The Pre-Read

Workiva

Just like the slides you get before a big meeting, The Pre-Read prepares CFOs and senior leaders for the decisions ahead. This is the global podcast for the modern office of the CFO, focused on how finance leaders drive performance, resilience, and long-term value in a constantly shifting environment. Designed for executives operating at scale, the show features candid conversations with CFOs, board advisors, regulators, and business leaders shaping how companies compete, comply, and grow. Hosts Alyssa Zucker and Steve Soter connect financial performance, data integrity, regulation, and technology to the real questions CFOs are being asked by boards, investors, and stakeholders. From AI adoption and enterprise data trust to evolving disclosure expectations and global regulatory pressure, The Pre-Read focuses on what matters now and what's coming next. Each episode cuts through noise to surface practical insight, strategic perspective, and the signals CFOs need to lead with clarity. If you're responsible for stewarding capital, managing risk, and creating value over time, you're in the right place.

  1. 12/22/2025

    The Pre-Read Takes a Break: See You in 2026

    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.

    2 min
  2. Efficiency vs. Risk: The Semiannual Reporting Debate Continues

    12/15/2025

    Efficiency vs. Risk: The Semiannual Reporting Debate Continues

    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.

    19 min
  3. Total Organizational Intelligence: Why AI and Integrated Data are a Survival Imperative

    12/08/2025

    Total Organizational Intelligence: Why AI and Integrated Data are a Survival Imperative

    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

    20 min
  4. What Leaders Really Think About Quarterly vs. Semiannual Reporting

    12/01/2025

    What Leaders Really Think About Quarterly vs. Semiannual Reporting

    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.

    20 min
  5. How the Texas Stock Exchange is Changing Capital Markets

    11/24/2025

    How the Texas Stock Exchange is Changing Capital Markets

    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.

    25 min
  6. How CFOs Are Shaping the Sustainability Agenda

    11/17/2025

    How CFOs Are Shaping the Sustainability Agenda

    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.

    28 min
  7. The CSO Role Is Evolving: A Strategic Partner to the CFO

    11/10/2025

    The CSO Role Is Evolving: A Strategic Partner to the CFO

    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

    31 min
  8. Evolving the Go-to-Market: An Executive's Guide to AI's Impact

    11/03/2025

    Evolving the Go-to-Market: An Executive's Guide to AI's Impact

    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

    15 min
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4.8
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About

Just like the slides you get before a big meeting, The Pre-Read prepares CFOs and senior leaders for the decisions ahead. This is the global podcast for the modern office of the CFO, focused on how finance leaders drive performance, resilience, and long-term value in a constantly shifting environment. Designed for executives operating at scale, the show features candid conversations with CFOs, board advisors, regulators, and business leaders shaping how companies compete, comply, and grow. Hosts Alyssa Zucker and Steve Soter connect financial performance, data integrity, regulation, and technology to the real questions CFOs are being asked by boards, investors, and stakeholders. From AI adoption and enterprise data trust to evolving disclosure expectations and global regulatory pressure, The Pre-Read focuses on what matters now and what's coming next. Each episode cuts through noise to surface practical insight, strategic perspective, and the signals CFOs need to lead with clarity. If you're responsible for stewarding capital, managing risk, and creating value over time, you're in the right place.

Information

  • Creator
    Workiva
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2025
  • Episodes
    161
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2023
  • Show Website
    The Pre-Read

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