Decoding ESG-relating information within Earnings Calls through Text, Audio, and Visual Cues.

Zoom Research Seminar / 5th floor, lecture 2

Past event — 30 October 2024
12:0013:00 

English
Spoken language

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Ankita Singh

PhD Candidate

Kühne Logistics University - KLU

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Abstract

Voluntary sustainability disclosures and their impact on firm value is a topic that hasn't received the attention it deserves, especially when it comes to earnings calls, which play a crucial role in these disclosures. In this dissertation, I’ll take a closer look at how environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors are discussed during earnings calls and how this discussion and sentiment of management influences financial analyst recommendations and the overall value of a company.

I shall use some cutting-edge AI/ML tools, like natural language processing (NLP), speech processing technologies, to dig into the sentiment expressed in these calls. Aim of this dissertation is to help stakeholders get a better grip on how companies perform in terms of sustainability. By doing so, we hope to provide financial analysts and investors with a clearer understanding of a company’s sustainability efforts, leading to more informed decisions and investment strategies that are both resilient and ethically sound. Ultimately, this research sheds light on the connection between ESG disclosures and financial performance, offering valuable insights for both scholars and practitioners alike.

Bio

Ankita Singh started her PhD program at Kühne Logistics University in September 2023 under the primary and secondary supervision of Prof. Alexander Himme and Prof. Henrik Leopold. Her research focuses on Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning and its applications in the field of Finance and Accounting domain.

Ankita did her Bachelor of Engineering in Information Technology at Amaravati University, India focusing on the design, development, implementation, and management of information systems and technologies. She received a merit-based scholarship from the state government for her outstanding academic performance during her bachelor's degree. Afterward, she joined Accenture Solutions Pvt. Ltd., where she worked for eight years as a Software Engineer and Team Lead, gaining experience in the software development lifecycle, Agile methodology, and team management in the Telecom and Banking sectors. She earned the Accenture Excellence Award (ACE) twice and received multiple team performance awards. Her dedication led to on-site opportunities in London and Düsseldorf, Germany. As an Environment Steward, she participated in many events e.g., marathons for environmental protection, tree plantation drives etc. and was part of CSR, IDE, and cultural events. As a technology enthusiast, she pursued a master’s in technology with a focus on Computer Science and Engineering in India, graduating as one of the top five students. Her thesis, “Real-Time Emotion Detection of Multiple Faces Using Deep Learning,” was published in Springer Nature.

Organizer

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Ekaterina Neigum

Team Assistant (Resident Faculty)