Workiva Executive and Leadership Team

October, 2026

Leadership Overview

Workiva has 5 executives leading key functions including strategy, operations, marketing, legal administration, and human resources.

Focused on delivering cloud-based reporting solutions, Workiva empowers global organizations to connect data across complex enterprise systems. This commitment to transparency and efficiency drives the company mission to simplify complex reporting for public companies, government agencies, and higher-education institutions worldwide.

Leadership Roles at Workiva

  • Chief Executive Officer & President - Julie Iskow
  • Chief of Staff - Chase Klassen
  • Executive Vice President & Chief Marketing Officer - Yasser Mahmud
  • Executive VP & Chief Legal Administrative Officer & Corporate Secretary - Brandon Ziegler
  • Senior Vice President, Chief People Officer - Emily Forrester
  • Julie Iskow - Chief Executive Officer & President

    Julie Iskow, the Chief Executive Officer & President at Workiva, directs the overarching strategic vision and operational execution of the cloud-based reporting platform. Overseeing global expansion, Iskow ensures the platform maintains its competitive edge by integrating data from diverse enterprise resource planning and human capital management systems. This leadership role involves constant collaboration with the Board to align product innovation with the evolving needs of public companies and government agencies. By prioritizing scalable cloud architecture, Julie Iskow drives long-term value for shareholders and customers alike. Iskow maintains a sharp focus on market penetration, ensuring the company remains the premier choice for organizations requiring robust data linking and audit trail capabilities. Through rigorous oversight of all business units, Iskow secures the company's position as a leader in the international software market, fostering a culture of excellence and technological advancement across every department.
    Julie Iskow

    Chase Klassen - Chief of Staff

    Chase Klassen, the Chief of Staff at Workiva, manages the internal operational cadence and strategic alignment across all executive functions. Coordinating high-priority initiatives, Klassen ensures that the executive team remains focused on the core mission of providing seamless cloud-based reporting solutions. This role involves facilitating communication between departments to optimize the deployment of the Workiva platform, particularly regarding data connectivity and administrative access management. By streamlining internal processes, Chase Klassen enhances the efficiency of the entire organization. Klassen monitors the execution of key business objectives, ensuring that every team contributes effectively to the company's international growth. Through meticulous planning and cross-functional coordination, Klassen supports the Chief Executive Officer in maintaining operational excellence. This position requires a deep understanding of the company's multi-tenant cloud software, allowing Klassen to resolve bottlenecks and accelerate the delivery of critical reporting tools to customers across various sectors.

    Yasser Mahmud - Executive Vice President & Chief Marketing Officer

    Yasser Mahmud, the Executive Vice President & Chief Marketing Officer at Workiva, architects the global brand strategy and market positioning for the company's cloud-based reporting solutions. Driving demand generation, Mahmud oversees the communication of the platform's unique data linking capabilities to public companies, government agencies, and higher-education institutions. This leadership role involves analyzing market trends to ensure the company effectively reaches target audiences across international markets. By crafting compelling narratives around the Workiva platform, Yasser Mahmud expands the company's footprint in the competitive software landscape. Mahmud collaborates with sales and product teams to align marketing campaigns with the specific needs of customers utilizing enterprise resource planning and customer relationship management systems. Through data-driven insights, Mahmud optimizes marketing spend and enhances brand visibility. This strategic focus ensures that the company remains top-of-mind for organizations seeking reliable, secure, and efficient reporting tools, ultimately supporting the company's growth objectives.
    Brandon Ziegler, the Executive VP & Chief Legal Administrative Officer & Corporate Secretary at Workiva, governs the legal framework and administrative integrity of the company's cloud-based reporting operations. Overseeing corporate governance, Ziegler ensures compliance with international regulations while managing the legal complexities inherent in providing multi-tenant cloud software. This leadership role involves protecting the company's intellectual property and managing risk across all enterprise resource planning and third-party integrations. By maintaining rigorous standards for audit trail services and administrative access management, Brandon Ziegler safeguards the trust of public companies and government agencies. Ziegler provides essential guidance to the Board, ensuring transparency and adherence to corporate policies. Through proactive legal strategy, Ziegler mitigates potential liabilities and supports the company's expansion into new global markets. This position requires constant vigilance, as Ziegler navigates the intersection of technology, law, and business, ensuring that the company's growth remains sustainable and legally sound.
    Brandon Ziegler

    Emily Forrester - Senior Vice President, Chief People Officer

    Emily Forrester, the Senior Vice President, Chief People Officer at Workiva, directs the human capital strategy and organizational development for the company's global workforce. Cultivating a high-performance culture, Forrester oversees talent acquisition, employee engagement, and professional development programs that support the company's mission of delivering innovative cloud-based reporting solutions. This leadership role involves aligning the workforce with the company's strategic goals, ensuring that teams possess the expertise to manage complex data linking and audit trail services. By fostering an inclusive environment, Emily Forrester drives retention and attracts top-tier talent to the organization. Forrester collaborates with other C-suite leaders to ensure that the company's human resources policies support the rapid scaling of the Workiva platform. Through effective organizational design, Forrester enhances operational efficiency and employee productivity. This focus on people ensures that the company maintains the internal capacity to serve its diverse client base, including government agencies and higher-education institutions, with excellence.
    Emily Forrester

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    Frequently Asked Questions Regarding Workiva Top Executives and Leadership Team

    Who leads Workiva?
    Workiva is led by Julie Iskow (Chief Executive Officer & President), along with executives such as Chase Klassen (Chief of Staff) and Yasser Mahmud (Executive Vice President & Chief Marketing Officer).
    Who is part of Workiva’s executive team?
    The executive team of Workiva includes leaders such as Julie Iskow (Chief Executive Officer & President), Chase Klassen (Chief of Staff), Yasser Mahmud (Executive Vice President & Chief Marketing Officer) and other senior executives.
    How many executives does Workiva have?
    Workiva has 5 executives leading key business areas.
    What roles are included in Workiva’s leadership team?
    The leadership team of Workiva includes roles such as Chief Executive Officer & President, Chief of Staff, Executive Vice President & Chief Marketing Officer, Executive VP & Chief Legal Administrative Officer & Corporate Secretary, Senior Vice President, Chief People Officer.