The Pre-Read

https://www.workiva.com/What does leadership look like when volatility becomes the norm?

Workiva CEO Julie Iskow joins Steve Soder and Alyssa Zucker to unpack what 2025 taught executives and how to prepare for 2026. This conversation goes beyond headlines to explore how leaders can stay grounded while moving faster, make data a strategic asset, and meet rising board expectations with confidence.

In this episode:

Redefining resilience: Why stability and agility must coexist

Data integrity as strategy: Turning trusted data into a competitive advantage

AI readiness: Why governed, audit-ready data is the foundation for safe AI adoption

The evolving boardroom: How expectations are shifting toward deeper, more frequent engagement

Chapters
0:00 Defining resilience for 2026
3:15 Stability vs. agility in volatile markets
7:40 Data integrity: From compliance to strategy
11:20 When bad data becomes AI risk
15:00 The new expectations of the boardroom
18:30 Julie's word for 2026: Clarity

Enjoy this episode? Explore more conversations at the intersection of finance, risk, and sustainability at workiva.com/pre-read-podcast.

Steve and Alyssa are taking a well-earned break, but the challenges facing the office of the CFO are not slowing down. In this short episode, producer Mike Gravagno looks back on a year where AI moved from pilot programs to expectation and sustainability became more than a side conversation. Looking ahead to 2026, The Pre-Read will return with sharper conversations on data trust, AI governance, reporting rigor, and how leading teams turn systems into true productivity multipliers. Subscribe now and be ready for what's next.

Semiannual Reporting: Will doing "less" actually create more work?

Finance and accounting leaders are split on whether moving from quarterly to semiannual SEC reporting will simplify processes or compound risk. In this episode, industry expert Tom Schneiders joins to unpack what a reduced cadence would really mean for teams, investors, and market stability.

We cover:

• The hidden risk of doubling the data window—from three months to six
• Why most finance teams aren't asking to report less frequently
• How quarterly reporting strengthens risk management and operational discipline
• What's fueling the new momentum in the IPO pipeline
• Why generative AI is moving from experiment to essential for the C-suite

If you want to understand how reporting cadence shapes trust, transparency, and executive decision-making, this conversation is for you.

Jacob Andra, CEO of Talbot West, joins to discuss the urgent imperative for companies to move beyond siloed, ad hoc growth and embrace an integrated, tech-forward future.

What you will learn in this episode:
Why "total organizational intelligence" is a survival imperative for the modern enterprise
How orchestrating your data across the organization is a huge unlock for immediate revenue opportunities
The most common and foundational AI use case: standardized knowledge management powered by large language models
How to build a clear, defensible AI roadmap to avoid "AI washing" and drive real, long-term impact
Beyond large language models: Using advanced machine learning for complex optimization 

Find past conversations at workiva.com/podcast/the-pre-read. Subscribe to catch all our upcoming episodes.

#Leadership #FinancePodcast #AITransformation #OrganizationalIntelligence 

Could U.S. public companies shift from quarterly to semiannual reporting?

Jonathan Johnson, former chairman and CEO of Overstock and current member of various boards, joins the show to unpack one of the most debated proposals to SEC reporting. They explore whether fewer formal filings would help management teams stay focused on long-term enterprise value instead of reacting to quarterly earnings swings.

In this episode:
• How a semiannual cadence could affect a company's time horizon
• Whether companies would still feel pressure to share quarterly updates
• The gap between GAAP metrics and the metrics leaders actually use to run the business
• Why the growing length of 10-Qs and 10-Ks is fueling this debate
• The role XBRL® tagging plays in machine and AI analysis—and what could shift
• Whether board oversight and accountability would meaningfully change

Jonathan also points out that semiannual reporting already works in markets like Europe and Australia.

Catch this episode for a candid executive view on one of the biggest potential shifts in public-company reporting.

Timestamps
00:00 Introduction
01:15 Why semi-annual reporting is back in the spotlight
03:10 CEOs vs. CFOs: What the WSJ poll revealed
06:30 How quarterly reporting shapes internal rigor
08:00 Jonathan Johnson joins the conversation
08:20 Does quarterly reporting really drive short-term thinking?
13:00 Why internal reporting cadences won't change
15:20 Are 10-Qs simply too long?
18:00 Board oversight: What would actually change?
20:00 Should executives rethink their processes?
21:50 Semi-annual reporting around the world

Subscribe to The Pre-Read for more conversations at the intersection of finance, reporting, and leadership.

The Texas Stock Exchange (TXSE) is challenging long-held assumptions about what it means to go public in the U.S. Jeff Karcher joins The Pre-Read to share how the TXSE is rethinking the public company experience—reducing friction, lowering reporting and legal costs, and creating an environment where management can focus on running the business, not navigating lawsuits.

In this episode, we explore:
• How Texas' corporate growth sparked the idea for a new national exchange
• Why the TXSE focuses on helping companies become better public companies—not louder ones
• Legislative wins in Texas that curb excessive litigation and the weaponization of governance
• Why decentralization has made the physical location of an exchange less relevant
• The roadmap for building investor confidence through ETF/ETP listings and a physical exchange launch
• Why this is about practical rules that impact a company's bottom line, not loosening governance

Timestamps:
01:00 | Why Texas? Corporate growth and diversification
03:50 | The TXSE philosophy and vision
08:30 | Litigation, governance, and reporting costs
10:15 | Business judgment rule and D&O insurance benefits
14:30 | The exchange's national and global ambitions
18:00 | Decentralization and the future of trading
20:15 | Building investor confidence
23:45 | Advice for private companies preparing for an IPO

Subscribe for more conversations at the intersection of finance, sustainability, governance, and strategy.

