IR in Focus

In this episode we explore the impact of investor activism on corporations and strategies for navigating this increasingly prevalent phenomenon. Guest speakers, John Karageorge (S&P Global) and Craig Wadler, (Moelis & Company) are experts in corporate governance and shareholder engagement, and offer valuable insights into how corporations can effectively respond to investor activism and leverage it as an opportunity for positive change. Tune in to gain valuable insights into how corporations can effectively navigate investor activism and unlock shareholder value through proactive engagement and strategic governance practices.

Thinking about reworking your corporation's capital allocation strategies? Host Carmen Lilly sits down with, Christopher Stroh, Executive Director at S&P Global and head of the Situational Analytics team, to take a closer look at the dynamic nature of capital allocation decisions, how they are shaped by a multitude of factors ranging from economic conditions to stakeholder expectations, and the importance of strategic adaptation in an ever-changing business environment.

In a world, where AI is ostensibly at everyone's fingertips and has largely gone from buzzworthy to saturated - gain a clearer perspective for your IR program. Host Carmen Lilly sits down with colleague, Daniel J. Sandberg, a thought-leader at the intersection of data science, finance, and mathematics for an engaging, fresh take on Artificial Intelligence or "AI". Their conversation unveils AI origins, implications for IR practitioners, what to avoid, plus tips for navigating emerging and evergreen technologies to accelerate progress for IROs.

In this final episode of 2023, host Carmen Lilly is joined by Lindsey Hall, Head of Thought Leadership at S&P Global Sustainable1 and co-host of the ESG Insider podcast. Together they discuss the pace of progress, with insightful dialogue on the outcomes from COP28 (the United Nations' 28th Conference of the Parties on Climate Change). Their discussion explores sentiments heard from global stakeholders across public and private sectors, as corporations, governments and financial institutions navigate their sustainability journey seeking solutions to the far-reaching climate crisis, whether through aligning to the Global Stocktake, adhering to regulatory frameworks, assessing climate-related risks, or adjusting business strategies to foster nature-positivity. Take a listen now.

In this episode, host Carmen Lilly is joined by fellow podcast host, of Street Talk, Nathan Stovall. Carmen and Nathan's discussion dives into a brief recap of the year, including major events within the banking sector and the implications for investors, they unpack capital markets forecasts for 2024 - with insights on whether economic conditions will stabilize and broader valuation expectations.

In this episode, host Carmen Lilly takes a closer look at retail investors, how they behave, and their strengths and explores top tips for engaging with this diverse investor base. Carmen is joined by special guest, Matt Joanou, CEO and co-founder of Stakeholder Labs. Their conversation dives into institutional investors' relationship with the retail investor community, and what opportunities exist to leverage retail investor sentiment, participation and growth. Take a listen now.

In this episode, host Carmen Lilly explores effective engagement with investors, from shareholder composition to industry trends and post-pandemic shifts in investor behaviors and regulatory requirements. Carmen is joined by two esteemed guests from the Investment Research Firm, Edison Group, Neil Shah, Executive Director of Content & Strategy, and Patrick Yau, Managing Director of Strategic Investor Relations. Their robust conversation looks at current trends, and the nascent arc of investor relations as new shareholder groups express dominance in various sectors, including retail, sustainability, and more. Take a listen now.

Host Carmen Lilly dives into the career pathways of Gen Z IROs. Generation Z is currently the largest generation on Earth. This episode’s Special guest was recently honored by the National Investor Relations Institute in their "Rising Leaders Under 40". Miranda Villavecencio, Investor Relations Analyst at Ball Corporation and Co-Sponsorship Chair for the Rocky Mountain Chapter of the National Investor Relations Institute. They dive into Gen Z's nontraditional entries to the IR profession. Carmen and Miranda discuss experience with organizations' early careers recruitment strategies, post-pandemic transition to work, social investing and aligning work to Gen Z values, in addition to work/life balance, the rise of sustainability practices, and emerging technology.

Back from a short June break, host Carmen Lilly dives into top predictions and market trends with a macroeconomic recap of the first half of 2023, taking a look at top-of-the-year predictions, with a look back at our 2023 Big Picture Investor Relations Outlook. Carmen is joined by colleague, Chris Blake, Executive Director of Advisory Innovation and Technology, who has a breadth of experience working with Investor Relations teams in various roles across IPREO, IHS Markit, and now S&P Global Market Intelligence for more than ten years.

In this episode, host Carmen Lilly dives into communication strategies and explores emerging technologies leveraging Natural Language Processing and AI. Whether you are communicating earnings results, risks, or the pathway to profitability, keeping your message clear, concise and tailored to your audience is an essential skill for an IRO. Marc Dreschler, Senior Principal at management consulting firm, Myriant provides actionable insights for IR professionals who act as their company’s bullhorn.

Host Carmen Lilly explores investor activism trends, themes, and key developments that are shaping the landscape for IROs, with insights on what to expect for 2023 and best practices to navigate the year ahead. In this fourth episode, Carmen is joined by her colleague, Ken Shimokawa, Director of the Financial Institutions Desktop, and special guest Jack Spinks, Head of Investor Relations at Zymeworks, Inc. Listen in for key insights and takeaways to navigate the evolving activist landscape.

Host Carmen Lilly follows up on her compelling Sustainability and Governance Regulations Deep Dive episode with two well-versed speakers to discuss sustainability disclosures, including how to communicate via reporting, plus essential insights on effectively communicating an ESG strategy to craft and deliver an organization's story accurately to the market.

Host Carmen Lilly explores emerging sustainability regulations, with outlooks on the implications of climate-related requirements on capital markets, from special guest Andreas Posavac, Head of Corporate Governance, Sustainability, and M&A. Together they explore the proposed rules and actionable insights to best plan for climate-related standardized reporting measures.

In this episode of "IR in Focus," host Carmen Lilly discusses investor engagement and communication strategies with special guest Mark Grant - SVP, of Investor Relations, at S&P Global. The robust conversation dives into the role data plays within IR, with actionable insights to empower your decision-making to best engage with investors and effectively monitor the financial markets, peers, and company performance.

IR in Focus is a monthly podcast series intended to illuminate emerging, evergreen, and exceptional challenges faced by corporate issuers, asset managers and IR professionals. The podcast offers commentary, analysis and dialogue in a conversational and accessible style with actionable insights to advance strategic decision-making in fluctuating markets.