Future of Work - A Workday Podcast

Workday’s Chris Ernst and Carrie Varoquiers discuss the impact of AI on the workplace and their search for solutions to a “crisis of loneliness and disconnection.”

Workday’s Ashley Goldsmith and NatWest Group’s Eleanor Priestley have a candid conversation on designing AI around people, measuring real impact, and making change stick at enterprise scale.
In this episode, Ashley Goldsmith, Chief People Officer at Workday, engages in a conversation with Eleanor Priestley, Group COO Capabilities Lead at NatWest Group, about the transformative impact of AI on business operations. They discuss how Agentic AI can streamline processes, reduce friction, and create opportunities for more meaningful work. Eleanor shares insights from her extensive experience at NatWest, highlighting the importance of HR leadership in fostering a successful human-AI partnership and the strategies employed to help employees adapt to this technological shift.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.