Future of Work - A Workday Podcast
The world of work hasn’t just changed; it’s being radically redefined. Between the surge of AI, shifting workforce expectations, and the dawn of human-machine collaboration, the old leadership playbooks are obsolete.
The Future of Work Podcast moves beyond the buzzwords to deliver insights from the architects of the new work day. Each episode, we sit down with C-suite executives, AI innovators, and industry pioneers to expose the friction between legacy thinking and the future of business.
We ignore the tech specs to focus on what matters: the industry trends, cultural shifts, and leadership opportunities required to thrive in an unpredictable landscape. This isn't a conversation about tools—it's a conversation about the future of your organization. Stop guessing and start leading.
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Episodes
Tuesday Jan 13, 2026
Tuesday Jan 13, 2026
Legal doesn’t have to be the “department of no.” Aine Lyons, senior vice president and deputy general counsel at Workday, and Vanessa Candela, chief legal and trust officer at Celonis, explore how trust-first frameworks help AI move faster and more responsibly.
Tuesday Dec 16, 2025
Tuesday Dec 16, 2025
Workday’s Kathy Pham sits down with former IBM CHRO Diane Gherson to explore how AI can elevate human work. Together, they unpack the skills, workflows, and leadership models needed to make work more meaningful in the AI era.
Tuesday Dec 09, 2025
Tuesday Dec 09, 2025
This episode explores why payroll is entering a “golden age.” Join analyst Pete A. Tiliakos and Workday’s Cristina Goldt to unpack how modern tools, workforce data, and AI are elevating payroll into a strategic driver of business performance. Learn what’s changing, why it matters, and how payroll leaders can seize the moment.
To download the report on insights to unlock your payroll engine, visit: https://forms.workday.com/en-us/reports/roi-of-modern-payroll/form.html?step=step1_default
Tuesday Dec 02, 2025
Tuesday Dec 02, 2025
Workday CIO Rani Johnson and AI Advisory Board Chair Toby Stuart unpack what it really takes for CIOs to lead through the accelerating AI era. From redefining roles to rethinking ROI, they explore how to build a confident, future-ready organization.
Tuesday Nov 25, 2025
Tuesday Nov 25, 2025
Censia CEO Joanna Riley joins Workday CMO Emma Chalwin to discuss how leaders can navigate AI-driven change with courage, transparency, and a vulnerable mindset. Hear how embracing experimentation and elevating “soul work” can transform teams and spark innovation.
Tuesday Nov 18, 2025
Tuesday Nov 18, 2025
James Kinney, Global Chief People Officer at Media.Monks, and Jessie Heath, Director of Global Talent, La-Z-Boy, to discuss how to build a truly human-centered strategy. They reveal the surprising ROI of care, moving past buzzwords to show how prioritizing "belonging" and engagement is the only way to convince leadership and drive the bottom line.
Wednesday Nov 12, 2025
Wednesday Nov 12, 2025
Dow's Sarah Jo (“SJ”) Rowley explains the human-centered future of work and why AI isn't a race to automate, but a journey to elevate everyone. In conversation with Josh Tarr, she reveals how a 128-year-old company is leading the AI adoption era by anchoring its transformation in trust, skills-based frameworks, and a culture of empathy. Discover how to reframe AI from a productivity play to a cultural one, and the essential role of HR as talent advisor.
Tuesday Nov 04, 2025
Tuesday Nov 04, 2025
Workday’s Phil Willburn and HRManifesto’s Leigh Henderson reveal why internal mobility has stalled and how to solve the growing AI trust gap. Learn the strategic pivots needed to win back your best talent and redefine career growth by focusing on impact.
Tuesday Oct 28, 2025
Tuesday Oct 28, 2025
Workday's VP of AI Kathy Pham and MIT researcher Dr. Danielle Li confront the most urgent question in the AI-augmented workplace: When an AI model scales a top performer's expertise, what is owed to the employee whose valuable data made it possible? They explore the AI paradox, arguing that strategic work—training the machine—must be compensated, and that every organization needs a Chief Work Officer to design fair, future-proof collaboration between humans and AI.
Friday Oct 24, 2025
Friday Oct 24, 2025
Workday’s Kathy Pham and Salesforce’s Chief Ethical and Humane Use Officer and EVP of Product, Paula Goldman, discuss moving from theoretical discussions to practical frameworks for ethical technology and a human-centered future of work. They explore Paula’s unique journey and how ethical leadership can build a movement for responsible AI.