ServiceNow Podcasts

AI, Skills, and the Future of Work at Aviva  In this episode of the ServiceNow Executive Circle podcast, Kat Finch is joined by Dan Godfrey, Group People Transformation and Talent Director at Aviva, to explore how people strategy, technology, and AI are coming together to reshape the future of work. Dan shares how Aviva’s scale, legacy, and long history influence its approach to transformation, and why operational readiness, adoption, and change management are just as critical as the technology itself. From learning and recruitment to people technology and data analytics, the conversation highlights how HR and IT must work in lockstep to deliver meaningful outcomes for both colleagues and customers.  The discussion also dives into the evolving role of AI in skills development, workforce planning, and customer experience. Some key topics include:  The evolving role of AI in skills development, workforce planning, and customer experience  Highlighting how Aviva is using AI to surface skills and support “squiggly careers”  Showing how AI helps colleagues navigate future career paths and learning opportunities  Emphasising the importance of human-in-the-loop governance, trust, and responsible use of AI  Looking ahead to how AI could democratise financial services by making financial knowledge more accessible  Reinforcing why investing in peoples capability remains the most critical transformation for organisations  If you’ve got an idea for a topic, would like to propose a guest for the show or discuss any of the points raised in this episode with a ServiceNow representative, just send an email to executivecircleuki@servicenow.com   And if you are not already an EXECUTIVE CIRCLE member and would like to learn more about our exclusive membership and all the benefits it brings, please visit.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ontologies are suddenly everywhere but they didn’t come out of nowhere. In this episode, Juan and Tim chat with Professor Oscar Corcho, who has been doing ontology engineering since the early 2000s (check out his book Ontological Engineering from 2003), to demystify what ontologies actually are, where they came from, and why that history still matters today. If you’re new to ontologies or feeling lost in the current hype, this episode gives you the grounding you didn’t know you needed to understand where the field has been and where it should be going next.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dive into the fascinating world of ontologies, where history meets modern AI! Explore how ontologies originated in the 1990s and their role in unifying complex systems like data centers and railways. Discover why human agreements are crucial for effective governance and how large language models can expedite ontology creation. Learn about innovative methods to reduce LLM hallucinations using ontologies, and why treating them as software artifacts is essential in today's tech landscape.

Juan and Tim dive into the buzz around context graphs and how they differ from semantics in AI. They discuss executives' skepticism about the hype surrounding context in social media. Context should be embedded in larger platforms rather than being a standalone feature. The hosts highlight the need for practical applications, emphasizing industry-specific solutions over generic claims. They caution against overpromising on data centralization, recalling lessons from the big-data hype era. Finally, they advocate for transforming data reporting into actionable decision-making.

Join industry analyst Tony Baer, an expert in data management and AI trends, and Matt Housley, a data practitioner and educator, as they explore the future of data in 2026. They tackle the challenges of AI magical thinking, stressing the importance of human oversight. Tony highlights the rising demand for semantics and ontologies in AI, creating new job opportunities. Matt predicts that graphs will become essential tools for analysts, helping to normalize data. The conversation dives into the balancing act between automation and human intelligence, making for a thought-provoking discussion.

Tony Baer, an industry analyst known for his insights into data and AI, joins Matt Housley to explore key trends shaping the data landscape in 2026. They tackle the importance of semantics and ontology skills for AI's evolution and critique the prevalent 'magical thinking' around technology. The discussion highlights that bigger models don't equate to intelligence, and they emphasize the power of graphs in analysis. Their conversation is a call for practical understanding over hype, urging listeners to focus on the details that truly matter.

Discover the pivotal shifts in the data landscape as experts examine the leap from AI proofs of concept to real-world applications in 2025. Explore the critical role of semantics and ontologies in driving advanced AI capabilities, and hear about the consolidation trends among tech vendors. Governance emerges as a vital element, balancing trust and productivity during transitions. The discussion dives into the future challenges of automation and unstructured data, while emphasizing the importance of data teams owning outcomes and driving business value.

Exploring Leadership and AI with Anand Tharanathan In this engaging episode of our podcast, we delve into the world of leadership and Artificial Intelligence with Anand Tharanathan, GVP of Product Research and Insights at ServiceNow. Anand shares his journey from an individual contributor to a leadership role, emphasizing the importance of empathy, mentorship, and learning from failure. He discusses his unique perspective on leadership drawn from his experiences in sports and how this has influenced his professional growth. Anand also provides insights into the rapidly evolving field of AI, comparing it with human automation and highlighting the importance of keeping the human element in the loop. He addresses the challenges and nuances of designing AI systems that enhance human capabilities rather than replace them. Additionally, Anand discusses how to strike a balance between being product-centric and people-centric, and the crucial role of adaptability in navigating technological advancements. Towards the end of the conversation, Anand outlines a framework for effectively using AI and advises on avoiding common pitfalls when integrating AI into new products. This episode is a must-watch for anyone interested in leadership, AI, and the future of technology. Join us and gain valuable insights from industry experts! Guest - Anand Tharanathan, GVP of Product Research and Insights at ServiceNowGuest Host - Apurva Korde 00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome00:24 Discussing UX Research and AI01:18 Leadership Journey and Insights03:45 The Role of Mentors and Managers09:59 Design Leadership vs. Conventional Leadership13:56 Balancing Product and People-Centric Leadership17:55 Adapting to Rapid Technological Changes18:56 Navigating the AI Revolution19:14 Staying Calm and Curious in the AI Era20:45 Insights from a Tech Leader on AI21:42 Designing Human-Centric AI Experiences26:32 The Importance of Human in the Loop31:24 Frameworks for AI Use and Misuse34:25 Building AI-Powered Products36:37 Balancing AI and Business Goals38:45 Concluding Thoughts on AISee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Lena Hall, Senior Director of Developer Relations at Akamai, dives into the world of AI agents and their reliability. She defines how agents act as connections between reasoning loops and code. Lena discusses current trends in agent adoption, emphasizing iterative development. She warns about context challenges and the importance of clear specifications. The conversation touches on the rise of specialization in engineering roles, exploring the distinctions between generative models and rule-based systems. Lena's insights offer a fresh perspective on building effective AI agents.

This is the takeaway episode with Lena Hall, the Senior Director of Developer Relations at Akamai, and an AI practitioner where we dive into what it means to build AI agents. If you like what you heard, you should check out the full episode!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.