In this episode, Chris Cook is joined by Monica Nayar and Ed Jasitias to discuss the emerging trends revealed from PwC’s 2020 M&A Integration survey and what companies and board of directors should be focused on now to capture deal value. We discuss the following questions:(1:30) - What are we seeing from the 2020 PwC M&A integration survey in terms of deal trends? (3:26) - What have we seen in the survey about integration success and what might be different from prior years?(5:08) - What is important from a risk and regulatory standpoint and what areas  are companies really focused on?(6:26) - What did the survey indicate in terms of trends and actually achieving deal value?(11:00) - What did the survey reveal about how people are embracing change and managing change related to a deal? https://www.pwc.com/us/en/services/consulting/risk-regulatory/podcasts/ma-integration-risk-insight.html

Transforming Risk into Confidence: A PwC podcast series

Accelerate M&A integration and capture value with early risk insights

In this episode, Fran Grabowski joins Tiffany Gallagher to discuss the new healthcare interoperability rules, the top risk and compliance concerns for consumers, payers and providers, and the case for organizations to treat this as a strategic opportunity.We discuss the following questions:1:18 - What is interoperability and what are the goals of the new rules?4:03 - What are the top concerns and challenges and how do we expect them to be regulated?7:29 - What are the effects these rules will have on payers vs providers? 13:09 - What are some particular opportunities and risks that organizations are typically overlooking? 15:58 - What important messages were outlined in PwC’s recent thought leadership titled “The new healthcare interoperability rules: A risk and compliance perspective”?https://www.pwc.com/us/en/services/risk-assurance/podcasts/healthcare-interoperability-digital-transformation.html

Navigating the healthcare interoperability digital transformation journey

CEOs are facing increasing pressure to show progress around diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) and, now, social justice. But many companies are unprepared to meet the demands for greater transparency into their DEI strategy. In this episode, Sheri Wyatt joins Kevin O'Connell to talk about the importance of an effective DEI strategy, the challenges many organizations are facing and steps they are taking to meet those challenges.We discuss the following questions:0:38 - Why are companies starting to focus on diversity, equity and inclusion now?2:41 - Who should be involved in the discussion?4:55 - What are companies struggling with the most in this space?7:18 - Why is getting the data and the story so important?10:05 - What steps are companies taking now and how should they begin focusing on diversity, equity and inclusion?https://www.pwc.com/us/en/services/risk-assurance/podcasts/esg-diversity-equity-inclusion.html

ESG insights: Diversity, equity and inclusion

Recent market volatility has led to heightened regulatory scrutiny of the integrity of index data. In this episode, Wes Bricker joins Beth Savino to talk about the rise of index investing, and how asset managers can drive transparency while navigating the regulations being implemented to ensure the market functions as designed.We discuss the following questions: 0:40 - What is the current landscape around index investing, and what strategies and challenges have emerged?3:37 - Why are regulators becoming more interested in index investing?6:18 - What do these new regulations mean for asset managers?9:39 - How are we approaching issues in the index transparency space and what are the next steps?

The rise of index investing: Driving transparency while navigating risks and regulation

Investors want to know that energy companies are thinking about the appropriate ESG risks and opportunities, and incorporating those topics into the company's strategy. In this episode, Kevin O’Connell and Chuck Chang highlight those risks and opportunities and offer advice to help them to improve their ESG results.We discuss the following questions:0:36 - What are some broad trends in ESG?1:43 - Why is ESG important to the energy sector?3:11 - Why are investors voicing their concerns over ESG and what are they looking for?5:09 - How mature are the sustainability practices in the energy sector?7:01 - What advice do we have for companies to improve their ESG results?https://www.pwc.com/us/en/services/risk-assurance/podcasts/esg-energy.html

ESG industry insights: Energy

Regulatory complexities continue to grow, while the pace of new products and services has accelerated and innovation and regulatory technology (RegTech) solutions are becoming commonplace. In this episode, Matt Shelhorse joins Chad Gerhardstein to discuss the need for compliance program effectiveness in this environment, including the key compliance elements and trends in this remote and virtual environment.We discuss the following questions:1:10 - What is compliance effectiveness as we refer to it?2:07 - What are some of the broader trends around compliance, specifically in this heavily remote and virtual environment?5:14 - Where do you see heightened risk and regulatory focus shifting over the next 12 to 18 months?7:57 - How is the existing use of technology and the potential new uses driving change for compliance programs?11:05 - How are we seeing organizations react to and prepare for the recent DOJ sentencing guidelines?15:06 - Is now the right time for initiating new compliance projects and rethinking the overall compliance strategy as well as transformation?

