Back in 2016, Mitch Peipert stood at a crossroads. With a career foundation deeply rooted in the precision and rigor of public accounting, Peipert had navigated his way through the financial landscapes of various companies, honing his CFO leadership and operational prowess. Yet, nothing could have prepared him for the arrival of a new, enigmatic force at Thomas Publishing—a dynamic CEO with eyes set firmly on the horizon of digital transformation. The news allowed a small degree of uncertainty to occupy Peipert’s mindset. A seasoned finance professional, he was adept at managing numbers and ensuring fiscal health, but the prospect of working with a leader, unknown and untested by his side, cast a shadow of doubt. Would this be the catalyst for transformation, or would it be yet another detour from the path he and others sought to advance down? As the CEO began to unfold his vision for the company, a vision that went far beyond the balance sheets and financial statements that were Peipert’s realm, a remarkable transformation began to take place. The walls of the traditional finance role started to give way, revealing a new landscape where numbers were not just figures to be reported but tools for sculpting the future. Together, they embarked on an audacious journey to steer Thomas Publishing away from the sinking sands of print media decline, towards the fertile grounds of digital innovation. Peipert found himself at the helm of projects that redefined the company’s trajectory, bridging the gap between financial stewardship and strategic innovation. The CEO had not only expanded Peipert’s strategic lens but had also awakened in him the spirit of a change-maker, ready to challenge the status quo and drive the organization towards uncharted territories.