Getting AI Right: Ensuring Success and Avoiding Brain Rot
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
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Auditing AI: The New Imperative for Internal Audit
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.
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How I Became a CFO
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
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Your Guide to AI Governance in Corporate Reporting
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.
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Beyond Compliance: Building Businesses on Voluntary Sustainability Efforts
Sustainability isn’t a silo anymore—it’s shaping strategy across the balance sheet. In this episode of The Pre-Read, two CEOs share how they’re modernizing corporate approaches to climate challenges. Natalia Dorfman, CEO of Kita, explains how carbon insurance de-risks voluntary markets and drives capital into climate projects. Then, Orianna Bretschger, CEO of Aquacycl, shows how innovations in industrial wastewater treatment can reduce costs, lower emissions, and strengthen resilience. 00:00 Introduction 01:45 Types of risks in carbon projects 03:20 Why carbon projects are resilient to short-term political shifts 05:00 How profitability and ROI drive climate technology 06:40 The future of the voluntary carbon market 08:30 How executives can reframe sustainability as a financial metric 10:00 Why water is a critical business resource 11:30 Rethinking wastewater as a business opportunity 13:00 The financial and reputational risks of poor water stewardship 15:45 Metrics that prove ROI in wastewater management 17:00 Advice for leaders on making their operations more resilient #CFO #Sustainability #ESG #CarbonMarkets #ClimateFinance #RiskManagement
Just like the slides you get before a big meeting, The Pre-Read gets CFOs and other decision-makers ready for what’s next. This is the global podcast built for the modern office of the CFO, where finance, sustainability, audit, and risk come together.
Designed for financial leaders navigating transformation at scale, the show features sharp, unfiltered conversations with insiders at the forefront of business, regulation, and enterprise strategy. Each week, hosts Alyssa Zucker and Steve Soter, along with our bench of expert segment reporters, connect the dots between financial performance, regulatory demands, and long-term value creation.
From new disclosure mandates to AI and assurance readiness, The Pre-Read helps you track the forces reshaping business. We cover what matters globally, cross-functionally, and with just enough candor to keep it real. If you’re making decisions at scale, or need to understand the leaders who are, you’re in the right place.
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