Compliance effectiveness: A discussion on the trends and industry practices in a virtual world

In this episode, Vrushali Gaud joins Kevin O’Connell to discuss ESG priorities for technology companies, and how they are addressing the challenges and risks associated with stakeholder demands and commitments.We discuss the following questions:0:36 - What is ESG and how are technology sector companies prioritizing it?4:07 - What areas of ESG are top of mind for the technology sector? What commitments are tech companies making?7:57 - What challenges are companies in the technology sector facing?9:51 - How are companies addressing those challenges?11:30 - What role does technology play in being an enabler for ESG beyond the sector?https://www.pwc.com/us/en/services/risk-assurance/podcasts/esg-technology.html

ESG industry insights: Technology

In this episode, Jenn Kosar joins Kevin O’Connell to discuss the importance of ESG in the Insurance sector, what investors and regulators are expecting, and how top global insurers are implementing ESG strategy.We discuss the following questions:0:34 - Why is ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) so important to the insurance sector?2:20 - How mature are the ESG strategies of the top global insurers?4:45 - What do investors want and what are insurers disclosing? What ESG issues should insurers prioritize, considering stakeholder importance and business value?6:07 - How will climate change impact insurers?8:44 - What is the view of the US and international regulators on ESG and what are their expectations for insurers?11:00 - If there are currently no mandates in the US, why should insurers obtain independent assurance over their ESG activities?

ESG industry insights: Insurance

In this episode, Jennifer Lendler discusses how the pandemic has impacted companies' use of artificial intelligence (AI) and how they can navigate these complexities and build trust in their AI. We discuss the following questions: 0:30 - How has the artificial intelligence landscape evolved in our ever-changing world? 3:01 - Where do you start on this journey to protect and build trust in your AI? 4:28 - What are some questions, focus areas and key activities for anyone that owns or uses AI to consider? 6:49 - What do you need as a roadmap for these changing times? 8:44 - What are some key takeaways around building trust in AI? 

AI oversight and digital trust—you know you need it, but where to start?

In this episode, Monica Nayar and Mike Bellin join Eric Watson to discuss special purpose acquisition companies (SPACs), which are generating a lot of activity in the market. They explain the complexities and challenges and the actions that should be considered as companies navigate towards successful mergers when looking to go public.We discuss the following questions: (below times are dependent on further audio edits)0:50 - How does a SPAC work?2:15 - What are the advantages of a SPAC for a private company?2:49 - How is the merger timeline impacted in this process and what are the challenges companies are facing due to this?6:46 - What are the control challenges in SPAC transactions?8:56 - How are technology and analytics helping companies move through SPAC mergers?12:13 - What are the first steps when a company is looking to undertake this transaction?

Special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) mergers: Why are companies looking to them when going public

In this episode, Ryan Folscroft joins Kevin O’Connell to discuss how environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors are impacting the four quadrants of the asset and wealth management (AWM) industry, and how firms are finding operational and commercial value.We discuss the following questions:0:35 - What is ESG and how is it impacting the asset and wealth management industry?3:05 - Are firms finding real operational and commercial value to ESG?5:43 - What are three current hot topics in ESG and the asset and wealth management industry?8:54 - How are companies addressing industry demands and how is PwC helping?12:58 - Based on the current market demand, what is the future vision surrounding ESG?15:03 - What is one key takeaway for our listeners?

ESG industry insights: Asset and Wealth Management

Joe Sousa joins Kevin O'Connell to discuss the benefits of data lake technology, and the importance of implementing proper governance standards to help manage the risks associated with this technology.We discuss the following questions:0:36 - What is a data lake?1:42 - What are some of the benefits of data lake technology?2:56 - How are data lakes being leveraged by organizations today?4:56 - How can we ensure data lakes do not get polluted?6:29 - How are organizations establishing trust and transparency for the various stakeholders when they're using a data lake?

Transforming business with data lake technology

Companies are increasingly providing their customers more access to data, but how do they know they can trust the data? In this episode, Treesha Govender joins Kevin O'Connell to discuss the importance of providing assurance over data management controls given the increasing demand from regulators and customers.We discuss the following questions:0:36 - What are the key drivers for more extensive assurance over data management controls?2:32 - When should a company think about obtaining assurance over these controls and what framework should they consider using?4:00 - What are the key areas of data governance that companies should focus on?5:06 - What are the benefits of doing a risk assessment of your critical data?5:52 - What are some key takeaways when looking to start this journey?

How can you really trust your data? Start with assurance over your data management controls

In this episode Stephen D'Arcy joins Erik Nolte to discuss the potential for intelligent controls automation to reduce the cost of compliance and improve quality and confidence in your controls environment. We discuss the following questions: 0:41 - What is intelligent controls automation? 1:56 - What is an example of how it plays out in practice? 3:59 - What are some of the main benefits companies can expect from this solution and what is some of the feedback we’ve heard? 6:08 - What are the drivers that are pushing companies to leverage this automation approach? 8:17 - Are intelligent automation controls relevant to all companies?www.pwc.com/us/en/services/risk-assurance/podcasts/intelligent-controls-automation-compliance-cost.html

How intelligent controls automation helps reduce compliance costs and improve quality and confidence

This series is focused on helping you to assure confidence in the controls, systems and processes that drive your business forward. Podcasts feature PwC specialists that work with clients every day to address today’s most compelling topics and challenges related to digital risk and transformation, internal audit, risk management, compliance and trust and transparency.