Workday Podcasts Is Legal Still the "Department of No"?: Legal’s New Role in AI - Future of Work Podcast
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Jan 13, 2026 Vanessa Candela, Chief Legal and Trust Officer at Celonis, is reshaping the perception of legal from a 'department of no' to a trust-first organization. She discusses the importance of AI governance, advocating for frameworks that promote responsible AI adoption. Candela emphasizes the need for clean data and process intelligence for effective AI. She also highlights the role of AI champions and the significance of training AI agents like new hires. With a call to embrace AI or risk obsolescence, she offers practical advice for professionals navigating this digital landscape.
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From CLO To Head Of Trust
- Vanessa Candela described how her remit expanded from chief legal officer to include information security, IT, business systems, and sustainability.
- She credited building cross-functional trust with leaders for earning this broader responsibility.
Flip From Risk To Trust
- Vanessa reframed legal's mission from 'risk' to 'trust' to enable business while protecting stakeholders.
- She argued that trust-building gives CLOs credibility with CEOs and boards to influence broader strategy.
Create An AI Governance Council
- Form an AI governance council with cross-functional representation (engineering, product, legal, infosec, compliance, ethics).
- Use that council to evaluate each AI adoption against your risk profile before deployment.