'After Earnings' Emerges as a Top Destination for CEOs & CFOs in 2024
Salesforce's Marc Benioff headlines a year where CEOs redefined investor and market communications.
In 2024, After Earnings, the show we co-produce with Morning Brew, highlighted a pivotal shift in investor communication: top executives from companies like Salesforce, Shopify, and Pfizer turned to emerging digital formats to connect with investors.
In a standout moment, Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff joined the show following the company’s third quarter fiscal 2025 earnings results, sharing his vision for AI innovation through Salesforce’s AgentForce and plans to collaborate with the incoming U.S. administration. By using this platform, Benioff exemplified a growing trend—leaders choosing direct, candid digital conversations to complement traditional earnings formats.
As we look to 2025, IR and corporate communications teams are recognizing the value of these formats. Podcasts, video updates, and social media outreach are becoming essential tools to meet modern investors’ expectations for transparency and competence. These approaches are more than just storytelling—they’re shaping the future of IR by prioritizing authenticity, reach, and relevance.
2024 Look-back: After Earnings Spotlights Leadership Transparency
This year, After Earnings became a prime example of how public company leaders are embracing digital platforms. Leaders like Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff and Shopify President Harley Finkelstein used the show to address pressing topics such as AI innovation, strategic growth, and cultural values. Benioff’s post-earnings discussion on AgentForce and collaboration with the incoming administration resonated with both institutional and retail investors, showcasing a personal yet forward-thinking approach to communication.
After Earnings provides a platform for relatable, candid storytelling. These interviews go beyond numbers, diving into the values and strategies that shape companies’ futures. Short-form clips from episodes see millions of impressions across platforms like LinkedIn, YouTube, and X, demonstrating the demand for accessible and engaging content that bridges the gap between leaders and investors.
Executives Embrace Digital-First IR Trends
The popularity of After Earnings reflects a larger movement toward digital-first investor engagement. Leaders are leaning into formats like podcasts, social media posts, and short-form videos to connect directly with investors. These methods enable executives to keep investors informed while conveying trust and transparency—qualities that retail and institutional investors rank among the most critical factors when evaluating companies.
As investors turn increasingly to digital platforms for information, IR teams are adapting their strategies to include:
Expanded digital channels: Engaging audiences where they spend their time, from social media to podcasts.
Real-time communication: Using video and audio updates to provide instant, accessible insights into financial results and strategic plans.
Data-backed decision-making: Leveraging analytics, including social media monitoring, to measure the impact of digital content and optimize future messaging,
How IR Teams Can Lead in 2025
Looking ahead, companies that prioritize digital communication strategies will be best positioned to build lasting relationships with their investors. Here’s how IR teams can take inspiration from After Earnings:
Leverage Digital Storytelling: Encourage CEOs and CFOs to participate in podcasts or create video updates. These formats humanize leaders, making them relatable and transparent to a wide audience.
Enhance IR Portals: Modern IR websites should go beyond static reports, integrating rich media, interactive tools, and real-time updates that cater to both retail and institutional investors. (Stakeholder Labs’ IR site builder makes it easy to create interactive, drag-and-drop experiences with embedded shareholder verification.)
Utilize Short-Form Social Content & Creators: Use social media to share bite-sized highlights from earnings calls or executive interviews. These clips can help companies reach broader audiences, especially younger investors.
Foster Executive Authenticity: Equip leaders with tools and strategies to deliver clear, relatable messages while maintaining a professional tone. Personal anecdotes and insights can be powerful trust builders. For example, on an episode of After Earnings, Life360’s CEO opened the conversation by sharing his go-to coffee preference: 7-Eleven.
Track Engagement Metrics: Use analytics to understand what content resonates most with investors. This data can guide IR teams in refining their messaging and choosing the right platforms for outreach.
In 2024, After Earnings demonstrated how digital formats are reshaping the way companies communicate with investors. By leaning into these approaches, leaders like Marc Benioff are not only delivering financial updates—they are also breaking down important strategies in accessible and engaging ways.
As CFOs, IROs, and corporate communications teams prepare for 2025, the focus will be on refining these tools and tactics to meet evolving investor expectations.
Stakeholder Labs is proud to support this transformation, offering platforms and insights that empower companies to connect authentically with their most important stakeholders. Contact us to learn more.