather than through banks and the ACH.  The financial system is still in the early stage of grappling with the potential benefits and risks arising from this mold-breaking model (I wrote about some of those issues three years ago in my blogpost on The Benefits of Bitcoin.) My guest for today’s show brings yet another angle -- a unique one -- to rethinking money. He is Jonathan Dharmapalan, Founder and CEO at eCurrency Mint, Ltd. Jonathan spent 25 years in telecommunications field, including becoming Head of Enst & Young’s Global Telecommunications Center in 2011. His insight, at eCurrency, is that the best way to capture the power of digital currency is to have governments, themselves, issue it. Jonathan and I met during the annual meeting of AFI, the Alliance for Financial Inclusion, in Fiji, and he explained his vision for building a new system based on government-issued e-currency. He argues that this concept can capture the best of both worlds, combining the stability and confidence that comes with well-managed traditional currency, and adding the advantages of virtual money such as speed, ease of use, and infinite divisibility. I loved this conversation because it exemplifies how innovative thinking in finance, once it gets “released into the wild,” can spark more and more creative thinking, far beyond what the originator innovators had in mind. Often, it leads to solving problems we don’t even realize we have, because, well, we just assume the world is a certain way and we can’t picture anything else. It reminds me of the quote attributed to Henry Ford -- apparently erroneously -- that if he had asked his customers what they wanted, they would have said, faster horses. More about eCurrency Jonathan’s Background: Jonathan Dharmapalan is Founder and Chief Executive Officer at eCurrency Mint Limited. He became Head of the Global Telecommunications Center at Ernst & Young LLP in May 2011, responsible for leading a team of over 2,000 telecoms specialists across the world. He has had a 25 year career in telecommunications and the related sectors of technology, media and entertainment, and led Ernst & Young's Telecommunications Center in Beijing. He began his career in telecommunications at AT&T Bell Laboratories. Mr. Dharmapalan holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from Northeastern University and a Masters of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from The California Institute of Technology. More for our listeners Many exciting things are happening. First, I’m happy to say that I recently became chair of the board of directors at CFSI -- the Center for Responsible Innovation.  If you haven’t signed up yet to come to our Emerge conference in June, be sure to do so! Also come, that same week, to the ABA’s Regulatory Compliance Conference. The ABA is innovating in its format this year, including by having me record some very special podcasts straight from the conference floor. I’ll also be holding a fireside chat on the main stage with Gene Ludwig of Promontory and Alastair Renee of IBM Watson, on how regtech will change compliance, including through their formation of IBM Financial to bring Watson’s artificial intelligence to regulatory challenges. And it’s not too early to put Money 2020 U.S. on your agenda for October. I’m going to MC the conference regulatory track, which has some fabulous speakers. Remember to review Barefoot Innovation on ITunes, and please sign up to get emails on new podcasts and my newsletter and blog posts at  jsbarefoot.com.   Also go to jsbarefoot.com to send in your “buck a show” to keep Barefoot Innovation going. Please also join my facebook fan page, and follow me on twitter. Support our Podcast - Send "A Buck a Show" See you soon! Subscribe Sign up with your email address to receive news and updates. Email Address Sign Up We respect your privacy. Thank you!

