The Pre-Read

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.