Case study of how to lead your organization's foray into ESG reporting and communications, including budgeting, timeline management, determining which framework is best for your organization and if outside counsel makes sense. Presentation will share Lendmark's preliminary report produced by IC internally as well as its formal SASB Fact Sheet produced in concert with outside counsel.

For communicators just starting or who need to position themselves as a key contributor to their organization's ESG reporting and management efforts, it can be daunting to know where to begin. This session provides practical and proven advice, strategy and tips.

Key Session Takeaways:

Within the ESG universe there are so many stakeholder groups, reporting frameworks, assessment tools, awards bodies, ratings agencies—not to mention the 100+ categories of ESG issues, materiality assessments, third-party assurance, disclosures, greenwashing. ESG-driven revenue and more.

In this workshop, participants will walk away with a clear understanding of:

• Universe of ESG-specific stakeholder groups (including ratings agencies, awards bodies, reporting frameworks like GRI, TCFD, UN Global Compact and more)
• ESG strategy and reporting processes (from materiality assessments through to choosing reporting frameworks to disclosures and third-party assurance)
• Capturing and reporting ESG-driven revenue, why it’s important and the important role that marketing and communications have to play
• State of ESG-focused thought leadership events and what’s credible (earned, owned, paid)

Communication styles vary greatly across organizations and industries. Sustainability reports sound formal but they don't have to be; formal reports can include storytelling elements. This session will teach you how to make it your own.

You will learn:

• A new understanding of the realities of getting to net zero.
• How to publicly communicate a company’s emissions reduction plan without fear and missing the mark.
• How to view the future with a plan and know what role uncertainty will play.
• What your investors want to hear vs what your entry-level employees want to hear vs. what your executives need to hear.