Welcome to Biotechnology Focus Podcast. I’m your host Shawn Lawrence. We kick things off this week with the release of our latest issue of Biotechnology Focus and as such we thought we should give you our listeners a rundown or sneak peak of all the stories you’d see. As most or our listeners know, there are comprehensive changes to the way the Federal Government supports science and innovation in Canada coming with consultations on Canada’s Innovation Agenda drawing to a close and this issue reaches your desk with this Call to Action in mind, beginning with our cover story on the results from our latest Hot Button Issue Survey. The survey was open to everyone in both the private and public sectors and at all organizational levels, from the c-level right on down. In all, 163 of you got back to us with what you’d like to see from the Innovation Agenda. Under the microscope for many of you was one of the biggest sources of government cash for private sector research and innovation in Canada, the Scientific Research and Experimental Development program or SR&ED’s as they are more commonly known. It was interesting to see how many of you rely on this program, and why many of you feel this program needs not only to be maintained but expanded upon. Be sure to check out this and what other priorities were included in our special report. And for further reading on the SR&ED program, Elizabeth Pringle, the National Life Sciences Industry Lead for Ernst & Young LLP’s Business Tax Incentives Practices, discusses recent changes to the program itself while suggesting more alternatives to strengthening the overall tax credit regime for life science companies in Canada, including looking south of the border for some inspiration. Moreover, she highlights some of the recent CRA programs added to help increase tax claim certainty and reduce the administrative burden of applying for SR&EDs including the Pre-Claim Consultation program which launched on June 29 and the Pre-Claim Review (PCR) pilot project which launched August 2. In addition to underlining your priorities that you’d like to get before As most or our listeners know, there are comprehensive changes to the way the Federal Government supports science and innovation in Canada coming with consultations on Canada’s Innovation Agenda drawing to a close and this issue reaches your desk with this Call to Action in mind, beginning with our cover story on the results from our latest Hot Button Issue Survey. The survey was open to everyone in both the private and public sectors and at all organizational levels, from the c-level right on down. In all, 163 of you got back to us with what you’d like to see from the Innovation Agenda. Under the microscope for many of you was one of the biggest sources of government cash for private sector research and innovation in Canada, the Scientific Research and Experimental Development program or SR&ED’s as they are more commonly known. It was interesting to see how many of you rely on this program, and why many of you feel this program needs not only to be maintained but expanded upon. Be sure to check out this and what other priorities were included in our special report. And for further reading on the SR&ED program, Elizabeth Pringle, the National Life Sciences Industry Lead for Ernst & Young LLP’s Business Tax Incentives Practices, discusses recent changes to the program itself while suggesting more alternatives to strengthening the overall tax credit regime for life science companies in Canada, including looking south of the border for some inspiration. Moreover, she highlights some of the recent CRA programs added to help increase tax claim certainty and reduce the administrative burden of applying for SR&EDs including the Pre-Claim Consultation program which launched on June 29 and the Pre-Claim Review (PCR) pilot project which launched August 2. In addition to underlining your priorities that you’d like to get before government, this issue also spotlights what makes Canadian biotech great, and highlights some of the areas we can become stronger. It starts with Wayne Schnarr’s roundup piece, “Looking for success stories in Canadian Healthcare.” As he explains, measuring success in Canada’s health technology sector is no easy task, and varies depending on one’s perspective. His article looks at the Canadian biotech landscape from the viewpoint of an investor and reminds us that they judge successful companies differently than government, economic development offices and the companies themselves. With the investors wish list in mind, he highlights some Canadian companies to keep an eye on, including one who is featured later in this podcast Cynapsus. Unfortunately, investors may have missed the boat on that company, but we’ll get to that later. Next in our editorial lineup TO Health’s Ella Korets-Smith, Montreal In Vivo’s Frank Beraud and Teralys Capital’s Cedric Bisson cowritten piece “Canada Poised to be best in the World in Life Sciences Sector” recognizes Canada as a world class biotech hub whose greatest strength is working together to promote our successes in this arena. However, they add that there is still room to grow, and we must begin by looking to other jurisdictions for best practices especially in areas such as venture capital investment. Next, Zymeworks lead man Ali Tehrani, no stranger to success, and perhaps the type of entrepreneur we need to hear more ideas from on how to improve the industry, asks the question why isn’t Canadian biotech with all its great science, visionary entrepreneurs and angel investors, ranked among the best in