The Pre-Read

Brandon Buehler, a finance leader focused on resilient teams, joins Dina Musano, an accounting expert with practical AI concerns, and Eric Tremblay, who emphasizes data traceability. They explore how fear of job loss and losing data lineage hampers AI adoption in finance. Brandon highlights AI's role in enhancing data processes, while Dina stresses the importance of maintaining the human element in a tech-driven landscape. Eric shares real-world AI wins that free up time for more valuable work, framing AI as a supportive teammate rather than a replacement.

AI isn't perfect and sometimes it makes us worse at our jobs. Jen Stave of the Digital, Data, and Design Institute at Harvard joins The Pre-Read to explore why even top experts can become less effective with AI, what "cognitive offloading" really means, and why the future of AI success depends on human culture, not just code. Watch to learn: How the "jagged frontier" changes AI's reliability Why some workers thrive with AI while others falter The hidden risks of treating AI like a teammate What leaders can do to create a culture of safe experimentation

AI is transforming audit, risk, and corporate governance—but most companies are struggling to keep up. In this episode of The Pre-Read, Radical Compliance's Matt Kelly and Shane Negangard, Senior Director of Internal Audit at Workiva, join hosts Steve Soter and Alyssa Zucker to discuss: ✅ Why "shadow AI" is a real compliance threat ✅ How governance and internal controls must evolve ✅ The risks of AI in employee training and internal audit ✅ How auditors can move from reactive to proactive in an AI world Timestamps 00:00 – Intro: The real risk of "shadow AI" in audit and compliance 02:10 – Why AI is rewriting governance faster than policies can catch up 05:25 – The blurred line between automation and accountability 09:40 – What internal auditors are seeing on the ground 14:05 – How CFOs and CAOs can partner with marketing and data teams on AI 17:30 – Governance, controls, and the need for real-time oversight 21:15 – Why culture and education matter more than ever 25:10 – The future of AI governance and trust in reporting If you're in audit, risk, compliance, or finance, this episode is your playbook for governing AI responsibly—without slowing innovation.

Jill Klindt, Workiva CFO, sits down with Ayssa and Steve live at Amplify 2025 in D.C. Hear how she navigated early startup life, tackled the challenges of being the public face of a company, and what advice she has for aspiring professionals. 00:00 Introduction 02:20 Early Career and Transition to Workiva 03:58 Building Workiva from the Ground Up 05:09 Becoming the CFO: Challenges and Insights 10:06 Reflections and Career Advice 14:43 Conclusion and Farewell

AI is no longer just hype; it's a powerful tool in corporate reporting. But what does it take to truly trust the outputs it produces? On this episode of The Pre-Read, Workiva Chief Information Officer Kim Huffman talks with Deepa Rao, a leader in sustainability and AI governance. They break down the essential steps for executives to govern and validate AI, including the "AIRS" framework for accountability, integrity, reporting, and stewardship. You'll learn why data quality is paramount, why a hybrid approach of artificial intelligence plus human intelligence is the most successful model, and the critical skills teams need to develop to challenge the machine's outputs and build confidence in their data. Episode Highlights: * 0:00 Introduction * 01:00 Is AI a copywriter or a core part of corporate reporting? * 03:50 The biggest gaps in data readiness and why you can't trust what you can't trace. * 08:30 Best practices for integrating AI: Start small and scale with confidence. * 10:15 The 'ARES' framework for responsible AI governance. * 14:30 The power of a human intelligence and artificial intelligence hybrid model. * 18:00 The critical skills teams need to develop beyond basic AI training.

Natalia Dorfman, CEO of Kita, shares her expertise on carbon insurance, highlighting how it transforms risks in voluntary carbon markets and attracts capital. Oriana Bretschger, CEO of AquaCycle, discusses innovative industrial wastewater treatment technologies that not only lower costs but turn wastewater into valuable resources. They emphasize reframing sustainability in financial terms, explore the resilience of wastewater management, and outline essential metrics for proving ROI while encouraging proactive water stewardship in corporate strategies.

In this insightful discussion, Emily Forrester, Chief People Officer at Workiva, and Tim Paradis, Future of Work Correspondent at Business Insider, delve into the rising trend of CEO turnover. Forrester emphasizes the importance of integrating succession planning with long-term organizational health, while Paradis explores pressures like burnout and impatient boards driving the change. They tackle the complexities of unplanned transitions and the evolving role of CFOs in leadership, shedding light on how companies can navigate these turbulent waters effectively.

Joining the conversation are Junko Swain, Chief Accounting Officer at Workiva, and Kim Huffman, Chief Information Officer at Workiva. They dive into impressive ROI from AI in finance, while grappling with gaps in governance and training. The duo emphasizes the importance of high-quality data and role-specific training for effective AI integration. They also discuss how the C-suite can lead the way in establishing a robust AI strategy, addressing both potential job security concerns and the transformative impact of specialized AI tools in organizations.

Leaders in charge of projects around artificial intelligence and sustainability don't need to manage those two trends in parallel, says Professor Michael Wade of IMD. In fact, strategies for the two are bound to intersect. The Pre-Read hosts Steve Soter and Alyssa Zucker dig into AI, sustainability, and how leaders can harness the transformative power of one to unlock the game-changing impacts of the other. Keep listening because there is an obstacle to twin transformation that may surprise you. 0:00 Intro 02:33 Meet Professor Michael Wade 03:36 The two mega trends of the decade 04:28 The ties that bind 07:22 The best-positioned sectors to take advantage 08:44 OK, so what are the blockers? 12:21 Transformation is closer than you think 12:23 The playbook Subscribe to catch all our upcoming episodes, including episodes about the latest conversations in all things #accounting #finance #sustainability #audit and #risk.

The PCAOB is under siege. Critics say it's overreached its mission while supporters argue we've forgotten why it was created: to prevent another Enron or WorldCom. On this episode of The Pre-Read, Workiva Industry Principals Chelsea Hall and Grant Ostler join for a roundtable to discuss what's broken and what's worth saving. We examine the push to dismantle the board and roll its responsibilities into the SEC. We also discuss what executives need to keep in mind, the importance of maintaining investor confidence in financial reporting, and how leveraging technology can streamline compliance and reduce the burden of documentation. 0:00 Introduction 01:40 What's going on with the PCAOB? 03:20 Is this political theater or a real threat? 05:00 Why the PCAOB matters to the C-suite 06:30 The value of audits as a foundation for capital markets 08:00 Where the PCAOB may have missed the mark 10:15 The cost of compliance 13:30 Investor concerns on regulation and efficiency 16:15 How companies can prepare for change 17:30 Finding the balance between regulation and efficiency Enjoy this episode? Find past conversations of us surfing the uncharted waters of accounting, finance, risk, and wherever else the waves take us at workiva.com/pre-read-podcast. Subscribe to catch all our upcoming episodes, including episodes about the latest conversations in all things finance, sustainability, audit, and risk.