Financial data has its challenges—but non-financial data is a different scale of complexity. It cuts vertically up and down the value chain, and now requires the same level of confidence as financials, with board sign-off and external assurance becoming the norm.

In this episode of The Pre-Read, we break down how finance and sustainability leaders are aligning around programs like sustainability-linked bonds, why a long-term mindset matters, and how AI is helping organizations make sense of fragmented, non-standardized information.


• Why sustainability data is more complex than financial data
• The need for integration—top-down from the board and across every business unit
• How companies build data confidence through external assurance
• The two-pillar reporting model: impact (GRI, SDGs) and value (ISSB, TCFD, TNFD)
• Why brave leadership and a growth mindset are essential for adopting new technology

Featuring:
Esther An, CSO, City Developments Limited
Andrea Amozurrutia Casillas, Finance and Sustainability Director, Grupo Herdez

Read the full report on how professionals are building value with AI: workiva.com/pr-building-value

Key Segments:
01:00 | Why sustainability data is more complex
03:50 | The two-pillar approach: Impact + value
08:30 | Esther An on board sign-off and assurance
15:30 | Long-term view in a volatile environment
18:00 | Andrea Amozurrutia Casillas on sustainability-linked bonds
25:30 | Why AI matters for data chaos

Find more conversations at workiva.com/podcast/the-pre-read
Subscribe for upcoming episodes.

The chief sustainability officer (CSO) is moving from a siloed function to a strategic, finance-aligned partner.

In this episode of The Pre-Read, Workiva Chief Sustainability Officer Mandi McReynolds sits down with Serena Oppenheim, co-founder of Fin-Erth, to discuss the need for a tighter integration between the CFO and the CSO, framing sustainability as enterprise risk management.

Serena Oppenheim explains why genuine community, not transactional networking, is the key to tackling big business problems. Learn about the power of the small ask—focusing on manageable tasks that impact business and society. Mandi and Serena also share:
Why the CFO, CSO, and CIO worlds are starting to work together
The growing frustration when the sustainability function sits in a silo
How to build your own "table" with people who will challenge your thinking
The importance of asking different questions in a new executive role

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction 
01:50 Climate Week takeaways: The partnership of the CFO and CSO 
03:30 Framing sustainability as enterprise risk management 
04:20 Serena Oppenheim on building trust and community 
05:15 The power of the small ask 
07:10 Why traditional networking is awful for introverts 
09:40 The accidental birth of Thin Earth as a community 
12:50 Being intentional with C-suite relationships 
17:00 How to build your own table with dissenters 
20:45 Leaning into a different perspective at the executive table 
25:00 Finding your business superpower to build your table 2
8:00 Driving strategy by looking at financial and sustainability data together 

AI has completely changed the rules of marketing, and finance can't afford to play catch-up. Workiva's VP of Revenue Marketing, Joel Capperella, joins Steve Soter to unpack how AI is reshaping data, trust, and decision-making across the business.

As progression analysis evolves and web traffic declines, traditional forecasting and investment models are losing their edge. This episode breaks down what modern finance and marketing leaders must do to keep pace.

You'll learn:

Why the old CFO-CMO disconnect is no longer sustainable

How AI's data disruption is forcing a new model of collaboration

Why credibility and transparency are now the most valuable data currencies

What separates a caretaker CFO from a truly transformative one

Watch the full episode for practical insights on data trust, financial transformation, and redefining success in the age of AI.
00:00 Introduction
01:14 Rewriting the Marketing Playbook with AI
02:42 The Changing Role of CFOs in the AI Era
06:25 The Future of Marketing and Finance Collaboration
10:14 Closing Thoughts 

AI is revolutionizing finance, but the hardest part isn't coding or controls—it's fear.

In this episode of The Pre-Read, recorded live at Amplify 2025 in Washington, D.C., finance and accounting leaders share unfiltered takes on how AI is changing the way teams think, work, and lead.

You'll learn:

Why fear of losing data lineage and control slows AI adoption
How AI is driving teams to strengthen data processes—even before they deploy it
Why emotional resilience and communication are essential for transformation
Real-world AI use cases freeing up time for high-value work
How to lead through uncertainty with confidence and trust

Time stamps:
00:00 Introduction
01:43 AI in Finance: Leaders' Perspectives
03:23 Concerns and Benefits of AI Adoption
08:24 Navigating Uncertainty with AI
14:11 Broader Uncertainty and Leadership
16:56 Optimizing Team Efficiency with AI
18:22 Addressing AI Fears and Human Value
19:21 Maintaining Team Resilience and Progress
22:55 The Importance of Check-ins and Communication
24:45 Embracing AI as a Team Companion
28:19 Navigating Rapid Change and Continuous Improvement

Hosted by Steve Soter and Alyssa Zucker.
Learn more at workiva.com/podcast/the-pre-read