the world. In addition to posing the question, he endevors to answer it, offering three near and long-term solutions. We have all this and more packed into this issue, so be sure to sign up for our digital edition service to see this issue and past issues as well. Story 2 Our first news story this week is a science story, and features a breast cancer research breakthrough. Specifically, a team of researchers in Canada have discovered that mutations found outside of genes that accumulate in estrogen receptor positive breast tumours throughout their development act as the dominant culprits that drive the disease. The multi-institutional research team collaborated with the Princess Margaret Genomics Centre and Bioinformatics group to analyze changes in the DNA sequence that accumulate in patients’ tumours with respect to the epigenetic identity of estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer cells.. The research, published online in Nature Genetics, focuses on the most common type of breast cancer, estrogen receptor positive, and was led by principal investigator Dr. Mathieu Lupien, senior scientist, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network and associate professor in the Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto. His team investigated acquired mutations found outside of genes through the power of epigenetics, and identified that functional regulatory components can be altered to impact the expression of genes to promote breast cancer development. Dr. Lupien discusses the study in the following audio provided by UHN Toronto Dr.Lupien’s research builds on a previous study that identified why 44 known genetic variations increased breast cancer risk (Nature Genetics, Sept. 23, 2012). He adds that the convergence of more knowledge about inherited risk variants and the role of acquired mutations should readily enable translating the science into more precise clinical tests to diagnose and monitor patients. His work was funded by The National Cancer Institute at the National Institute of Health, The Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation, Canadian Cancer Society, Susan G. Komen Foundation, the Ontario Institute for Cancer Research, the Canadian Institute of Health Research and a Movember Rising Star award from Prostate Cancer Canada. Story 3 Enerkem Inc., a Canadian headquartered waste-to- biofuels and chemicals producer, has obtained certification from the International Sustainability and Carbon Certification (ISCC) system and will now be able to begin biomethanol production at its Biofuels full-scale facility in Edmonton,AB. According to the company the third-party certification confirms that Enerkem meets high ecological and social sustainability requirements. Enerkem makes biofuels and renewable chemicals from non-recyclable municipal solid waste. The company owns a full-scale commercial facility in Alberta as well as a demonstration plant and a pilot facility in Quebec. The company is also developing additional biorefineries in North America and globally, based on its modular manufacturing approach. With the certification, the Edmonton biorefinery is now the first ISCC certified plant in the world to convert municipal solid waste into biomethanol. Story 4 In business news, Laval’s ProMetic Life Sciences has entered into a binding agreement to acquire Belleville, Ontario’s Telesta Therapeutics in an all share transaction. By way of a plan of arrangement under the Canada Business Corporations Act, ProMetic will acquire all of the share capital of Telesta at a share price of $0.14 payable in ProMetic common shares. The number of common shares to be issued by ProMetic will be based on the volume-weighted average closing price (VWAP) of ProMetic’s common shares for the five (5) trading days prior to the closing date of the acquisition. According to ProMetic, the deal gives the company the opportunity for further integration of its manufacturing capabilities and longer term capacity expansion in a 150,000 sq. ft. facility in Belleville, ON. At the same time it gives  ProMetic  a significant foothold in Ontario, consolidating its presence as a major player in the Canadian market. Completion of the deal is subject to the approval of Telesta’s shareholders and a number of customary closing conditions including court and regulatory approvals (such as the approval of the Toronto Stock Exchange). The acquisition is expected to close in early November, 2016. Story 5 Rapid infectious disease test developer bioLytical Laboratories has filed two patent applications with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office relating to its multiple colour rapid detection assay systems for the detection of antibodies to pathogens including Zika and other flaviviruses. The two new patent applications are based on the company’s INSTI platform and describe methods and kits allowing either simultaneous or sequential detection of different antibody classes to multiple pathogens using a single sample of blood or blood product. The first patent application describes a method for detecting active or past infection using Zika as an example. The second patent application describes a method for differentiating early from later stages of infection. According to the company, these technology breakthroughs could revolutionize point-of- care rapid assays for detection of acute infections including Zika. The Flaviviridae family has become a major concern in many areas of South America and more recently in the continental U.S.  