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Those calling for an end to quarterly earnings reports argue that the change will help companies focus on long-term goals rather than short-term priorities. But the focus on short-termism does not come from reporting requirements. It comes from investors and analysts who monitor company performance in real time and use continuous data, private engagement, and proxy influence to make decisions long before results are announced. With or without quarterly reporting, companies need to focus on establishing and maintaining a compelling value story, a comprehensive stock story based on market positioning, a value creation plan, and management accountability if they want…

Naeem Ishaq found his way to the C-Suite by following his curiosity—from building his own childhood computers, to founding a consumer internet startup while he was still in college, to helping lead Salesforce and Square through hypergrowth and IPO milestones. Now as the EVP, CFO and chief strategy officer at Checkr, a background check software company, Ishaq is stepping up to a new challenge. “I think every job transition I’ve had, most people have said, ‘Don’t do it. This is silly,’” he says. “I think that there’s one takeaway from that: Don’t be afraid to take on the hard thing…

When a country that is 94% import-dependent is hit with steep tariffs, even the most niche manufacturers suddenly find themselves in the crosshairs of global policy. That's what happened to EarthQuaker Devices, a popular Ohio-based manufacturer of premium guitar pedals, when new tariffs went into effect in 2025. Almost overnight, CEO Julie Robbins transitioned from running a fast-growing creative company to managing supply chains, pricing models, and what she describes as “existential threats” to its long-term viability. Instead of waiting out the storm, Robbins organized a rapid response that included an internal tariff conference, a national coalition of small pedal…

Corporate boards are increasingly dealing with political pressures ranging from regulation to enforcement. CEOs are called out, threatened, and publicly shamed over decisions attributed to management and shareholders. This could include selective regulatory hurdles, forced ownership and revenue relinquishment, calls for consumer boycotts, compensation and staffing statutes, and such interventions. All too often, boards respond in a conciliatory manner, making concessions in hopes of calming the situation. my new book, President Trump's Ten Commandmentswhich helps explain why that instinct fails against the set of measures he consistently uses. Regardless of how anyone evaluates President Trump's unconventional leadership strategy, it reflects…

Today's CFOs are responsible for more than financial management. As artificial intelligence transforms the way businesses operate, corporate strategy is increasingly being shaped by balancing investment for growth, risk and efficiency. As AI reshapes the enterprise landscape, CFOs have become key decision makers in determining where and how emerging technologies can unlock measurable value. Across the metaphorical hall, CIOs have played a leading role in driving organizational change. As architects of data, cloud, and AI strategies, they determine whether companies can innovate quickly, operate securely, and scale intelligently. Their mission extends beyond infrastructure management to ensuring businesses have the foundation…

As CFOs take on more operational roles within the C-suite, one of the most important moves is to move beyond the realm of finance and become powerful storytellers. Veteran finance leader Lisa Cummins Darchinos recommends that CFOs hone their communication skills. She currently serves as CFO of Ayar Labs, a semiconductor unicorn based in San Jose, California and backed by NVIDIA, AMD, and Intel. She is a veteran executive with over 25 years of experience in the financial industry, from startups to large enterprises, including Penguin Computing and Oracle, and has played a key role in helping Ayar Labs raise…

You are making multimillion-dollar decisions off your numbers every month: pricing, hiring, capital spending, acquisitions. The uncomfortable reality in most midmarket companies is that those numbers are less reliable than you assume. Jennifer Barnes has seen this dynamic play out across more than 300 companies. As CEO of fractional accounting firm Optima Office, she spends her days making sense of books that looked fine from the outside but told a very different story underneath. “Many CEOs think they’re doing okay because they have some cash in the bank,” she says. “But when we actually dig into the financials, there’s often…

While searching for a new director, board members at an S&P 500 company recognized the need to bring in AI expertise. The only question is: what kind of expertise do you have? Did you want a P&L leader who has successfully scaled AI products, or someone with experience leading employees through complex technology transformations? As the corporate world continues to bet big on artificial intelligence, boards are adding AI expertise at unprecedented levels. In fact, 38% of directors say deploying AI across the business is a top priority this year, and 42% say technology adaptation and integration will be a…

Making financial decisions is an everyday task that all business owners and C-Suite leaders must take on at a near constant pace—often without up-to-date information. But Anita Koimur thinks that is all poised to change. Koimur is the COO and co-founder of LiveFlow, a VC-backed start up automating manual financial reporting, mainly month-end close. She discusses the journey to build a financial automation platform, and how making the right decisions regarding your money leads to better team management, a more cohesive work culture and easier prioritization of your customers’ needs. Listen by clicking below. The Q&A, lightly trimmed and edited…

Michael Kemeter is one of the most versatile and daring extreme athletes of his generation. A world-class slackliner, highliner, climber, base jumper, and former elite pistol shooter, his career spans multiple world records and some of the most imaginative feats in modern adventure sports. Born in southern Austria, he walked the High Line as exposed as the 3,770 meter route across the Grossglockner River, establishing record-breaking waterline distances of 222 meters and later 250 meters, often crossing the line thousands of feet above ground without a safety belt. What makes Kemeter extraordinary is not just the athletic audacity, but the…