As of early February 2016, the Brazil Ministry of Health has estimated that 500,000 to 1,500,000 cases of Zika virus disease have occurred since the beginning of the outbreak. The company says that with the high degree of cross-reactivity within the flaviviridae family, a diagnostic assay that can rapidly detect and differentiate between them, and determine new vs old infection, is of upmost importance. Story 6 Our final, and perhaps biggest story this week is a Canadian biotech business news story with Marlbourough, MA based-Sunovion Pharmaceuticals announcing that it is buying Toronto’s Cynapsus Therapeutics Inc. for approximately CDN$820 million. The transaction is the biggest the industry has seen in awhile for sure and has already received unanimous approval by the board of directors of both companies and The acquisition will be funded with cash on hand and is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2016 (third quarter of Sunovion’s fiscal year). Pursuant to the terms of the agreement, and upon closing of the proposed transaction, shareholders of Cynapsus will receive US$40.50 per common share in cash, and holders of warrants and stock options will receive a cash payment equal to the difference between US$40.50 and the exercise price of such warrant or stock option. The offer of US$40.50 per common share in cash represents a premium of 123 per cent based on the volume weighted average closing price of Cynapsus’ common shares on the NASDAQ Global Market for the last twenty trading days. As part of the acquisition, Sunovion is getting Cynapsus’ lead product candidate, APL-130277, a sublingual thin film formulation of apomorphine designed to be an easy-to- use on-demand treatment option for managing OFF episodes associated with Parkinson’s disease (PD), a chronic, progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects more than four million worldwide. One of the biggest benefits of the sublingual thin film delivery of apomorphine is that avoids the normal gastrointestinal route of delivery used by most PD medications. Prior to the deal, Cynapsus had just announced that the Phase 3 clinical program for APL-130277 was nearing completion and that the company had plans to submit a new drug application (NDA) to the FDA in the first half of 2017.Nobuhiko Tamura, chairman and CEO, Sunovion said that his company sees APL-130277 as a novel late-stage candidate with the potential to make a real difference for patients and their families. He adds that Sunovian has high regard for the Cynapsus team led by Anthony Giovinazzo, president and CEO of Cynapsus and the work they have done with the APL-130277 program. For Cynapsus, the deal culminates years of dedicated work, and Anthony J. Giovinazzo, president and CEO, Cynapsus believes Sunovian is the ideal company to take APL-130277 forward. values Cynapsus at approximately CDN$820 million. The transaction will be completed by way of a plan of arrangement under the Canada Business Corporations Act. The arrangement will require approval of at least two-thirds of the votes cast by Cynapsus shareholders and warrantholders voting together as a single class at a special meeting of such securityholders of Cynapsus. This meeting will be held in October. With that we’ve come to the end of this week’s program. We hope you enjoyed it. A big thanks to our production manager Laskey Hart and the rest of the Biotechnology Focus team. You can find past episodes online at www.biotechnologyfocus.ca and we’re always looking for your feedback, story ideas and suggestions so we’d love to hear from you. Simply reach out to us on twitter: @BiotechFocus or by email biotechnology_focus@promotive.net.

Meetings are Broken Be honest, you know they are. How many meetings do you have a week?  How many in a single day? If you're like me, you spend about 30-50% of your time preparing for or attending meetings throughout the workweek. And for the good of whichever organization you're a part of, this has to stop. That's where Al Pittampalli comes in... Shaking up the Status Quo Al began his conventional career with Ernst & Young LLP as an IT adviser. There, he worked on-site with numerous Fortune 1000 companies and found a disturbing trend... These companies held a lot of purposeless meetings. But he also noticed the rare exceptions: the companies with a culture of meaningful activity and purpose; companies that held quick, powerful, and, most importantly, rare meetings. These companies performed better across the board and avoided pointless meetings at all costs. Al figured out the formula, and now he's bringing it to the rest of the world...or at least those willing to shake up the status quo and enter into the top percent of companies that focus on action rather than meetings. About Al Pittampalli Al is the founder of The Modern Meeting Company and a meeting culture warrior. He's on a mission to change the way organizations hold meetings, make decisions, and coordinate action. Al is a published author.  His book Read This Before Our Next Meeting was published by Seth Godin’s Domino Project, and during the week of its release it was the most popular Kindle book in the world. For those unfamiliar with publishing and kindle rankings, this is incredibly difficult to do, but Al most definitely deserves it because the book is incredible. Al has been featured in (yes, it's a big list...): Forbes.com American Express Open Forum The Telegraph Huffington Post Amazon.com’s Omnivoracious London’s City A.M. Revista Dinero (Colombia) Montreal Gazette CBS MoneyWatch CKNW Radio Ideamensch.com MichaelHyatt.com Duct Tape Marketing Six Pixels of Separation – The Podcast Al writes a great blog at www.modernmeetingstandard.com, and is a sought after speaker, writer and trainer. Outstanding Wisdom from the Man Himself (Quotes from the Interview): On recognizing things you can improve: There are so many things that are broken in the world, but a lot of times we don’t see them as broken because we are so used to them. On solving problems from the Outside (versus the inside): I didn’t want to be consumed by the same matrix I was trying to solve. There are some real advantages to being an outsider. (tweet this) On becoming a published author and its effect on his company: Books are a business and they’re a great marketing tool for your ideas. (tweet it) On the power of books and spreading ideas: The great thing about a book is it spreads an idea better than anything I can think of.  There is nothing more powerful. (tweet tweet) On Seth Godin’s Domino Project: The value of what Seth [Godin] did was, he had this vehicle, he had this great asset, he had this TRIBE he was able to share this book with. On the pain of writing a book: It was incredibly scary. It was a very frustrating process because you start to question whether this is something you can do or not… Here’s how he overcame this difficulty of writing: I used [Jerry McGuire] as inspiration; I started waking up at 3:00am in the morning – really early – and I would imagine myself as Jerry McGuire at the typewriter and I would just write. On the difficulty of entrepreneurship:“People say ‘fake it till you make it’ - I think there’s some truth to that.” (tweet away) The key [to entrepreneurship] is being so invested in something that it’s worth it. (share on the twitter) On writing… The most important thing you have to do is write. (tweet some more) On being prepared (to get published by already having written a book): Decide.  Make a decision as to what direction you want to go in because as soon as you do and commit to it, the entire world will organize in a way that will help you.  It doesn’t guarantee success, but it makes it a lot more reachable. The universe just doesn’t reward wish-washy-ness. (definitely tweet) Awesome Things We Discuss in this Interview Why you should never accept the status quo Why sometimes you need to move outside to have an effect on the inside (of an organization) On the tipping point of being a published author The power of the tribe The profound influence of Jerry Maguire Why you NEED a voice for your writing (and how to get one) Starting anything is scary The 2 types of entrepreneurs – and why you need to know which one you are before you start (or you will likely fail) The singular most important key to writing and becoming a published author How persistence creates luck Socialize w/ Al Pittamaplli: Twitter LinkedIn Google+ More Show Notes: Al's Blog Al's Book A Short, Powerful Key Note Address on How Meetings Ought to be Run: If You Enjoyed This Broadcast... Share it! Tweet it! Email This Link! *if the above 'Email' link doesn't pop up your email client, just copy and paste this link into a new email: http://bit.ly/Vr6g2x I hope this interview inspires you to do great things. Whatever you do, don’t stop creating... - Tom Morkes

In this session, Dr. Patricia Adams will highlight the importance of preparing for the holiday season to save yourself from the amount of stress that can creep in with the season. By following the simple steps of Planning Early, Exercising Regularly, Accepting Help, Creating a New Tradition, and Enjoying Today, you can erase the stress and headache that can set in. Dr. Patricia Adams will highlight this method to use these tips to handle the holidays before they handle you! Patricia E. Adams, President of Zeitgeist Wellness Group is a family therapist and one of only ten women nationwide to be named 2011 Entrepreneurial Winning Women by Ernst & Young LLP. As a subject matter expert, Dr. Adams has more than 16 years of experience as a licensed marriage and family therapist. She is a certified mediator and crisis intervention specialist. Dr. Adams is the author of “ABCs of Change: Three Building Blocks to Happy Relationships.” The Zeitgeist Wellness Group is an authorized provider of 41 insurance/employee assistance programs (EAP) across the United States. Connect with Dr. Patricia E. Adams on social media: Facebook Twitter Google+ Pinterest

As a licensed marriage and family therapist for nearly 20 years, Dr. Adams has discovered a common thread that binds us together—the power that relationships have in our lives. Through research, Dr. Adams began to unravel the complexity of relationships and to uncover the basic principles upon which successful relationships are built. By redefining these principles, she has developed simple and practical applications that those in military service (both current and former) and their families can use in their everyday lives. The ABCs of Change will alter forever the way you relate…and it will change your life. Patricia E. Adams, President of Zeitgeist Wellness Group is a family therapist and one of only ten women nationwide to be named 2011 Entrepreneurial Winning Women by Ernst & Young LLP. As a subject matter expert, Dr. Adams has more than 16 years of experience as a licensed marriage and family therapist. She is a certified mediator and crisis intervention specialist. Dr. Adams is the author of “ABCs of Change: Three Building Blocks to Happy Relationships.” The Zeitgeist Wellness Group is an authorized provider of 41 insurance/employee assistance programs (EAP) across the United States. Connect with Dr. Patricia E. Adams on social media: Facebook Twitter Google+